“A New World Unlike the Old”

by Bruce J. Johnson

(Mark 10: 35-45)

The other day I came across a quote from the pen of Margaret Mead, the well-known anthropologist. It reads as follows:

“Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world. It is the only thing that ever has.”

(‘O’ Magazine, November, 2003, p. 56)

There is something about today’s lesson from the Gospel according to Mark that says that this is in fact what Jesus was all about and that he and his disciples were part of a small group that could and were called to change the world.

I wonder today if you and I have that same sense of our power and promise.

Although it is not part of today’s lesson, the few verses that precede the lesson give us important facts. The disciples were on the road again, on their way to Jerusalem. Some were amazed at the day’s events and teachings, others were afraid. And Jesus again takes his disciples aside and tells them plainly:

“We are going up to Jerusalem; and the Son of Man will be delivered up to the chief priests and scribes, and they will condemn him to death and deliver him to the Gentiles; and they will mock him, and spit upon him, and scourge him, and kill him; and after three days, he will rise.”

(Mark 10: 33-34)

Interestingly, no sooner had he finished with these words that James and John, the sons of Zebedee, step forward and boldly make the following request:

“Teacher, we want you to do for us whatever we ask of you.”

Of course, our immediate reaction is “What cheek! What impudence! How could they say such a thing? Isn’t the appropriate declaration more like the following? “Teacher, we will do for you whatever you ask of us.”

But that’s not what they say. Rather, what they want are top ranking cabinet appointments. When the kingdom comes, they want to sit as close to Jesus as they can, and while this may be an example of gross ambition on their part, it may also be a case of profound faith. James and John absolutely believe that Jesus will reign. In spite of his dire predictions, in spite of the storm clouds gathering on the horizon ahead of them, they are so sure of Jesus’ final victory that they sign up to go with him. And this doesn’t sound that unreasonable, since they have been with him from the start. Along with Peter, they are Jesus’ closest friends, the ones he takes with him when he leaves the others at home. So it is natural for them to want to stay near him and they seem willing to do whatever it takes. “Are you able to drink the cup that I drink, He asks them. “or be baptized with the baptism that I am baptized with?”

Although they may not know what they are saying, they do not hesitate, “We are able.” they say in unison and then Jesus tries to tell them one more time how things are.

When one pauses and reflects on what is happening here, you want to ask: How can they be so right, at the same time that they understand so little?

They’ve got it right when they affirm that when Jesus reigns, we’ll have a new world but they are dreadfully mistaken when they think that the new world will be set up just like the old world, only with new leadership in place.

(US News and World Report declared the other day that the recent recall election of Arnold Schwarzenegger as Governor of California turned politics upside down but it remain to be seen if the Terminator can terminate politics as usual and transform the political, economic and social culture of California.)

The same thing here! Does Jesus’ reign simply mean that the bad guys at the head table will be removed, their chairs will be fumigated and God’s new crew will be seated, with Jesus in the number one position and the most loyal member of his campaign staff on either side of him? Once this change has been accomplished, then, finally! At last! The good people will commence to redeem the world from the top to bottom, beginning from the top. The ultimate trickle-down effect.

“It doesn’t work that way” Jesus tells them one more time. The new world is not remotely like the old one. It turns the old one upside down. The number ones are not the powerful ones having their pictures taken at the head of the table; they are the quiet ones slipping in and out among the guests, refilling wine glasses and laying down clean silverware for the next course. The great ones are not the dignitaries to the left and to the right of the ruler; they are the slaves who are stirring the pots in the kitchen, testing the temperature of the soup so that it is neither too hot nor too cold for the honored guests. James and John want Jesus to hurry up and become king of the world but he has other things on his mind. Has everyone been served? Is all the food on the table?

“For the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve and to give his life as a ransom for many.”

(Indebted to Barbara Brown Taylor, Gospel Medicine)

The November issue of “O” Magazine is all about how to handle the party season. Its front cover reads: “ENJOY YOURSELF—“O’s FRAZZLE FREE GUIDE TO THE PARTY SEASON—FOOD, FLOWERS, WINE AND WHAT TO WEAR EVERYWHERE.”

One the neat quotes contained in the issue is from Epictetus:

“Bear in mind that you should conduct yourself in life as at a feast.”

AND WHAT WAY WOULD THAT BE ACCORDING TO JESUS?

AS A SERVANT.

I have read with great interest the debate over the awarding of the Nobel Peace Prize to the Iranian woman lawyer, a Muslim, Shirin Ebadi (Shee-reen Eh-baw-dee) for her work promoting the rights of women and children in Iran. Many believe that it should have been given to Pope John Paul II—not just because he is old and very fragile but because the message of his 25 year tenure- though complex, is so fundamental--- focussing on the defense and dignity of the individual, of personhood itself. The profound irony, not with flaw, is that such a hierarchical structure is such advocate for the underclass and oppressed. One of the columns that was written for the New York Times quoted a speech he made in Poland and Cuba early in his papacy:

“You are not who they say you are.”

(NY Times, 10/11/03 p. A27)

Jesus would surely say ‘Amen’ to that!

Desmond Tutu’s most recent book is titled: No Future Without Forgiveness.

I read an excerpt the other day that dealt with his vision of what it means to human:

“….the very essence of being human… You share what you have. It is to say, “My humanity is caught up, is inextricably bound up in yours.’ We belong in a bundle of life. We say: ‘A person is a person through other persons.” It is not “I think, therefore, I am.” It is rather, “I am human because I belong.” … each person “is diminished when others are humiliated or diminished, when others are tortured or oppressed, or treated as if they were less than who they are.’

I think that is just what Jesus was trying to teach the disciples--- life is not about privilege and power, wealth or social station but about making sure that everyone knows who they are--- that they belong, that they are valued.

And he shows the way, the path we are meant to take and it is the work of servant and the path of service—done one for another in this bundle of life.

Amen