Scripture Reading: Mark 10:35-45
October 18, 2009
Patrick Preheim
Nutana Park Mennonite Church
The Journey of James
Our text for this morning painfully highlights the opportunity for spiritual
growth on the part of the disciples. After teachings on children and the
inevitability of suffering earlier in chapter 10, James and John make a
theological gaff. Full of themselves they request of Jesus preferred seating in
the age to come. They still think following after Jesus is some kind of charm:
protection in this world or at the least privilege in the next. One would
imagine that the son of God would choose brighter students as his travel
companions. Seriously, if I were navigating stormy seas, climbing mountains or
facing hostile crowds I would want the best and brightest as part of my tour.
The discipleship choice of Jesus is a curious one. We should give thanks for the
sons of Zebedee because their presence on the way makes it clear that there is a
place for us on the way. Jesus calls us hopeful that we will move in our
understandings of who he is and what discipleship means.
And Jesus lays out a pretty simple program for learning on the way: serving in
humility. Something about serving others allows us insight into the grace and
power of God. When we serve others we become aware of our own poverty and our
own blessedness. When we serve others we become participants in resurrection
moments. And resurrection-- Christ’s, our own, the resurrection of others-- is
the defining concept of our Christian life.
Christ asks James and John if they are able to be baptized with the baptism in
which he was baptized. They answer that they are able. I am guessing James and
John had little idea what the question meant. Still, they were willing to learn
about Christ as they followed the call and the baptism of Jesus. Jesus finds the
arrangement agreeable. Their theological miscues and even periodic denials are
fine so long as they are still willing to follow after. Jesus knows that walking
and serving in the way will bring them deeper understanding, and deeper courage
to remain faithful. John and James do learn. The same James who sorely
misunderstands Jesus in Mark 10 is also the James who is named as a pillar of
the congregation (Gal 2:9) and a martyr of the church (Acts 12:2). Something
happens to James between the gospels and the epistles. On the journey they come
to own the baptism of Jesus.
And it happens to us as well. Jesus calls each of us to follow after. Jesus
invites each of us to participate in his baptism. Our faith will deepen and our
courage will be strengthened as we humbly serve along the way. Mackenzie and
Shannon, I hope you two will one day be called pillars of the congregation and
witnesses (martyrs) to the faith. Keep on the journey and it will be so. For
those who have been pillars of the church and are nearing the end of your lives,
thank you for learning as you have served others with grace and compassion.
Thank you for passing on your wisdom as you have testified to the next
generations through word and deed. You have provided we who come after a rich
heritage.
And so we come on this day of baptism to eat and drink at the table of our Lord
as a reminder that Christ is with us regardless of our place on the journey.
Christ is with us on the way whether we are the James of Mark 1 who is just now
being called, or the James of Mark 10 who is a little mixed up, or the James of
Mark 14 who runs in terror, or the James of Galatians who is a pillar of the
congregation, or the James of Acts 12 who is near death.