| March 04, 2007
You are welcome to reflect on this message
James and John wanted to go down in history by going up. And they did go down in history, but not by going up. It’s been a hard lesson for Jesus’ followers to accept. His direction is not up or down, just out. These two grown men just got their Mamma to ask the Boss for special treatment. It happened to be them, but it could have been any of us. Who’s not above praying to God for a favor?
Name-dropping our proximity to famous people gets things done in this world. People still widen their eyes when we say Roger Williams preached here! It’s much more electric than ol’ #36. Connecting ourselves with the wealthy, famous, or powerful satisfies our desire for recognition and rank. That's what Mrs. Zebedee wanted for her boys: prestige, status and the perks that come with the good life. And by position or proxy, she herself gets elevated. Parents still try to live their lives through their kids. It’s nothing new.
Did you notice how she addressed Jesus, but he addressed the boys? He wouldn’t stand for triangling. Maybe he thought they put her up to it. Because a mamma’s intentions for her sons is harder to turn down. The request is to the point. They want to sit up there on the seat of power; the right hand and the left. But they're willing to wait until Jesus becomes the king of the kingdom. They’re not that concerned about the titles. “Chancellor and provost” would be fine. Or “emeritus!” They just want to ensure that their place is reserved when the time comes. But they thought the chances for success would be better if mamma did the asking.
It’s not unreasonable. Zebedee's sons were the first disciples, who left all to follow Jesus, when he was still an unknown risk. Because they thought there was something in it for them, not others. Along with Peter, James and John made up Jesus’ inner circle. They’re the ones he took up on transfiguration mountain. In the Garden of Gethsemane, they’re the ones Jesus begged to stay awake. Jesus favored them, so what’s wrong with assuming it ought to continue, once they make it to the top? What's wrong with it is the timing. At some other time or place, this request might have gone down better with Jesus. But Jesus is dead-serious, on his way to Jerusalem. He's just told them about his destiny that leads to a cross on a hill. It's the third time he told them that. And nobody’s heard him yet. They weren’t listening because it was too hard to hear.
The 1st time Peter objected, "God forbid that this should ever happen to you!" The next time he brought it up in the Upper-room, they argued among themselves about “who was the greatest.” Now he tells them again. And that's just when the Zebedees hit on Mom to make sure they get two reserved seats on the front row of glory. It had to be exasperating for Jesus to see them keep changing the subject. They’re just scared. They didn’t want to lose what they had going. Because Jesus was the most successful person they'd ever known. They’d bet the farm on him! The last thing they want to be talking about is his funeral. So they tell him to lighten up and start making sense.
But the real reason they deny what he's saying about himself is because it thwarts what they're thinking about themselves; such as who's the greatest? And who’ll sit where when the good times roll? Some of it’s fear; part of it self‑absorption. But a lot of it is their absolute confidence in Jesus. They know a winner when they see one. They're playing on a championship team. And wherever he goes, no matter how he gets there, they intend to be right there with him, raisin’ that trophy! You gotta love their devotion. We could us some of it around here. The details don't faze them one iota! As long as they make it to the good life. It's easy for us who’d also like to have "a piece of the rock" to judge James and John from the distance of two millennia. They're close enough to see the top of the heap and they’re thick with the One to get them there; Somebody they'd do anything for. If only he’d grant them one little favor. Just don’t forget us when you make it big. That's all they want. Much like the thief on Good Friday.
When the rest of the disciples hear about it, they’re incensed. But not Jesus. He’s so understanding. Yeah it makes him sad, that he can't give what they want, because what they want is not his to give. "Ya’ll don't know what you're asking!" "Aw, we know what we’re doing. We can drink the cup. We're up to it." And Jesus opens his eyes real wide and says, "You will indeed drink the cup. But to sit on either side of the throne, is not mine to grant." So they ask the right person for the wrong thing. They asked the Good Shepherd for an IRA; the foot washer for alligator shoes; the carpenter's son for box seats in paradise. And none of that is his to give. Some things are within his realm to give. He can give sight to the blind, make the lame walk, cleanse lepers, calm storms or raise the dead. But he can't confer status or guarantee a fancy income or grant heavenly perks…because he doesn't have any of that to give.
It’s a deadly Christian sin, doing the right thing for the wrong reasons. It just doesn’t fit, that he’s a servant, not a hireling. Not somebody temporarily disguised as a servant, who’ll one day throw off his rags and hold a press conference at the seat of power. This is somebody who keeps on diving into the crowds of the poor, sick, and hungry people who follow him around. It is his "meat" to touch them, heal them, talk with them. This is no political campaign strategy! He's not got one eye on the polls. It’s his way of life! And while it’s a good life, it's just not the one James and John or any of the others signed up for.
Nor did we. That's why God doesn't give us what we want, only what we need. And even that's iffy. All he can give any of us is his own life, which he never runs out of. James and John have bought into the same merchandising concept of the good life, as we have. The good life is getting our way; getting to heaven, avoiding pitfalls along the way. Out on easy street!
You still see this version of “the good life” today in numerically successful churches. That’s why they’re big. They promise riches for our pocketbooks; victory in our wars; stars in our crowns. I call it “Old Milwaukee” religion! It doesn’t get any bettern’ this! But the good life according to Jesus is a life lived with others, for others, without reward. The tribute comes in the doing of it. It’s not about consumerism, what we can get out of it; only what we can put into it. The good life according to Jesus is long days and short nights, always on the move with no travel allowance; blood, sweat, and tears. It’s being misunderstood, taken advantage of, suffering and death. How in the world do you market that in today’s something‑for-nothing society?
I’d like to see a church advertise: Our church specializes in sacrifice. We offer a cross and invite you to come and die! Die to self. Die to power. Die to prestige. Any takers? Nah! Get real. Servanthood can be draining, but there’s meaning to be found in it. If you’re searching for a life worth living; a life with purpose larger than navel-gazing. A life you can look back on and say, “I’m glad I did that!” A way of life that has so much life in it that death can't touch it.
So Jesus has a question for the brothers who want to sit next to him: "Are you able? Are you able to drink the cup that I am about to drink?" "Yeah, we’re able," they declare with the same kind of cockiness Peter once had when he swore three times he'd never deny Jesus. They won’t allow themselves to see that Jesus is headed in the opposite direction from where they want to go. They think he's going to the top. But he's headed for a cross, "If I be lifted up, I will draw all of you to myself." So when he went up, they ran out! All but the ladies and that guy he loved. That's the good life? Yeah, he’s about to pull the rug out from under everybody and lead ‘em into the darkest place they have ever been. They don't have a clue what they're saying.
He may not be able to fulfill our fantasies about being able, but one thing you can count on from God. You can expect from God what Jesus got from God. No more, no less. He will grant to us a life as much like Jesus’ as we can stand. Minimum protection. Maximum support. Who wants on the right hand or the left of something like that? But then maybe someday, we’ll find it in us to realize that his life of service and sacrifice and grace is “the good life” after all.
Like the earliest followers, we don’t know what we’re asking most of the time when we pray. Much of the time, we think we’re more able than we really are. And like them we plead, “Lord, teach us to pray!” Let the Spirit make groanings on our behalf, too deep for words. Demolish our denials; abolish soft-mindedness; eradicate our fears; give us a willingness to look at reality as it is, not as we want it to be. May this worship remind us that we don’t have forever, and resolve to do our best to make the most of whatever time you see fit to give us.
Today we’re mindful of those dreaded times that come to all of us in due time, when we face something that brings us to our knees, shows us our limitations, and reminds us that we are creatures, not the Creator. Heal all in need of your grace, grant mercy to those who have stumbled, redeem those who’ve strayed away. Be especially close to those grieving their losses, at home and abroad. Christ drank the cup. So shall we. Just let us do it in faith, that you can make us able. Amen. |
