Sermon Lent 5B March 17, 2024 Mark 10:42-45

Grace, mercy, and peace are yours from God the Father, and from our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.  

James and John, two brothers, Jesus’ disciples, wanted to be great. They asked Jesus if they could be first in honor when Jesus came into his glory. Gutsy. We might think of people who attach themselves to certain politicians so they can receive favors after the election. They wanted to get ahead of the others, and have Jesus agree to make them his closest assistants when he took over. They must have planned this for a while, because we read in Mark chapter 9 that they were arguing about which of them was the greatest, but were afraid to tell him.

Nothing has changed. That's our human condition, wanting to be first in line all the time to get the good job, or the promotion, or the best house or car.

Jesus does tell us at John 14:14, "Whatever you ask for in my name, I will do it." However, remember that what we really ask when we pray is that His will be done over our will. If it weren't that way Jesus would be a kind of Genie who gives us three wishes before he disappears, and we'd be all the greedier and more selfish than we are now.

We can learn a lot from this conversation. One is we don't always know what we are asking for. Think about the criminals who were crucified next to Jesus. After all, that’s where Jesus was glorified. God's glory was to die on the cross to win salvation for the world. Did James and John want to be in the place of those criminals? They would have been if Jesus would have given them what they asked for.

Have you prayed and asked for something, and didn't get it? Then you found out later that it was a real blessing that God didn't answer your prayer in the way you wanted? An unanswered prayer probably means that God said no, or wait. There's always an answer, but it may not be the one you expected, or may have wanted. But it is still for your good.

It's good because the Lord knows what’s coming in our lives and sees what we really need. You may think you want that promotion and deserve it, but who knows if you're ready to face the unseen difficulties that go along with it. Content yourself with what is and wait. God will provide. 

Another thing we learn from this conversation is that for the Christian, having power means to submit to being a servant. To serve Jesus is to be a servant to other people. Jesus taught his disciples not to "Lord it over one another." God does not put us in positions over others so that we feel important. He does it so we can help and care for other people. This is what Jesus himself taught us. Jesus humbled himself and became obedient, even to death, to help us with our greatest need.

James and John were not ready for responsibility, because they were being selfish. They wanted power to benefit themselves. They would never be good servants if they only want a comfy position in the coming kingdom. Later, they would serve Jesus unselfishly, even to the point of giving their lives for him, but at this point they need more training.

We're in training too. God wants us see how we can serve him. God has elevated believers to a high status. 1 Peter 1:9 says, "You are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness and into His wonderful light."  That means as a believer you have a priestly status. You have two jobs. One is to pray. On the cross Jesus cleansed us of our sins so that we can pray for ourselves and others. We pray to God, giving thanks for all He has done, and we pray for others, and their needs. The other priestly activity is sacrificing. This is what James and John are missing. They were not ready to sacrifice.

Jesus wanted to know of James and John, "Can you drink the cup that I drink?" In the Old Testament to drink a cup meant to share in someone's fate. Usually, it was to receive punishment from God for the wrongs you did. 

Jesus drank the cup of God's judgment against sins that others committed, not him. The disciples weren't ready to sacrifice in that way. They could not. He also asked if they were ready to be baptized with the baptism he was to be baptized with. What he means is that the suffering he is about to undergo at the hands of the people in Jerusalem is like a baptism.

Certainly, all the disciples had been baptized by this time. But the suffering they would face for being a believer would come later in their lives.

We never know where this life will lead us. If you are a believer in Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior, then you will be led to service and sacrifice. We may receive some recognition from others, but we should not seek it. Rather, the words of Jesus ring in our ears, "Whoever would be great among you must be your servant, and whoever would be first among you must be slave of all."

You can't deny that the world needs people doing good deeds for each other every day. And remember these words from 1 John 4:19; “We love because he first loved us.'

True greatness does not come from sinful people. It does not come from human works of love. True greatness comes only from God. You have been baptized, declared righteous, for the sake of Christ. It is a gift. The Spirit compels you to give an answer for the hope that is within you. You bear the same message as the Apostles did, the resurrection of God’s Son Jesus from the dead, and forgiveness in his name. You humbly serve others, laying down your lives as living sacrifices for the sake of Christ. Led by the Holy Spirit, you look beyond this present life of persecution, and instead look to the glory of the world to come, when you shall, with all the Saints, sing for the praise of God who became a slave in human flesh. To Him alone be all glory forever, with the Father and the Spirit.  Amen.

The peace that surpasses all understanding will keep your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus, Amen,