Untitled Sermon (2)

And now they are back in Jesus’ home territory of Galilee but “he did not want anyone to know it.” The reason he didn’t want anyone to know he was there is that he had an important teaching for the disciples. For a second time, Jesus is trying to tell his disciples about what awaits him in Jerusalem and about the cost of following him. We’re told that the disciples didn’t understand what Jesus was telling them and were afraid to ask him.

And now they are back in Jesus’ home territory of Galilee but “he did not want anyone to know it.” The reason he didn’t want anyone to know he was there is because he had an important teaching for the disciples. For a second time Jesus is trying to tell his disciples about what awaits him in Jerusalem and about the cost of following him. We’re told that the disciples didn’t understand what Jesus was telling them and were afraid to ask him.

After everything they had been through with Jesus; after all, they had seen, and experience; and they don’t understand and are afraid to ask. You’ve got to ask why couldn’t they understand? I think there are a couple of reasons why. So often in the gospel Jesus talks to them in code or in parables where there are hidden messages. Earlier in the gospel, Jesus warned the disciples about the leaven of the Pharisee and Herod, and they thought he was commenting on them forgetting to bring bread. So maybe they were looking for the hidden meaning in what Jesus was saying.

After everything they had been through with Jesus; after all they had seen and experience; and they don’t understand and are afraid to ask. You’ve got to ask why couldn’t they understand? I think there are a couple of reasons why. So often in the gospel Jesus talks to them in code or in parables where there are hidden messages. Earlier in the gospel Jesus warned the disciples about the leaven of the Pharisee and Herod; and they thought he was making a comment about them forgetting to bring bread. So maybe they were looking for the hidden meaning in what Jesus was saying.

Jesus’ description of being betrayed and killed probably wasn’t part of their game plan; it wasn’t part of their understanding of what the Messiah was going to do. Imagine that Ben Rothlesburger was getting ready for the super bowl and right before the biggest game of his life he tells his teammates that he’s going to play with his hands tied behind his back. Sounds ridiculous right? What would the team’s reaction be? Probably the same as the disciples; they would say “no you won’t, that won’t happen.” Maybe not all Jews at the time believed that God would send a Messiah; but nobody believed that if and when God did send one that the Messiah would suffer and die on the cross.

Jesus’ description of being betrayed and killed probably wasn’t part of their game plan; it wasn’t part of their understanding of what the Messiah was going to do. Imagine that Ben Rothlesburger was getting ready for the super bowl and right before the biggest game of his life he tells his teammates that he’s going to play with his hands tied behind his back. Sounds ridiculous right? What would the team’s reaction be? Probably the same as the disciples; they would say “no you won’t, that won’t happen.” Maybe not all Jews at the time believed that God would send a Messiah, but nobody believed that if and when God did send one that the Messiah would suffer and die on the cross.

And Maybe the disciples don’t want to understand this confusing message about a Messiah who suffers and dies – maybe the thought of that happening to their beloved teacher is to painful. Or perhaps they are afraid to reveal their ignorance because they remember the rebuke Peter received at Caesarea Philippi When Jesus said to Peter, “Get behind me Satan.” In any case, their fear of not asking any questions means that they stay in their state of ignorance and confusion.

And Maybe the disciples don’t want to understand this confusing message about a Messiah who suffers and dies – maybe the thought of that happening to their beloved teacher is too painful. Or perhaps they are afraid to reveal their ignorance because they remember the rebuke Peter received at Caesarea Philippi When Jesus said to Peter, “Get behind me Satan.” In any case, their fear of not asking any questions means that they stay in their state of ignorance and confusion.

So instead of asking the hard questions of Jesus, the disciples turn to arguing with each other. When they arrive in Capernaum, Jesus asks what they were arguing about along the way. They are silent, too embarrassed to admit that they had been arguing with each other about who was the greatest among them. The argument over who is the greatness is even more evidence that the disciples don’t understand the kingdom that Jesus is talking about. Even though the disciples are silent Jesus knows exactly what they have been discussing, and tries once again to teach them that the reign of God reverses the world’s ideas of “greatness.”

Jesus then takes a seat and calls the disciples to him. He is actually taking a formal position of a teacher. He is underscoring his authority as a teacher. By doing this, Jesus is conveying the importance of what he is about to tell them.

True greatness, Jesus says, is not to be above others, but to be least of all and servant of all. Greatness is not about climbing the social ladder and being on top but serving those who would be at the bottom of that ladder. Greatness is not about seeking the company of the powerful, but to be welcoming and caring for those without status, such as the child that Jesus embraces and places before his disciples.

Jesus takes a child into his arms, he said to them, “Whoever welcomes one such child in my name welcomes me, and whoever welcomes me welcomes not me but the one who sent me.” we immediately think of attributes like the innocence of a child, the playfulness, or how through the eyes of a child they see the world without the judgmental prejudices that adults have. And those attributes are great and may apply but what Jesus is pointing to is the power dynamics that the disciples were arguing about.

In any culture, children are some of the most vulnerable in society; they are dependent on others for their survival and well-being. In the ancient world, their vulnerability was magnified by the fact that they had no legal protection. A child had no status, and no rights. A child certainly had nothing to offer anyone in terms of honor or status. But it’s precisely these little ones with whom Jesus identifies. Not only these little ones, but throughout Jesus’ ministry he always associates with the last and the least in society – the Syrophoenician women, lepers and raging demoniacs, tax collectors and other notorious “sinners.” He even welcomes and makes time for little children.

In any culture, children are some of the most vulnerable in society; they are dependent on others for their survival and well-being. In the ancient world, their vulnerability was magnified by the fact that they had no legal protection. A child had no status and no rights. A child certainly had nothing to offer anyone regarding honor or status. But it’s precisely these little ones with whom Jesus identifies. Not only these little ones but throughout Jesus’ ministry he always associates with the last and the least in society – the Syrophoenician women, lepers and raging demoniacs, tax collectors and other notorious “sinners.” He even welcomes and makes time for little children.

Jesus is trying to tell his disciples that for all of this, he will be condemned by the religious authorities who decides that he is too dangerous and must be eliminated. Jesus does not die in order for God to be gracious and to forgive sins. Jesus dies because he declares the forgiveness of sins. Jesus dies because he associates with the impure and the worst of sinners. Jesus dies because the religious establishment could not tolerate the radical and amazing grace of God that Jesus proclaims and lives.

That radical and amazing grace of God that Jesus proclaims completely obliterates the world’s notions of greatness based on status, wealth, achievement, race, or the possessions we have. Whoever has the most money, possessions, and toys at the end doesn’t win. Maybe that’s one reason people resist God’s amazing and radical grace so much. It’s a lot more appealing to be great on the world’s terms than on Jesus’ terms. Because greatness on Jesus’ terms means being humble, lowly, a servant to others, and vulnerable as a child.

In the letter that James wrote he had it right, that greatness comes from the wisdom which is born from God and that wisdom is “first pure, then peaceable, gentle, willing to yield, full of mercy and good fruits, without a trace of partiality or hypocrisy. And a harvest of righteousness is sown in peace for those who make peace.” True greatness comes from faith and what we do with our lives born of the wisdom of God’s grace. True greatness comes from how we serve our fellow human beings with God’s love and amazing grace.

In the letter that James wrote, he had it right, that greatness comes from the wisdom which is born from God, and that wisdom is “first pure, then peaceable, gentle, willing to yield, full of mercy and good fruits, without a trace of partiality or hypocrisy. And a harvest of righteousness is sown in peace for those who make peace.” True greatness comes from faith and what we do with our lives born of the wisdom of God’s grace. True greatness comes from how we serve our fellow human beings with God’s love and amazing grace.

James also lets us know what greatness is not. He tells us that envy and selfish ambition is not part of God’s wisdom. He warns us not to be “boastful and false to the truth. Because such wisdom as envy and selfish ambition does not come down from God but is earthly, unspiritual, devilish.” We are not to hoard things ever fearful that “those” people are going to take something away from us.

James also lets us know what greatness is not. He tells us that envy and selfish ambition is not part of God’s wisdom. He warns us not to be “boastful and false to the truth. Because such wisdom as envy and selfish ambition does not come down from God, but is earthly, unspiritual, devilish.” We are not to hoard things ever fearful that “those” people are going to take something away from us.

The disciples were afraid to ask Jesus the hard questions they needed answered in order to understand. Maybe we should be willing to ask the hard questions so that we too can better understand how to follow Jesus. Maybe a question we should ask ourselves is; do we to covet things, objects, possessions, earthly ideals and find them more precious than God’s love and grace? Jesus tells us true greatness is serving the most vulnerable in our world. We’re not to create divisions or walls between races, genders, and nations. We’re not to create divisions between fellow human beings, brothers and sister who are all fellow children of God.

The disciples were afraid to ask Jesus the hard questions they needed to be answered in order to understand. Maybe we should be willing to ask the hard questions so that we too can better understand how to follow Jesus. Maybe a question we should ask ourselves is; do we to covet things, objects, possessions, earthly ideals and find them more precious than God’s love and grace? Jesus tells us true greatness is serving the most vulnerable in our world. We’re not to create divisions or walls between races, genders, and nations. We’re not to create divisions between fellow human beings, brothers and sister who are all fellow children of God.

The disciples traveled with Jesus to Tyre, Sidon, the Decapolis, to the villages of Caesarea Philippi, and Capernaum. The disciples witnessed the healings and miracles that Jesus performed, and yet they did not understand Jesus.

The disciples traveled with Jesus to Tyre, Sidon, the Decapolis, to the villages of Caesarea Philippi, and to Capernaum. The disciples witnessed the healings and miracles that Jesus performed and yet they did not understand Jesus.

We have seen and experienced our risen Lord. We have experience God’s love and amazing grace. We have heard the words spoken by Jesus Christ “Whoever welcomes one such child in my name welcomes me, and whoever welcomes me welcomes not me but the one who sent me.” Will we listen and understand and welcome someone like a child who is vulnerable and powerless in the name of Jesus. May we demonstrate to the world God’s love and amazing grace; may we demonstrate true greatness based on Jesus’ terms of being humble, lowly, serving those most in need, and being vulnerable as a child.