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• Servant of All, Mark 9:30-37                             (see below)
  by Rev. Dr. Cynthia Huling Hummel
   

• A SHORT LESSON IN HAPPINESS, Psalm 1, by Dr. David Rogne                               
   

• TRUE GREATNESS, Mark 9:30-37, by Rev. Rick Thompson
   

• Are You Open to God?, Mark 9:30-37, Pastor Debbie
   

• On An Upside-Down Mission, Mark 9:30-37, Rev. F. Schaefer
   

• Choosing The Right Path, Psalm 1, Rev. John C. Bogle
   

• Secret Of Being A Servant Leader, Mark 9:30-37, Rev. Frank Schaefer
   

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Servant of All
a sermon based on Mark 9:30-37
by Rev. Dr. Cynthia Huling Hummel

This morning's reading places Jesus on the road with his disciples. It's a story that we can relate to because it's about three things we're all familiar with: It's about fear, fighting and what it means to be first. Now Mark tells us that Jesus and his followers passed through Galilee. Jesus didn't want anyone to know he was in town. Jesus needed some time alone with his disciples: time away from the crowds, time to teach them about his mission, time to tell them what was surely to pass: that he would be betrayed, that he would be killed and that he would rise again. If you're thinking this sounds familiar, you're right. This is the second time in Mark's gospel that Jesus predicts his passion. Even though this is the second time that Jesus spoke to his disciples about what was ahead, they still didn't understand. They didn't get what Jesus was talking about and yet they were too afraid to ask Jesus what it was that he meant . Isn't it curious that the disciples were too afraid to ask him. What about you? Have you ever been in a similar circumstance where you didn't understand something, but you were too afraid to ask?

Math was never my best subject. I especially seemed to have difficulty grasping new mathematical concepts. I don't know about you, but my worst nightmare was those horrible word problems that would always appear on exams! The problems were usually about trains leaving places like Chicago or New York barreling towards each other in the darkness and you had to figure out when the trains would crash. Math was frustrating for me because more often than not, the teacher would move too quickly- at least faster than my feeble brain could think. And I was positive that I was the only person in the class who couldn't keep up and who didn't understand. I worked hard and it was a struggle at times to keep up. I can remember my calculus teacher scribbling equations on the blackboard at break neck speed. "Mr. Smith" would then turn and ask the class if anyone had any questions. It was quite clear from the tone in his voice that even though he asked the question, that Mr. Smith was clearly not inviting questions and that he intended to move on to new material. I took the hint. I for one was not about to ask any questions. I didn't want to make him angry. I didn't want to appear stupid. I didn't want to call attention to myself. I didn't want to be embarrassed. It was easier to struggle with the problem on my own. Since there were no questions, Mr. Smith would grab the chalk eraser and wipe the equation into oblivion. In the blink of an eye, the answer would be gone.

I've been pondering this question all week: Why is it that we, like the disciples, are sometimes afraid to ask what we don't understand? What causes our fear and our reluctance? For some of us- it is embarrassment. We don't want to be the only ones that "don't get it". We may have heard that the only foolish question is the one that you don't ask- but we don't believe it. We don't want to look foolish, and so, we don't ask. We don't raise our hands or our questions. Some of us would rather remain in the dark than be in the spotlight by calling attention to ourselves. But on a deeper level- I'm wondering if sometimes, we are afraid to ask the question, because we really don't want to know the answer. We don't ask the question because in fact we are terrified of the truth. We really don't really want to know , what we suspect we already know. Sometimes, it's easier for us to be oblivious- than for us to confront the obvious. Like an ostrich, burying its head in the sand, we sometimes pretend that everything is fine, even when it's not. It's like the don't ask- and don't tell policy: we hope perhaps, that if we don't ask, then he or she won't tell us what we're unprepared or unwilling to hear.

-that if we don't ask our spouse, about his/her late nights- then he or she won't tell us about the affair.

-that if we don't ask, then our child won't tell us the secret addiction that he or she is trying to conceal from us.

-that if we don't ask about the suspicious lump, or the nagging pain- then the doctor won't tell us the awful truth.

- that if we don't ask, we won't have to deal with whatever it is we're afraid of whatever it is that we'd rather not deal with (thank you very much) and that somehow our problems and our pain will magically disappear.

So sometimes we're afraid to ask, but other times I wonder if we simply don't know what to ask. or how to ask. Our questions seem awkward- and so we don't voice them. And perhaps that's how it was for the disciples. That they just weren't ready to deal with what Jesus had shared about his betrayal, his rejection, and his death. Maybe they didn't want to understand because they were afraid. But in spite of their fear, they followed Jesus.

It was on the road to Capernaum that their argument began. Perhaps they whispered. Maybe they mumbled. But the text is quite clear, that they didn't want Jesus to hear their boasting. "I'm the greatest. No, I'm the greatest" "No way, I am". Jesus didn't say anything on the road, but when they got to the house, he confronted them: Okay, what were you guys arguing about on the road. The disciples were probably embarrassed. They were probably ashamed. They probably realized how stupid their argument sounded. So no one spoke up. No one took ownership for the fight. What would they say: Jesus we were fighting about which of us is the greatest?

They knew that Jesus had overheard their bickering and their dickering- their lobbying for the title of GREATEST- for that position on the top- -that place of power- the pinnacle of privilege- that would come with all sorts of prestige and perks. Their fighting was just another indication that the disciples didn't get it. They didn't really understand what Jesus and his message were really about. And they were silent. They didn't answer him. And Jesus saw this as a teachable moment. Jesus sat down and called them over. This is such a great story because it illustrates so wonderfully how God doesn't give up on us. Here are these disciples who are squabbling among themselves about something stupid and Jesus doesn't send them away- but teaches them- and uses them to teach and reach others. There's hope for us! If Jesus can use these disciples, he can use us- in spite of our fears, in spite of our fighting- we are invited to follow. And Jesus said to his disciples "whoever wants to be first- must be last. Whoever wants to be the greatest- must be the servant of all." Jesus' message for his disciples is his message for us.

I read a story many years ago in Democrat and Chronicle, a newspaper out of Rochester, NY. The article spoke about Raoul and Rose Grossi, a couple in their 80's. [1]

They prayed about how they might serve God and out of their prayers, they decided to start a home for people who were dying. They said, "We do it, they said, because we are the hands of God on this earth". The Grossi's are servant people- serving God, through their service to others. Service starts with one person answering God's call. It can be life changing and life giving. I am reminded of that wonderful hymn: "Here I am Lord. Is it I Lord, I have heard you calling in the night. I will go Lord. If you lead me. I will hold your people in my heart”[2]

I believe that the challenges that the disciples faced are the same challenges that we face today: to follow Jesus in spite of our lack of understanding and our fears; to follow Jesus and to stop fighting over things that don't really matter; to follow Jesus and to put aside our need to be first ;to follow Jesus and to learn to focus on the needs of others. To follow Jesus is to be a servant.. May each of us find joy in serving God through serving God's people. Amen!

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[1]Democrat and Chronicle 9/14/97 pg. 1

[2] written by Dan Schutte