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