God’s Servants
What were James and John thinking? Were they grasping for power or were the sons of Zebedee pursuing sacrificial service? The Gospel of Mark says James and John approached Jesus.
Teacher, we want you to do for us whatever we ask of you.” And he replied, “What is it you want me to do for you?” And they said, “Grant us to sit, one at your right hand and one at your left, in your glory.
– Mark 10:35-37
Were John and James asking for top positions in the court of Israel’s messiah king or were they confirming their commitment to follow Jesus Christ to Calvary? Jesus explored their intent: do you know what you are asking? Jesus inquired about what they meant to help facilitate their discernment, to foster their self understanding:
Are you able to drink the cup that I drink, or be baptized with the baptism that I am baptized with?
James and John gave an earnest reply, “we are able.” So Jesus tested the nature of their intentions: you will drink from the cup of suffering that I must drink. And Jesus directed their intent toward the calling God gave James and John: you will be baptized into the ministries of healing and hope, of risk and rejection into which I am baptized. Then Jesus set limits: the places on my right and left are not mine to give you; these have been assigned to others. If James and John were seeking fame and fortune Jesus’ exploration brought them back to what God had called them to do. If the Zebedee’s sons wanted power and importance, Jesus’ inquiry guided them to the role he was modeling.
What James and John thought was not entirely clear, but the thinking of the ten other disciples was crystal clear. When they heard what James and John had asked, they got angry. They were irate. They did not want to be left out of positions in the cabinet of officers and advisors. It was not right for James and John to upstage and displace them. Jesus put an end to this bitter rivalry. He clarified the role of disciples.
The people around us (those leaders out there) lord over the people they serve, and the people expect their leaders to be tyrants. This is not how it should be with us, among you. Whoever wishes to become great must be your servant, and whoever wishes to be first among you must be slave of all.
– Mark 10:42-44
Jesus directed the disciples to use the skills God gave them to help others. Jesus commanded them to put the privileges and resources God allocated in service to others. Disciples were not to be aggrandized, adored or feared. Why, because God sent Jesus to serve so Jesus was sending the disciples to serve.
For the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve and to give his life a ransom for many.
– Mark 10:45
Jesus’ inquiry and testing of James and John, Jesus’ direction and correction of the other ten disciples provides a model for leaders and people both in and outside faith communities. With God’s help our Baptismal covenant direct us to “seek and serve Christ in all persons, loving our neighbor as ourselves.” BCP page 305. This passage from the Gospel of Mark provides a plumb line, measuring stick or performance appraisal standard for bishops, priests, and deacons. As we who were set apart by ordination to fulfill the duties assigned to us, are we engaged in humble service putting the welfare of others first? This passage also provides standards for the behavior of church members. As worshipers go about the ministries at church and, more importantly, live their lives between worship services are you servants of God? How do the actions of church leaders and people compare when evaluated by the performance appraisal standard set by Jesus?
Whoever wishes to become great must be your servant, and whoever wishes to be first among you must be slave of all.
Jesus words and deeds are not just a standard bearer for church folks. They can and should be used to assess the effectiveness of people in the secular arena. I try to keep up with the news, but I have to confess there are policies and positions of candidates seeking election as judges, the state assembly, congress, senate and president I do not know. When some people prepare to vote they are doing extensive research about each candidate. For others the only preparation they need is seeing who is on the slate of candidates in their political party. Last week, before my daughter Dana returned to school I gave her an absentee ballot. She refused to complete the ballot at school. Dana’s Autism makes managing social interactions difficult and she did not want people asking who she would vote for. I put the ballot in front of her, gave her a pen, and read the ballot initiatives and the the names of the candidates with the position they sought. I noticed Dana was not filling out the ballot. When I inquired about her hesitation Dana told me she was trying to remember who the online survey told to vote for. Dana remembered she scored 70% for some candidate, but could not remember which candidates position best matched her priorities. So I asked her how I could help. Dana replied, “Ma, your not supposed to tell me who to vote for.” So I suggested to Dana to vote based on whether a ballot measure or candidate would be God’s servant. Which would put the need’s of the people, all people. first? After a few minutes Dana marked her ballot, folded it, placed it in the envelope, sealed and signed the envelope, placed the ballot envelope into the mailing envelope and we put it into a mail box in the village.
What standard or performance appraisal will you use to determine who to vote for? In the days and weeks remaining until election day, step aside from the news occasionally. Use that time to pray. Use that time to reread this passage from the Gospel of Mark. Include in your preparation the standard Jesus modeled. The performance assessment tool Jesus gave to the first disciples and leave for us, the current generation of disciples. What ballot initiatives, which candidates will be a servant to all people, and, in order to be first, is willing to become a slave of all.
