Tuesday 23 November 2010

Background

There are no hidden meanings in this story although Christiantradition has tended to spiritualise it. The point of Jesus'teaching is both easy to understand and difficult to accept: in thekingdom of God, it is weakness rather than power that iswell-regarded.

Do you think you're doing pretty well? Have you worked hard to getgood marks in school or to get a good university degree?

Have you put a lot of time and effort into raising godly children,into advancing in your job or your profession, into paying intoyour pension?

Having done all that, are you looking for something in return?Perhaps a pat on the back from your parents, recognition fromfriends and colleagues, or the satisfaction of knowing that youhave contributed to society rather than taken from it?

Jesus' response to that world view is that in the kingdom of God,those who have worked hard to move the front of the queue shall belast.

Our intuitive sense of fairness (of what is fair for me) screamsout 'not fair!' at this teaching.

And if you want to know one of the things that humanity is savedfrom - as people sometimes ask - it is our inborn sense ofcompetition. Jesus wants to save us from the desire to beat othersat their own game and from the belief that we deserve recognitionfor having done so.

James and John walked with Jesus during his earthly ministry; theywitnessed the Transfiguration (Mark9:1-9) and were chosen to pray with Jesus in the garden justbefore his death (Mark 14:32-42). But Jesus didn't promise tomake them his top men in the kingdom. Why do any of us deserve morethan they?

To Ponder

In your estimation, what is the differencebetween lording it over someone and using legitimate authority?

Imagine yourself as James or John. How do youfeel about Jesus when he tells you that he does not have the powerto determine who sits at his right hand?

The background text suggests that beingcompetitive can be sinful; can you think of circumstances when thismay or may not be true?