Really?

Audio Version

Sunday, October 18, 2015 | After Pentecost
Proper 24
Year B

Old Testament        Isaiah 53:4–12
New Testament      Hebrews 5:1–10
Gospel                       Mark 10:35–45[1]

When I read verse 35, which mind you is the first verse in out text today, I just have to say, REALLY?!  Really, do they have the gall to go before the Son of God and ask him to do whatever they ask?  Just that alone is one of those things that make you go, huh?  If that doesn’t seem odd enough, or rather bold on their part, lets take a step back altogether.

If we look at the preceding verses, 32-34 it say; “…[Jesus] took the twelve aside again and began to tell them what was to happen to him, 33 saying, “See, we are going up to Jerusalem, and the Son of Man will be handed over to the chief priests and the scribes, and they will condemn him to death; then they will hand him over to the Gentiles; 34 they will mock him, and spit upon him, and flog him, and kill him; and after three days he will rise again.”[2]

Jesus tells the twelve, which includes James and John, that he will be condemned to death, he will be mocked, spit upon, flogged and killed.  Maybe it was because he said he would rise again in three days, that James and John don’t fully take to heart what Jesus says.  This is not the first time however they had heard this.  This was the THIRD time that Jesus tells the disciples what awaits Him.

James and John, after hearing Jesus speak about the terrible things that will happen to Him, have the gall to ask Jesus to do whatever they ask.  Unfortunately, yes.  Really and I can only speak of myself, but I know who Jesus is and I have asked for more than what Jesus did and does for us.

The giving of Jesus’ life for all of humanity apparently is just not enough.  God sent the Son for us all.  Yet I have tried to make deals with God.  Have you ever tried to make a deal with God?  Ask for more than what has already been done, which is everything, in the Son, Christ Jesus?

It is interesting that this asking of more of the Father, Son and Spirit is not just limited to God.  It seems to be human nature to keep asking of instead of doing what needs to be done.  It is not that we can do more than what Jesus has done for us in the love and grace of God.

How we treat God is also indicative of how we treat one another and ourselves.  If we are being provided for, it is easy to allow those doing the providing, to keep on doing it.  Maybe the provider is very capable and even willing to keep on providing, but where does personal responsibility and ownership kick in?

Now, don’t hear me saying that as a provider, as a doer, we need to stop providing and stop doing.  It is a slippery sloop of providing and doing that turns into enabling.

Also do not hear me saying that if someone is doing for you, that you are enabled to keep on taking.  Nor do I want you to hear that there are not times when we need help and accepting help is bad.

No, that is not the case.  Helpers need to be able to help.  People who need help need to be able to ask for help.

What I want you to hear is that ownership and pride, in standing on our own two feet is good.  To much ownership can also result in the ideas that we are in control or that we can control everything.  That “everything” we have and do is through us and not our creator God.

James and John make a bold request to have something giving to them.  Something that Jesus does not turn His back on, but questions further to find out the validity of the request.  Had it been something in His power to give, Jesus might have been willing to do so, but not if Jesus becomes and enabler.  He would do so in a loving way that would not enable the receiver of the gift, the requester, to continue to seek always from God alone.

Yes, give credit to God alone for all we have and can do.  Be thankful to others who are providers and doers. At the same time, stand up, take notice and evaluate your actions and in-actions to see if there is something more you can do.  See if there is something more that you should do.  The sum of the parts is greater the parts on their own.  The strength of the members combined together is stronger than the individual that can do for the members rather the members doing for each other.

Yes, really.  Human nature is to sometimes allow others to do and for us to keep asking of more of others.  However, it does not have to be that way.  If it is good for us, Jesus would do it.  If it was something that was good for John and James and Jesus had it in His power, he would have granted it.

In the end, God has final say and will use, no matter what the decision, the questions or actions are, for the furtherance of God’s will.  That does not relieve us of of a sense of obligation to do what we can and not ask more of what we should not.

[1] Revised Common Lectionary (Bellingham, WA: Logos Bible Software, 2009).

[2] The Holy Bible: New Revised Standard Version (Nashville: Thomas Nelson Publishers, 1989), Mk 10:32–34.