There is an old-old legend in the church that tells how Jesus after his ascension, was asked by the angels “just how” he planned on “completing his ministry and mission in the world.”
The angels were incredulous.
“Them?” they exclaimed pointing – to – the fearful, unlearned disciples who stood lost and confused on the earth below.
You are seriously going to depend on people like “them” to complete your mission?
“That’s correct,” Jesus answered.
“And should they fail?” The angels countered. What is your “plan B?”
There is no plan B – said Jesus…they are the only plan there is and ever was.
The plan did not include the rich and the powerful, it included weakness rather than strength. It included the ordinary rather than the extraordinary. It included the common man, the common woman. It included saint and sinner at the same time!
Church people are not and never will be perfect. We are all very fallible. We make mistakes. We do things wrong! Yes the world points and looks and labels us hypocrites.
He did not call the truly successful. He called and calls sinners. The church is and always will be very human – and therefore, far from perfect.
People have a hard time dealing with that…the expectation is for heavenly perfection – and glorious redemption.
The church is always going to fall short of people’s expectations of it.
We try we fail, so we have to try again.
This evening’s gospel text coming from Mark is the perfect case in point. Our text is an almost embarrassing account of how these early disciples shamelessly allowed their personal ambitions to stir up contention and rivalry in their ranks.
Believe it or not they were actually arguing about “who was the greatest.”
The world we live in is no less troubled than the world of Peter, James and John.
It is a truism that while churches have their petty squabbles, cities crumble around them.
Christians debated over the “hot button issues” of the day – while societies decay.
Religious parties and denominations struggle while children starve.
Our churches can be full of loving and caring for our own members…but what about others?
Millions and millions of dollars are spent on buildings and structures – building cathedrals and edifices to ourselves at the exclusion of others.
A point of the gospel text this evening is that Jesus left this work, his work, the work of the kingdom to us, imperfect as we are!
It is interesting…because he chose people who are teachable. He chose people regardless of their station in life.
This happens to be one of those teaching moments, not only for the disciples, but for the entire church.
Jesus attempted to turn their negative conversation into a positive. “If you want to be first, you must be last.”
I’m sure he probably raised a few eyebrows. What did he just say? Speak English, Jesus, make sense. Say, again?
Just how is it – that God measures greatness?
Well according to Jesus – it is just another radical reversal. Your thinking is not God’s thinking…your ways, are not always God’s ways.
Think outside of the box.
Jesus goes on to teach – that in the eyes of God, greatness is measured by servant-hood.
It has been said…
That Jesus turned all of this very human thinking completely upside down and inside out.
He could have chosen anyone – and yet he chose fishermen and a tax collector over priests and scribes. He put a child first and a ruler last.
He chose you over others. He chooses the powerless over the powerful.
The way up with God…is down. It starts with getting on your knees. It continues with rolling up your sleeves. It advances with grunt work. It is at its best – when you are helping others out.
While it may sound like I am talking works righteousness…and working your way into heaven —I personally do not believe in any of that.
What I am saying is out of your faith should flow love… abundant love, overflowing love – for others…actions speak louder than words.
The way to God is through caring.