The Shepherd’s Voice
Archive for October 18th, 2009
Readings for Sunday, October 18th
Is 53:4-12
Ps 91:9-16
Heb 5:1-10
Mk 10:35-45
The Shepherd’s Voice – Sermon Audio
As I sit in the dentist’s chair about to be confronted with the dentist’s drill I wonder, how can I get out of here. I don’t know about you, but one of the most terrifying sounds in the world is the buzz….., buzz….. of that dentist’s drill. He always says, “Just relax.”
I say, “Ah ammm rlaxx.” He continues with the job ahead of him. Perhaps some of you come here this morning with that same sense of anticipation, that same thrill of the drill. All I have to say is just relax, it won’t hurt much.
My job is not a lot different than a dentist’s job. People come to a dentist for many different reasons. Maybe it’s a checkup, a dental cleaning, a restoration, a cavity, or maybe a root canal. We often come to church because we have an issue with pain. Have you ever noticed though how hard it is understand the dental terms being tossed around? I never know what they are saying to one another. I don’t have a foundation enabling me to understand them.
This morning we need to look James and John, the son’s of Zebedee. Jesus earlier had called them Boanerges or “sons of thunder.” (Mark 3:17) I wonder why? We see from the text and from other sources this could refer to “tempestuous dispositions or to manner of speech.”
So here we have a couple of hotheads saying to Jesus, “Teacher, we want you to do for us whatever we ask of you.”
Remember, just before this the disciples were walking to Jerusalem with Jesus, many people were following along, some were amazed, some were afraid, Jesus takes them aside and tells them about his impending tragedy, about his death and how he will rise again after three days, but the sons of thunder say “Teacher, we want you to do for us whatever we ask of you.”
It’s like when we are talking to our 3 or 4 year olds about not crossing the street before looking and they respond back with “Can we have pancakes today, dad?” Son, look before you cross. Don’t come out from between parked cars, people can’t see you. They say, “Can we eat our pancakes outside dad?”
I want to shake them and wake them and say “Are you listening to me?” Do you understand what I’m telling you? You could be killed!
Jesus in response to the disciples said “What is it you want me to do for you?” they say can we sit one on your right side and one on your left.
Then just like my retort to the question about pancakes Jesus says, “You do not know what you are asking. Are you able to drink the cup that I drink, or be baptized with the baptism that I am baptized with?”
Apparently, the disciples were not on the same page as Jesus. They did not have an adequate foundation of understanding, they seemed, once again clueless. Just like telling our 3 & 4 year olds not to cross the street.
Many years ago when our kids were about 4, we have twins as most of you know. Our little ones went out to play at our neighbor’s house, which was just next door, no street crossing required fortunately.
However, it wasn’t but a few moments after they left and Sharon heard this long tire screech. She ran outside to see what was going on and there was Wendy lying on the side of the street, unconscious. At once panic set in, her heart was throbbing. She ran over to Wendy, while someone called the paramedics. I was on my way home from work and arrived on the scene just as the ambulance was about to pull away.
Not having a foundation of understanding can kill you. The disciples replied, “We are able.” They had no clue!
The disciples had an earthly kingdom, a political kingdom in mind, they were totally misunderstanding Jesus’ purpose for coming into this world.
Jesus talking like a dentist, using language the disciples just don’t get. He’s trying to interact with them. Open your mouth, does this hurt, he’s got the light, he’s poking at this tooth and that trying determine the depth of the problem. When the dentist talks we try to understand what he’s saying, but it’s hard, we don’t know all the nomenclature.
Jesus is laying out a foundation of understanding for the disciples. Anything less could keep them out of the kingdom of God on a permanent basis. This stuff can kill you.
Jesus gives them a Gentile example, maybe trying to make it more clear, but then reverts to an servant analogy; “but whoever wishes to become great among you must be your servant, and whoever wishes to be first among you must be slave of all.”
Is that one of the building blocks of our faith? Is this foundational for a Christian?
Luther understood this when he wrote The Freedom of a Christian in 1520:
The Christian is a perfectly free lord of all, subject to none.
The Christian is a slave of all subject to all.
Did the disciples really think they were up to the challenge of drinking from the bitter cup that would be offered to Jesus?
Did the disciples really think they could be baptized with the same suffering that was being prepared for Jesus?
This text is about understanding Jesus purpose for coming into the world. That understanding is foundational to a person’s faith, in fact to a person’s life.
Our daughter did not understand the importance of watching for cars when she was going to cross the street and it almost killed her.
The disciples did not understand Jesus mission, his purpose for coming.
They did not understand the bitter cup of suffering that was about to come their way once Jesus died on the cross.
Jesus again tries to be absolutely clear and direct with the disciples. He says, “the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life a ransom for many.”
Jesus death is the key to life. Jesus death and resurrection is foundational for Christians.
Not understanding this is more deadly than a car hitting you in the street. Not understanding Jesus as the foundation and cornerstone of faith and life is tragic.
Not understanding this can kill you!
Amen
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