Sermon on Mark 10:35-45 (Proper 24)

We Cause Scenes

When I was in High School youth group before my senior year I ran to be president of the youth group. My running opponent was a good friend of mine Tami. Tami and I had grown up together in church when my family started attending Peace Lutheran when I was in 2nd grade.  We both had our own unique perspectives on things and would do a good job of leading our group. When election day came we ran into a bit of a problem…every time a vote was taken from the group it was an even split. We literally voted 3 or 4 times and each time, an even split. How were we going to make a decision? Our leaders devised a brilliant plan: Tami and I would go in the room next door and talk it out until we came to a decision. Could you imagine if our political process worked this way? That’s what we did though! We went into the next room and talked. I will always remember that moment. Tami was upset not from the fact that she hadn’t won, but mainly from the stress of the whole situation. I could totally understand that. In that moment being president didn’t matter as much. What mattered more was my friend and coming to a resolution. So I gave it up. I decided to take a different road and be vice president and support her. At first Tami didn’t want to go that route, but in the end she accepted. After a big hug and wiping away some tears, we were able to walk back into the youth room arm in arm looking forward to a great last year together.

Our gospel story today is a classic Marken story. You have all the great components! The disciples show that they really don’t understand what’s going on, this time in an especially open and ignorant way. There’s another reminder of where Jesus’ ministry is ultimately headed, it’s not a comfortable place. Last, but certainly not least, you have another teaching about being a servant. Really Jesus? Again with the servant-hood stuff? Hang on, I think Jesus is trying to tell us something important here…

James and John (the sons of thunder!), after hearing Jesus’ third passion predication, approach Jesus with a request. They can’t just ask though, they have to trap him in a verbal “pinky swear” first. “Jesus, we have a request, but first you have to quadruple times infinity promise that you’re gonna say yes” Jesus doesn’t bite, but simply asks “What is it that you want me to do for you?” It turns out James and John want the best places in the coming Kingdom. They want to be sitting at the right and left of Jesus when He is crowned king of Israel. These positions held a lot of power and were basically seen as advisors to the ruler. We don’t know what things are motivating James and John exactly but we can throw in some good guesses: the want for power, the fear of being lost, looking out for themselves or thinking they’re the best candidates for the job. Jesus is rightfully skeptical and asks some follow up questions to see if they really were getting what he said. The cup he is about to drink and the baptism he will endure is one of suffering and death. He was pretty clear about that in his last prediction. When asked about it James and John think it’s no problem and answer “We’re able.” Then the epic “gotcha”: Jesus affirms that they’ll follow him in these ways but in then end the decision isn't up to him. The other ten catch wind of all of this and are angry about it, probably because they didn't think about it first.

Jesus then calls them all together and presents a completely different view of things. He points out the current rulers and how they lord over the people they lead. They know they have power and use it without second thought. This isn’t going to be the new way of doing things. For Jesus, those who are seen as great take up the role of a servant or even further, become a slave to all. So yes, I am confident that the disciples were ready to run over one another to take up this call. I mean really, that was why they were angry with one another because they wanted to out-do one another in serving. Right? Not… If they understood what Jesus had said they may have had second thoughts.

Let me let you in on a little secret: the disciples haven’t changed much in the past 2000 years. Let that sink in for a moment. We may think we have gotten better but we haven’t. The focus is still on us. We want to make sure that we are well taken care of. That the future is secure. That we have some shred of control over something. We want to ensure that we won’t get lost. We want to ask for Jesus for whatever and have it happen because we get him to “quadruple times infinity promise” us, which…he still doesn’t. We’re really not falling over each other to pick up the role of the servant though sometimes we make a good show of it. Even then it is often done more as a power play to make us look or feel better about ourselves. We quickly answer that we are able to bear the cup and the baptism that is presented in the hopes that it will get us the desired result.

But, Jesus also still calls together disciples 2000 years later to do some crazy amazing things. Showing us all the true path of a servant he endured the cross and rose again so that we might be free from the need to have power. Free from the continuous pushing and shoving to be first. Free to know that death isn't the end so that we can live out the freedom to experience eternal life here and in the times to come. That’s the Kingdom that is here and still not yet. Not one where the powerful rule but one that is manifest in service to one another. This is a powerful and compelling story, wouldn't you agree? We are called as disciples today to claim these promises and to tell this story of freedom.

Where do we go from here? We are being called to share this story of freedom and use our time in more places than just here at church. What do I mean by that? Your neighbors, your co-workers, your family, your friends and yes even your fellow disciples here at church need to hear this story. One of the best ways that they are going to hear it is through experiencing your service to them. Lending a listening ear. Looking out for their dreams. Taking a moment to lift them up. Telling them stories of some crazy and amazing things. I don’t want to pull any punches either, this isn’t the safe way of doing things. You might get stepped on. You might not be first. You probably won’t get the best seat in the house. But then again, we have answered “we are able.” Which in turn Jesus has responded “The cup that I will drink you will drink and with the baptism I am baptized, you will be baptized”

Now you can look at this as a daunting task, but I want to give you another way of looking at it. There is this really cool internet sensation that you should check out. When you get a chance go to the internet and type into your favorite search “Improv Everywhere.” This group out of New York coordinates all sorts of wacky and goofy ideas to implement in every day places to, as their slogan claims, “Cause Scenes” but in a totally joy filled way. A couple examples are their “Black Tie Beach Day” where a couple hundred folks show up to enjoy a day at the beach in their formal wear. Recently, about 4,000 people participated in an “MP3 Experiment” where they downloaded a custom MP3 and followed the directions which culminated in an epic water gun fight in a park. I believe we can do the same thing using the servant model that Jesus calls us to. In our homes, in our schools, in our places of work, where ever we go we can improv everywhere. We can cause scenes of love, joy, peace and tell stories of other times those things have happened. We don’t even have to wait for the signal or directions. We have been given the freedom to go do it! The improv starts today and continues tomorrow and the next day through every day!

May you remember that you are called to tell freedom stories of amazing value. May you take the time to serve those around you this week. And may you always remember to improve peace, joy and love everywhere. Amen

Sermon on Mark 9:30-37 (Proper 20)

The Missing Voice

When I went grocery shopping last weekend I heard and saw a sight that really captured my attention and my heart. There was a young boy shopping with his dad and baby sister in the produce aisle. As they where shopping, the boy kept pointing out different vegetables and fruits that caught his attention. He wasn’t just doing it in a way that only his dad could hear, his excitement was enjoyed by everyone! “Dad! I know what that is! That’s Indian corn! Dad! Look! Purple Cauliflower! That’s awesome! Are we getting bananas, dad? I like bananas!” Then I heard something that brought me crashing down to reality. I’m not sure if it was his dad or another person, but I heard the three most disheartening words ever “Okay, calm down!” The words didn’t seem to faze the boy though. He just kept right on pointing things out, but at a slightly reduced tone.

Our gospel lesson from Mark today is booby trapped. What do I mean by that? You have a director of youth and family ministries preaching. The end of this passage especially has been used as a basis for pointing out the importance of youth and family ministry. This should be a youth minister’s dream verse! I tell you a couple heartwarming stories (I already opened with one), reiterate the importance of welcoming children, get it set in your mind again my usefulness and purpose. Boom! We’re at the hymn of the day and I have a new found job security. Sorry. Not happening. If we just did that much of the complexity of this story would be gone. So strap in, prep for your nap if you must because we’re diving in.

One of the first ways I came at this verse was through something we use with kids all the time. Whenever you got ready to go somewhere in school what was the first thing the teacher told you to do? That’s right. Line up in a line. The line as a form of crowd control and easily mobility for a class has been around forever! I’m pretty sure they did this in Jesus’ day too. So we have our line of kiddos and what is the most coveted place of all? Again, you’re right: the front. You got the special title! You were the line leader! You had an important function! Every kid wants to be the line leader. There is always a pushing and shoving match to see who is going to lead the line which is ultimately decided upon by the teacher.

We encounter the disciples and Jesus today on the road to Capernaum. Jesus took the special side streets because he didn’t want the crowds to know they were there so he could do some intense teaching with his chosen 12. The teaching is intense for this point in the story. Jesus tells them the way things will be. The path that they are headed towards. “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.” The disciples don’t understand, but this time is different, the writer gives us an even deeper glimpse “they were afraid to ask him” So what do the disciples do instead? They get into a slap fighting contest to determine who the line leader is. Okay, so maybe they didn’t really do that, but that is how it went down in my head. They argue about who is the greatest! Who is the line leader. Jesus, being the fantastic teacher that he is, not only calls them on it in a rhetorical way because he knows what was happening, but tries a different approach.

He begins teaching them concerning what they are focused on the most: what does it mean to be the greatest and how to do it. It’s not by being a line leader. It’s not about who comes first. It’s something completely different. Jesus, makes a statement and then follows it up with a concrete example. “Whoever wants to be first must be last of all and servant of all” Then he takes a child and places it among them. We have to unpack this a bit. In Jesus’ day children were the lowest on the social ladder even below women. This isn’t a heartfelt, “Aw, look at the cute kid with Jesus moment” but a pointed reminder that Jesus is giving to his disciples. Here is the missing voice. Here is the lost voice. Here is the voice on the edge of everything. You want to be first? Pay attention to this voice. Listen to this voice. Serve this voice.

In a 21st century world we have gotten better at this, somewhat. We’re better about welcoming children and listening to that voice. We’re better at listening to some other voices. Not perfect, but better. We still have some growing edges. There are still tons of voices that are looking for welcome. Looking to be a part of our story. Looking to be a part of God’s story. We’re good at listening sometimes and other times we’re not. We get afraid to ask questions or understand, so we start slap fighting to see who gets to be the line leader. We miss the promise of the cross, fail to ask about it when we don’t understand or worse claim that we understand fully. We push other voices out of the picture or try and get them to calm down. We forget to look for who is on the outside edge. There is a voice missing.

One voice that isn’t missing is the one from the cross. A voice that cries out with us “Eloi, Eloi, lema sabachthani? “ “My God, My God why have you forsaken me” A voice that has experienced where we have been, especially when we are on the outside edge.  A voice of love, grace and mercy that continues to teach us how to serve and listen. A voice that gives us the confidence to listen, love and try to understand despite being afraid. A voice that continually speaks a different message that is hard to understand. A message that says to be first is not what is important, but to serve and welcome all. A message that dares us to ask questions. A message that works through the most odd places: Through a cross, through a child, through those on the edge. Even through you and me.

Let me leave you with this: Where is the missing voice in your life? It could be any number of things or people. I’m not talking on a global scale, let’s face it there are missing voices on that stage too. I’m talking about the realm you can do something about. At work, at school, at home, here at Shepherd of Life: What voice needs a welcome? What voice is missing? It may be a voice that is excited and enthusiastic. It may be a voice that is tired and weary. It might be a voice that is broken. It may be a voice that is different. It might be a voice that is just lost and looking for a place. May we join our voices with the voice of God in saying “All are welcome.” Thanks be to God. Amen