Serving/Hospitality

If it had been up to us, we would have given up on James and the others in exasperation, and we would have looked for disciples who are a little less dense.

But Jesus is patient, and leads them small steps at a time to understanding, and to living the life of a faithful servant of God.

Jesus continues to work with those whom he has called, without abandoning them.

Perhaps the best commentary on this passage in Mark is another story of Jesus, this time in the Gospel of John.

On that last night with his disciples, Jesus knows that he has already said much to them, and he will summarize what he has said with an action.

Even though he is the host at this meal, he takes the job that no one else is willing to do.

He gets a bowl and a towel and a pitcher of water, and begins to wash the feet of the disciples.

He doesn't complain about the disciples and their lack of hospitality to each other and to him, he simply does the hospitable thing.

As questions and objections arise, he will talk about them, but the main thing is the action itself which speaks so loudly.

When he washes the feet of the disciples, and also in the conversation with James and the others, Jesus is smashing the conventional idea that there is some sort of corporate ladder in the church.

--that there are ranks and levels of membership,

--that we advance so many rungs and then certain things and persons are beneath us.

It may be the way it works elsewhere in the world, but in the church there is to be only one level – servant.

Anything else is trying to play the James-game: “Gimme something special, Jesus, because I deserve it.”

It isn't a new problem; others in scripture have wrestled with similar situations.

Remember the prophet Jonah complaining when Nineveh turned from their evil ways after Jonah preached there.

“I didn't want to give your message in Nineveh, because I know that you are a gracious God, eager to show mercy,” Jonah fumes,” and I want them to be destroyed.”

He doesn't want them to have the same blessing of God which he has.

“Are you right to be angry?” God asks.

“Yes, angry enough to die.” Jonah retorts.

Really? Really?

It is with the Lord's question that the story of Jonah ends.

And it appears again in our First Lesson today.

Elijah has concluded the great contest with the 450 prophets of Baal on Mt. Carmel, showing the power of God and winning a great victory.

Queen Jezebel vows revenge, and Elijah decides it is time to get out of Dodge, and runs far to the south, finally sitting under a broom tree, and with a touch of melodrama says “Just take away my life, Lord.”

“I've done what you have directed, and they want to murder me.

Just let me out of this.”

Notice that the Lord does not argue with Elijah or get angry with him.

The Lord allows him to talk, vocalize his complaint, ...and then the Lord speaks.

It is not a lecture, but a list.

He simply gives him the next series of tasks that he is to do.

“Anoint those who will next be kings,” the Lord says, “and, oh, by the way, you are not alone as you have been thinking; there are still faithful people scattered around this nation.

Get up, and get going.”

We could get the “gimmes” like James;

we could feel anger like Jonah;

we could express the fear of Elijah.

The Lord will hear it all.

The Lord knows the things that we have done that are in accord with his will, even before we list them for him.

He knows them just as well as he knows our failures and shortcomings and times of disobedience.

And Jesus says to us:

You did not choose me but I chose you. And I appointed you to go and bear fruit, fruit that will last....

And he adds this observation: I have chosen you out of the world –therefore the world hates you.

[John 15]

Therefore we cannot expect an easy time in our day to day lives.

“Nobody likes me, everybody hates me; I'm going to....”

We know well the sentiment of that children's rhyme.

We would like respect and honor for all of our hard work.

In today's Gospel reading, Jesus made authority in the fellowship of the church dependent upon brotherly service: Whoever wishes to be great among you must be your servant.... [Mark 10:43]

Dietrich Bonhoeffer, who struggled mightily against the Nazi horrors, observed that we crave big personalities to lead us because the genuine authority of service appears to be so unimpressive.

[Life Together,p.108]

Last week we recalled that passage at the end of Matthew's Gospel where Jesus says that the test of faithfulness is whether we have fed the hungry, given drink to the thirsty, and welcomed the stranger hospitably.

Our response?

That stuff is boring...or too hard...or difficult work that will never be completed... or whatever other excuses we grumble.

“Unimpressive,” we grouse.

But that is not an accurate assessment of the situation, is it?

As long as we remember that there is a difference between ordinary bread and the Bread of Life, we will be busy offering both kinds to all who hunger.

This is servant-hood and hospitality of the best kind.

It is wonderful whenever folks catch this idea.

It is a joyful time when we understand and act like the little drawing on page 2 of the bulletin today.

The two figures are kneeling in service to each other, not looking for place or honor, just doing what is needed in that particular situation.

But what do we do when someone pulls the James-maneuver?

All we can do is to say and to act out again what life in the kingdom of God is to be like,

in trust that when we do so, someone else who is watching us and listening to what we say and do will catch the idea and follow along with us, and become another sharer of both ordinary bread and the Bread of Life.

It is not an easy or glamorous life,

but it is this servant-life to which we were called in Holy Baptism,

and for which we are regularly strengthened in Holy Communion.

It is important to remember that James, the one who had the “gimmes,”

the one who asked “what do I get out of it?” was changed.

Patiently and finally, Jesus transforms him into one who reaches out with hope and with help, and the little band of disciples becomes the church of millions of persons across the centuries.

If he can do it with James,

he can also work his wonders with us.

The life of a servant of Jesus Christ;

there is nothing higher. AMEN.

Please note: The preceding sermon is provided as a resource for the thought, prayer, and meditation of the members and friends of St. Mark's. It is the residue of a verbal event, and thus it does not have academic footnotes and other details that would be expected in a written document. The writer gladly acknowledges the prior thought and work of many Christians before him.