Sacrifice & Servitude

Debbie Cato

Jeremiah 31:31-34 & Mark 10:32-45

The Way of the Cross –Week 5

Peace Presbyterian Church

March 22, 2015

                                                                Sacrifice & Servitude

Today we come to Jesus’ third and final prediction of His death and resurrection. Jesus already told his disciples that he will be killed and resurrected. Twice. Obviously, this is important. He wants his followers to know what’s ahead. He wants them to get it. He wants them to understand.

But they aren’t getting it. After telling them twice, Jesus tries again. He’s headed to Jerusalem with his disciples. Jesus is leading the way. While they are walking to Jerusalem, he explains what will happen for the third time. This last prediction – this third time, Jesus is the most explicit. The most clear. He includes the most details. The time is eminent – they are headed to Jerusalem at this very moment and once they get there, things will happen fast. Jesus knows what is facing him when he arrives in Jerusalem. He wants his disciples to understand what is about to happen to him; their teacher, their leader … their Lord.

If you ask me, Jesus is pretty clear. “We are going up to Jerusalem. I will be handed over to the chief priests and the scribes. (pause) They will condemn me to death. They will make fun of me, humiliate and beat me. They will kill me. After three days, I will rise again. (pause)

Now if you’re like me – you connect the dots. Jesus is very clear. He doesn't mince words.  Of course, we know how this story ends, don’t we? We know that Jesus is crucified on a cross like a common criminal after being beaten and ridiculed by the Roman soldiers. We know that he dies on the cross. We know that he’s buried in a tomb. We know that three days later, the tomb is empty. Jesus rises from the dead. We know that his disciples see him – they witness his resurrection. We know that Jesus ascends into heaven. We know the story. We know how life-changing, how life-giving it is. We know the end.

Bu the disciples don’t have our advantage. They are living the story in real time and Maundy Thursday and Good Friday haven’t happened yet. Easter hasn’t arrived. If we didn’t know the ending – if we didn’t know about Good Friday or Easter, I’m guessing we wouldn’t understand what Jesus was saying either. We probably wouldn't be able to connect the dots.

And yet, do we really get it? Do we really understand? Even though we know the story; even though we know how it ends, do we really, really get it? Do we understand what Jesus’ death and resurrection really means for us – for the world. Do we really understand what it means to be disciples of Christ? Or do we just talk the talk?

I remember when I was 12 years old and my parents told us we were moving. We lived in Springfield Minnesota – a very small town in southwest Minnesota. Both my parents were born in Springfield. All my grandparents lived in Springfield. All my friends lived in Springfield. I had never been anywhere else. I hadn’t even imagined being anywhere else.

And then one evening in February, right after dinner, my parents called all us kids down into the living room. We had never been summoned together like that before. I knew something big was about to happen. And then dad said it. He told us that at the beginning of May we were moving to Oregon. Just like that. Moving across the country.

At the ripe old age of 12, my life flashed before my eyes. Oregon? As far as I was

concerned, that was like moving to a foreign country. I didn’t know anything about Oregon. I didn’t know what music kids listened to. I didn’t know what they wore. I didn’t know if I would make any friends. I didn’t know if I would find a piano teacher as good as Mrs. Birkemeyer. I didn’t know what I would do without my Grandma Potter. I didn’t know it yet, but I didn't even know how to pronounce it correctly. I was devastated.

And then my little brother Mike – 7 years old at the time – said the stupidest thing I had ever heard anyone say. Mike said, “What should I wear?” Seriously! What should I wear? Like we were going to a party or something.

We were moving to Oregon. My Dad had just totally ruined my life and Mike wanted to know what he should wear! Obviously he didn’t get it – he didn’t understand how life-changing our move to Oregon would be. He didn’t understand that nothing would be the same again. “What should I wear?” Give me a break! 

For the third time, Jesus tells his disciples that he is going to die and be resurrected and how do they respond? James and John ask him a favor. Jesus, do what we want you to do for us. We want to benefit from any recognition, any glory you might receive. You do whatever you have to do Jesus and then we’ll share the limelight. We deserve it. We are your disciples. Forget the hard stuff you’re talking about. Forget the horror you are telling us about. Forget what you are really saying. Forget how totally life changing your news is. This is what we want. We’re worried about getting the recognition.

Jesus has been very clear and consistent about the suffering that is waiting for him in Jerusalem. But the disciples have selective hearing. They hear what they want to hear. They think they are heading to Jerusalem to grandeur. They have figured out that Jesus is the Messiah and they expect that in Jerusalem, he will inherit his messianic kingdom. They think that in Jerusalem everyone will recognize that Jesus is the Messiah and at last he will be honored and exalted in the manner he deserves. And … they think, because they are his followers, the glory and honor Jesus receives in Jerusalem will roll down to them. They think they too will be glorified. They too will be honored. So James and John say, let us sit at your side – in the midst of your glory.

Each time Jesus told his disciples about his future, they have jockeyed for position and prestige. Their response has been self-centered, self-serving, and callous. Their response is offensive. The disciples want fame. They want honor and recognition. They want to be considered the greatest. They want to sit with Jesus in glory. But they don’t want to do any of the hard stuff. They don’t want to get their hands dirty. They follow Jesus to Jerusalem because they think it’s about glory and honor. They completely misjudge Jesus’ mission to Jerusalem.

I remember being pregnant with Jessica – my oldest child – and “joking” about this 24-hour a day job I was about to undertake. Parenthood didn’t come with a job description – at least I never got a copy of it! I was ready to do everything I could to be the perfect Mom and give my child the perfect home. I was prepared for a beautiful baby that I could rock to sleep at night. I was prepared for this child that I could nurture and love and teach and watch grow up. I was ready to give this child opportunities that I had not had. I thought I was ready to stop doing things that I liked to do and put this baby first. I thought I was ready to get up during the night and feed a hungry baby. I thought I was ready to go without sleep. I thought I was ready to be a Mom.

Jessica came and I loved feeding her and rocking her and just looking at her. I loved bathing her and calming her. I loved being her mom. But I didn’t know about the fine print in the job description. In addition to the good came a lot of hard stuff. Getting up in the middle of the night when I hadn’t slept in almost a week. Taking care of her when she was sick; even when I had a 102 fever and could barely crawl out of bed myself. Cleaning up diarrhea diapers when even her armpits were filled with….well you know!

No one told me that there is a whole level of exhaustion that you just don’t understand until you have a baby. Nobody told me that I’d cook meal after meal even when I was exhausted. No one told me I’d stay up late at night to do laundry because it was the only time I could get it done. Nobody told me how many things I would do without so that my girls could have something. No one told me I’d have to make hard decisions that my daughters wouldn’t understand. No one told me that I’d let them down; that I would disappoint them.

Until I had children, I did not get this parenting thing. I didn't understand. It’s about a lot more than the “oh so cute” easy stuff. It’s 24/7 - literally. It’s non-stop. It’s about rolling up your sleeves and getting down and dirty. It’s about being proud and hurt and mad and worried. It’s about exhaustion and pain and greater joy and happiness than you can imagine. It’s about fears and disappointments and gut-wrenching decision-making. Being a parent is hard. Being a parent is wonderful.

And being a follower of Christ – well that’s amazing and hard too. Through Christ, we have the promise of God’s loving faithfulness. In Christ we have purpose and true meaning in life. The peace of Christ surpasses all under-standing; we can’t explain the peace we feel in the midst of the muck of life. The breadth and length and height and depth of Christ’s love for us surpasses all knowledge – we can’t grasp the unconditional love of God. With Christ, we have hope for tomorrow and the promise of eternal life. But we all know that life as a Christian isn’t easy.

Jesus' whole life and ministry is an example – a model of what being a Christ follower looks like. Jesus models humility. Jesus models sacrificial love for others. Jesus models servanthood – the very opposite of glory and recognition.

Jesus serves and Jesus gives. Look ahead to Jerusalem – Jesus’ ultimate sacrifice of his life for us - for you and for me. Jesus is about to suffer immeasurable pain and humility for us – a bunch of sinners.

And in return; if we are truly followers of Christ – we must understand the whole job description. Following Christ means exactly what it says...following Christ means living our life the way Jesus’ modeled during his life and ministry. It means struggle and suffering as much as joy and blessing. It means humility and sacrifice. It means that we must live our lives in service for others – putting others before ourselves. It means that whoever wants to be first must be last. It means that if we want to be great, we must make ourselves least. A little different than the world says, isn’t it?

In today’s Scripture lesson – in this third and final prediction of Jesus death and resurrection, Jesus is trying one last time to show his disciples the whole job description. Being a follower of Christ – just like being a parent – isn’t just about the joys and the good times. It certainly isn’t about honor or glory or recognition. Being a follower of Christ is about more than just showing up for church every Sunday. It’s about more than believing when times are easy and uncomplicated. It’s about more than trusting when times are good. It’s about having faith when we aren’t sure we believe any more. It’s about trusting God when it seems utterly impossible to us. It’s about hoping when things seem hopeless. It’s about following Christ… in the good, the bad…the easy and the hard.

If we do not live a gospel that calls us to a life of sacrifice and service, we are living a shallow, selfish, shoddy substitute that promises much, but demands little. Sacrifice and suffering are not options of discipleship. Sacrifice is at the very heart of what it means to follow Christ. If we really understand the meaning of Jesus’ death and resurrection; if we really understand what it means to be a disciple of Christ, we will understand the call to sacrifice and servitude.

There are two weeks left of Lent. Two weeks left of following Jesus to Jerusalem and to the cross. Two weeks to decide if what we are really looking for is glory and honor or are we willing to walk the way of sacrifice and servitude; to be least? To be last?

Let us pray.

Holy God, by the cross and resurrection of Jesus,
you lift the suffering world toward hope and transformation.

You open the way to eternal salvation.

As we move ever closer to the passion of Christ,
may your law of love be written on our hearts
as he draws all people to himself,
revealing your love for the world.
Help us to take on attitudes of servanthood and sacrifice,
so that we might look like Christ in our community and in the world.

In Jesus name, Amen.