"Called To Servanthood" October 22, 2006 Proper 24

(First, read the text for this sermon: Mark 10:(32-34)35-45)

You and I are called to servanthood, in a radical and startling way. That’s what we receive from this morning’s passage in Mark. Indeed, that’s been a theme in the entire section of Mark we’ve been reading from over the past month or so, as we’ve been struggling with the disciples to understand what Jesus is up to!

This section of Mark, over a couple of chapters, includes stories of Jesus’ teaching, and healing, and arguing with the religious authorities. Each story can be looked at individually (and that’s usually what we do on a Sunday morning). But it’s also real important to recognize that the gospel writer of Mark has embedded these stories in a context of movement. Time and again, we read that Jesus and his followers are “on the way” (9:33), or “on the road” (10:32). They are “going up to Jerusalem.”

That movement is important in understanding what’s happening in these stories. What’s going to happen in Jerusalem? Jesus took the twelve aside again and began to tell them what was to happen to him, 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; they will mock him, and spit upon him, and flog him, and kill him; and after three days he will rise again."

Do you know how many times, in this section of Mark, has Jesus told his disciples that this will happen in Jerusalem? This is the third time! And you and I are right there with the disciples, if you’re entering into the story: you’re struggling along with the disciples to understand just what’s going on! What is Jesus up to? What is this radical life Jesus is calling us to?

Watch how the struggle unfolds, the confusion and misunderstanding. Two chapters earlier, it’s the first time Jesus says this: Then [Jesus] began to teach them that the Son of Man must undergo great suffering, and be rejected by the elders, the chief priests, and the scribes, and be killed, and after three days rise again.

Well, does that make sense? Is that what should happen? No! Aren’t you and I are right there with Peter, who took [Jesus] aside and began to rebuke him. “Of course that’s not what should or will happen to you, Jesus, my Lord, with all the power of God!” But then Jesus looks at us, as well, when, turning and looking at his disciples, he rebuked Peter and said, "Get behind me, Satan! For you are setting your mind not on divine things but on human things." Hmmm. What is this radical life of servanthood we’re being called to? What does it mean to set our minds on divine things rather than human things?

Then, what wonders come next in Mark’s story! The Transfiguration of Jesus on the mountaintop! And then the miraculous healing of a boy! What power from God!

But then, again, here’s what we read (Mark 9:30-32): They went on from there and passed through Galilee. [Jesus] did not want anyone to know it; for he was teaching his disciples, saying to them, "The Son of Man is to be betrayed into human hands, and they will kill him, and three days after being killed, he will rise again." But they did not understand what he was saying and were afraid to ask him.

Then they came to Capernaum; and when he was in the house he asked [his disciples], "What were you arguing about on the way?" But they were silent, for on the way they had argued with one another who was the greatest.

Well, yes, certainly someone worried about how great he is shows that his mind is on human concerns. But aren’t we all right there with the disciples in their fear and confusion? Isn’t it a natural thing to be concerned about our legacy, our impact, our accomplishments? I do that! Don’t you? [Jesus] sat down, called the twelve, and said to them, "Whoever wants to be first must be last of all and servant of all" – which, of course, turns everything we’ve been taught upside down! You and I are right there with the disciples: what is this radical servanthood we’re being called to? And, why?

Next, in Mark’s story, Jesus teaches with such authority! With such clarity! He teaches about marriage. He tells a questioner that the key to happiness is to give all of his money away, to care for the poor, and also so that he doesn’t have to worry about any material things. Jesus’ teachings are so eye-opening! It’s like nobody ever heard teachings on these subjects before! They offer such startling perspective, to go along with the miraculous powers from God in his healings …

… and so, why are they still going up to Jerusalem, where Jesus will allow himself to be condemned to death and mocked and spit upon and flogged and killed? It’s no wonder what we read: They were on the road, going up to Jerusalem, and Jesus was walking ahead of them; they were amazed, and those who followed were afraid.

Does it make any sense, to be continuing to Jerusalem? Why – when Jesus has all this power and authority? No, what makes sense is James and John’s question! What makes sense is jockeying for position and securing our place in the upcoming administration! It’s what any of us would do; any of us concerned about our career path. Here’s what we read: James and John, the sons of Zebedee, came forward to him and said to him, "Teacher, we want you to do for us whatever we ask of you." And he said to them, "What is it you want me to do for you?" And they said to him, "Grant us to sit, one at your right hand and one at your left, in your glory."

Do you remember how the others react to this question? When the ten heard this, they began to be angry with James and John. Well, of course! James and John have put in their requests before the rest of them could do so!

But Jesus said to them, "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?" They replied, "We are able." Then Jesus said to them, "The cup that I drink you will drink; and with the baptism with which I am baptized, you will be baptized; but to sit at my right hand or at my left is not mine to grant, but it is for those for whom it has been prepared." “The cup,” “the baptism”: Jesus is referring to upcoming suffering. His followers will indeed share in that – even though, at this point, they have no idea what’s coming.

Here’s this morning’s question to you, about the gospel of Mark. Does Jesus ever get through to the disciples? In Mark, he does not! But now, you and I also enter into these stories in Mark. And so, the more relevant question is: Does Jesus get through to you and me?

So Jesus called them and said to them, "You know that among the Gentiles those whom they recognize as their rulers lord it over them, and their great ones are tyrants over them. But it is not so among you; 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. Did you hear that?! And now: why? Here’s why: it’s following the model of Jesus the Christ. For the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life a ransom for many."

What does such a radical call to servanthood mean, for you and me, as the church?

One thing it means, I think, at this time of looming elections, is that church bodies are not called to political power; for instance, pushing through a state constitutional amendment that would deny basic civil rights to those in non-traditional families. Instead, as radical, as startling, as world-turned-upside-down as it can be, we are called to servanthood to those who are “non-traditional.” We are called to servanthood to those who are cast out because they are considered “unclean.”

We are not called to power and privilege that comes from money and stature. That doesn’t matter to Jesus the Christ. Instead, as mystifying as it is, we are called to servanthood to those who are poor. We are to serve their needs, which means, to put ourselves beneath them!

It’s all so counter-cultural. It’s all so entirely opposite our assumptions of how the world works. The whole Jesus story, this whole section of Mark is a parable that turns our assumptions upside down! Imagine: greatness comes through gracious love and servanthood – to anyone who is broken and hurting and disabled and rejected and in need.

“Whoever wishes to become great among you must be your servant, and whoever wishes to be first among you must be slave of all. For the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life a ransom for many."

In the name of God, who is Father and Son and Holy Spirit. Amen.


Pastor Andy Ballentine
St. Stephen Lutheran Church
Williamsburg, Virginia