October 18, 2009

It's Not What You Think

Isaiah 53:4-12

Psalm 91:9-16
Mark 10:35-45

Someone walks up to you and says, "Hey, would you do me a favor?"  Uh oh.  Immediately, the warning bells begin to go off in the back of your mind.  First off, do you even know this person?  If it is a friend, coworker, or a loved one, it probably won't be a problem, but we're not likely to do too many favors for total strangers.  A favor implies a relationship.  If it is your sister's daughter's friend's neighbor...you might buy a box of Girl Scout cookies from them or donate $10 to a charity, but you're not likely to loan that person $1,000.  If you are going to do a favor for someone, you're probably going to know him or her pretty well. 

Secondly, what's the favor?  That being said, all favors are not created equal.  There is a difference between wanting $10 and $1,000.  There is a difference between driving someone to their job across town and helping a person move to say, Houston, Texas.  Many times, even though we may want to grant some of the larger favors, it may not be within our power.  You simply may not have the $1,000 to loan them or a week to take off work. 

If you know the person well enough, and you are able to help out, you might grant a person their request, but in reality, there is usually a third question we ask before granting favors.  Do they deserve it?  This may seem a little harsh or worldly, but know that when someone asks us for a favor (especially a big one), we do ask ourselves, "Do they deserve it?" What has this person ever done for me?  Do they merit this favor?  Would this person do the same for me, if I were in his or her shoes? 

Most of the time, when we ask for a favor, we are usually just asking for simple help, a couple of dollars or a few minutes of our time.  However, when it comes down to the big favors, we do ask ourselves, "Do they deserve it?"

Before we go on anymore, let's take a moment and look at the word favor.  When we think of "a" favor, we usually see it as a work, job, task, or time that someone needs from us.  But favor also means to be in one's good graces or to hold a position of privilege or esteem.  To ask for a favor is one thing, but to ask for someone's favor is a little bit more.

Take a look at James and John in Mark 10:35.  ³⁵ Then James and John, the sons of Zebedee, came to him. "Teacher," they said, "we want you to do for us whatever we ask." ³⁶ "What do you want me to do for you?" he asked. ³⁷ They replied, "Let one of us sit at your right and the other at your left in your glory."

Although we often say that Jesus had twelve disciples, he actually had many more than twelve.  However, these twelve, he called specifically to follow him, to witness the miracles, to hear his teachings firsthand, and to minister in his place after Jesus had returned to his Father in heaven.  Yet, even among these twelve, there were three who were set apart: Peter, James, and John.  Jesus would often take these three aside to spend time with them to teach them.  They were even there at the Transfiguration of Jesus in Mark 9.  These three had most certainly received Jesus' favor in this time.

However, this was not without trouble.  On the way to Capernaum, they began to argue amongst themselves about who was the greatest of the group.  Peter had already distinguished himself from the others in Mark 8.  When Jesus asked the disciples, "Who do you say I am?"  (it is) Peter (who) answered, "You are the Christ."

As they squabble over who is the greatest, they are missing out on what Jesus is doing for them.  They are unable to heal and drive out demons.  In Mark 9:35, Jesus called the Twelve and said, "If anyone wants to be first, he must be the very last, and the servant of all."...but they still don't get it.  So James and John come to Jesus with their request for a favor.  "Let one of us sit at your right and the other at your left in your glory."

³⁸ "You don't know what you are asking,"

They think that they are asking for a favor, but it is not what they think it is.  They are not asking for a favor, but they are asking divine favor.  They are asking for one of the highest places of honor and glory in all of creation. 

"You will drink the cup I drink and be baptized with the baptism I am baptized with, ⁴⁰ but to sit at my right or left is not for me to grant. These places belong to those for whom they have been prepared."

To drink the cup of Jesus and receive his baptism is no small honor, but again, it is not what James and John think it is.  To drink his cup and receive his baptism is to live the life and suffer the death of Jesus that is described in Isaiah 53.

⁴ Surely he took up our infirmities and carried our sorrows, yet we considered him stricken by God, smitten by him, and afflicted. ⁵ But he was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was upon him, and by his wounds we are healed.

⁷ He was oppressed and afflicted, yet he did not open his mouth; he was led like a lamb to the slaughter, and as a sheep before her shearers is silent, so he did not open his mouth. ⁸ By oppression and judgment he was taken away.

Numerous times, Jesus tried to explain this to them.  In Mark 9: 31 Jesus told them "The Son of Man is going to be betrayed into the hands of men. They will kill him, and after three days he will rise."  But still James, John, and the others continued to argue who would be second (and even third) in line after Jesus.  

⁴¹ When the ten heard about this, they became indignant with James and John. ⁴² Jesus called them together and said, "You know that those who are regarded as rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and their high officials exercise authority over them. ⁴³ Not so with you.

Of course James and John wanted to be the top dogs, because when Jesus was gone, then they could rule the roost, be the top dogs, and rule over the disciples.  That was probably what they all wanted.  But Jesus tells them that this is not the mark of a true disciple of Jesus Christ. 

^43b Instead, whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant, ⁴⁴ and whoever wants to be first must be slave of all. ⁴⁵ For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many."

¹¹ After the suffering of his soul, he will see the light of life and be satisfied; by his knowledge my righteous servant will justify many, and he will bear their iniquities. ¹² Therefore I will give him a portion among the great, and he will divide the spoils with the strong, because he poured out his life unto death, and was numbered with the transgressors.

After Jesus' death and resurrection and after the coming of the Holy Spirit at Pentecost, James and John do become the servants that Jesus had described.  They received his baptism when they took up the ministry of Jesus teaching, healing, and serving the lost of this world.  They also took up his cup, suffering and dying for the sake of the cross. 

If you think that being a Christian is a life full of happy self fulfillment with the promise golden gates and bejeweled streets, I have one thing to tell you.  It's not what you think.  Jesus never told us that he wanted to do us a favor so that we could take it easy in life.  Instead, he wants to give us his divine favor as we take up our cross and follow him.  When the world tells us that we need to be large and in charge, Jesus tell us that we must be a servant and the slave of all.  I won't lie to you, but it won't always be easy.  There will be trials and temptations.  There will be struggles of every kind.  But when we think of what Jesus did for us...is it too much of him to ask?  Before we close this morning, take a moment and pray silently.  Are you trying to run the show, or are you living to serve others.  Don't just ask God for a favor, but live and be filled with his favor...his love and his grace.  Remember what Jesus said in Mark 10:45

For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many."

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