20 October 2024 Pentecost 22

Job 38.1-7;   Psalm 104.1-10, 26;   Hebrews 5.1-10;   Mark 10.35-45

The gospel this morning starts with a ‘demand-cloaked-as-a-request’, and it shows the disciples are still working on ‘human’  values.  They see greatness in terms of power and control, and leadership in terms of prestige and power over.  Jesus sees it differently.  On three separate occasions, while on his journey to Jerusalem, Jesus has warned, or tried to tell, the disciples about his destiny at the hands of angry mobs and political power-brokers – to tell them of his impending betrayal, mockery, condemnation, suffering, violent execution, but then resurrection.  And after each of these occasions, the disciples respond in all the wrong ways, even after being with him for three years, they still did not understand the true nature of his redemptive mission.

The first time Jesus tells them, Peter tries to prevent his suffering, and Jesus rebukes him for having his mind on ‘earthly’ things not on things of God.  The second time, the disciples argued among themselves about who was the greatest.  And now the third time, James and John show amazing audacity, presumption, and exaggerated self-importance.  In our modern context we might call this a bad case of  FOMO or ‘fear of missing out’, and when Matthew tells this story, it is James and John’s mother who does the asking.

Jesus responds to their bold request with patience and curiosity, asking them what it is they would like him to do for them.  And their response reveals that these two appear to want to ‘come first’, they are asking to retire as privileged favourites with unique, intimate access to Jesus’ power and glory.  And, more than just wanting this, they appear to think they are entitled to this position.  And while we might be horrified, or even laugh at their apparent arrogance, Jesus does none of these, he takes their request seriously and engages in conversation that is compassionate rather than condemning.  But the thing is, James and John did get some things right.

Firstly, they have placed their full faith in the right person.  Even though Jesus has been telling them, in full detail, what is about to happen to him, these two brothers are clinging to the belief that Jesus will prevail in the end.  Even though they have no idea what the concept of ‘resurrection’ means, they trust him, they trust his word, his love, his power, his mission and his leadership.  Their personal hopes and dreams, imperfect as they are, are rooted in Jesus.  Are ours??

Secondly, they are ambitious for the reign of God.  They expect Jesus to be glorified, and the want him to be glorified, and they expect and want the world’s difficulties and inconsistencies to be righted.  And Jesus does not criticise these two for their ambitiousness.  He does not tell them they are wrong to want greatness, instead he redirects their desires.  He offers them a radically different definition of greatness.  And in this Jesus shows us that God wants us to want more, seek more, hope more and need more.  Our desires can be redirected, our ambitions can be purified.

Thirdly, James and John ask.  They boldly approach Jesus and make their request with full confidence.  Yes, their request is tacky, yes it comes out of ignorance and immaturity, and some of their motives may have been selfish, but they asked.  They engaged in real relationship with Jesus and were open enough to say that they deeply wished to remain close to him.  How often have we failed to ask, failed to engage, or even lean on God.  How often do we go through our daily routines, and not even give God a second thought, even though we profess to be God’s child, God’s follower, God’s friend.  Real relationships need honest engagement, they need love, affection, and they need us to have an ongoing desire for proximity and intimacy.

These two brothers did get some things right.  But, at the same time they also got a key thing wrong, which is at the heart of today’s Gospel.  When we look at their request to Jesus, and the question he asks them in reply, their error becomes clear.  Their request shows a level of ‘expected entitlement’, ‘we want you to do whatever we ask’; but Jesus’ reply is different ‘what is it I can do for you’.  In other words, James and John’s ‘entitled’ request to Jesus – we are owed this, contrasts with Jesus’ reply – I am here to serve you.  What these two appear to have failed to understand is that service in the kingdom of God is not a second-class means to a first-class end.  Service is the end.  Service is abundance.  Service is power.  Service is glory.  The only path to success in Jesus’ kingdom economy is by surrendering any form of entitlement.  Yes, we can aspire to glory.  But we are told to recognise that Jesus’ definition of glory is not in the gathering of privilege.  Glory in God’s kingdom is an exercise of subtraction, it is the generous and perpetual losing of one’s self in love.

This gospel leaves us with two questions this morning.  Two options.  James and John seek glory by attempting to privilege themselves ‘Do for us.  Grant us’.  Jesus epitomises glory by privileging others ‘what can I do for you.  Dare we trade one question for the other?  Do we dare to surrender privilege for glory?  The invitation is to develop in a downward direction – to serve, serve, and serve some more.  Can we find the courage to make Jesus’ question our own?

Can we also get a few things right like James and John did and trust Jesus, can we root our hopes and dreams in Jesus?  Can we be ambitious for the reign of God, can we want more, seek more, hope more and need more.  And can we remember to stay in relationship and ask God, ask and lean on God for all we deeply desire.  Even though our motives may be slightly skewed, let us not fail to ask.  Jesus did not criticise or ridicule James and John for their ambitious request, and God will not criticise or ridicule us either.  But when our requests are skewed and out of kilter, we need to be prepared for our desires to be redirected, and our ambitions purified.

James and John looked at status and power as indicators of greatness, but Jesus pointed out that greatness comes when we serve.  When we willingly, and even joyfully, serve others.  So we have two choices, we can serve the voices that tell us that we are entitled to ‘this or that’, or we can serve the voice of Jesus that calls us to find freedom, and even our true self, through service to others.  And the thing is, as we give ourselves away in service to others, we are likely to find a depth and quality of life we have never previously experienced, when we lose ourselves in service, we will find ourselves living more fully than ever before.