Wakefield Cathedral
Sunday, 17th October 2021
Mark 10:35-45 / Hebrews 5:1-10
Some people think I am a bit repetitive….
The last time I preached here was in July on the Feast of St James, when the Gospel was from Matthew 20 – pretty much the same scenario as in Mark today; with the only difference being that, in Matthew, it is the Mother of James and John that approach Jesus on their behalf.
This time, Mark brings them directly to Jesus.
So, repetition, eh? Some people say I can be a bit repetitive….
Or have I said that before? No doubt someone will tell me!
What does it mean to keep having the same encounter….. ?
We might think that the lectionary – the three year cycle of readings – is not very well planned. We might be forgiven for thinking that some stories appear more often than they should! We might experience a sense of deja vu…. ! Perhaps the disciples did too!
Scripture is filled with a richness of language, narrative, poetry, imagination and history…
Repetition is found everywhere…. From the poetic stanzas of the Psalms, and indeed much of what we refer to as the Old Testament….to the patterns and repeated themes in the Gospels.
We know that Mathew, Mark and Luke all share much of the same content, with unique differences in emphasis and narrative style, dependent on whom they considered their reading ‘audience’.
Yes, but… you might be asking why are we hearing this passage again? It might be a different Gospel but…. It’s basically the same isn’t it?
The Gospel of Mark is fast-paced…. Full of movement and urgency…
There is an imperative to get to the Cross – this is where Mark is taking us… beyond the healing and the teaching, however fundamental those aspects of Jesus’ ministry are – it is to the Cross that we must go with all speed!
For Mark, Jesus goes to Jerusalem – that centre of power and control – to be betrayed, forsaken, condemned and crucified.
To be honest, Mark isn’t particularly clear on why this is to be the primary purpose of Christ.
We are witness to the strong, symbolism of Jesus living a life of self-denial, service and sacrifice;
And we look out for hints and clues in the narrative…. Moments that connect the words and actions of the Son of Man.
Enter James and John – the Sons of Zebedee – headstrong, ambitious young men, eager to make something happen – a change for the better – in their occupied homeland.
They are currently following Jesus, the teacher from Galilee, who seems to have the ‘edge’ – on other wannabe leaders!
You could imagine…
‘Hey! We are all going up to Jerusalem, with Jesus, it’s going to be great….
Sure, there will be some difficulties, we might get arrested, or pushed about by the Romans but hey…..! No pain, no gain, eh?!
We heard you Jesus…. But surely it’s not going to be THAT bad… and then it will all be OK…. Right?
And we will get our reward…. Yes?’
They thought that the reward for ‘following’ Jesus to Jerusalem would be greatness and glory.
What was Jesus really trying to say to them? What was it that He saw in his mission that he so wanted them to comprehend and to participate in?
Jesus speaks of being a servant – echoing the prophetic language of Isaiah: He suffers and dies not only for Israel but for the world; Jesus tells them his life must be given as a ransom for many…..
A ransom……? In this context a ransom is paid to free the slave – to liberate from all that binds, to release from bonds and chains that restrict our unity with God…..
Everything is turned upside down….Jesus dies to liberate us ….
Again, Jesus asks – do you see? Do you understand? Will you follow me?
Well, who would have relished the physical journey to Calvary?
And how many words have been expended on “what was it all for” – He said it would happen, but why?
We might say – ‘Jesus died for me, that my sins will be forgiven…’
But what then? What are we going to do about it?
Is it enough that I beleive in what Jesus has done for me, or will I participate further…. What is the nature of my “following”?
We journey towards reconciliation with God by participating in Christ’s death and resurrection.
This is what He asks of us, isn’t it?
Throughout Mark there are sections where a particular theme appears either side of a seemingly unrelated story.
Earlier, in Chapter 8, Jesus heals a blind man….
The narrative then takes its course, with the healing and teaching that we have heard in recent weeks…
Throughout which, Jesus predicts his death, to the Twelve THREE TIMES!
Three times He tells them of this…
And THEN, guess what?
Jesus gives sight to a blind man….
“Rabbi”, says Bartimeus, “I want to see…”
And he did. And then he joined them on the Way….
So what if we hear the same passages again and again?
This isn’t just about repeating a story or theme so that it sticks in your mind…. “Oh yes I remember that story from the Bible when Jesus…. Does a thing…. Or says a thing…. Yeah, I remember that one”
It isn’t about learning a set of facts or poems so that they can be recited, to pass an exam or win a prize.
It’s not how many times we hear these stories – hearing Jesus ask us…. Will we follow Him…
No, it’s whether or not we listen… and take it in, pray and ask God each day for the strength and wisdom to be that person.
The warnings Jesus gave, so overlooked by the Twelve, didn’t just speak of His impending death in Jerusalem.
He spoke also of Resurrection: “…..after three days, he will rise again.”
He might be condemned and destroyed by the human powers, present in Jerusalem – but he also returns to us – lifted up….
The world said “no” to Jesus in such a clear, deadly voice….. but God said “yes”!
To follow Jesus is to go where he went…. The risky, edgy world of the outcast…
To take on the challenge, when Jesus says “follow me”, is to be prepared to give up everything and hear God saying “yes” – nothing can keep us from God.
So choose a life that participates in the Cross & Resurrection.
Kick back against the status-quo, and stand alongside those who struggle or are unrepresented – even when you might be thinking: that’s not my problem, not my fight…..
God loves all of creation in ways we couldn’t possibly imagine… but we have love, and ways to show it to one another – and God wants us to do that, to honour all of creation!
Equality – whatever that means to you – is in the relationship that God wants us to have.
So why does it always require additional suffering – causing a shock to our comfortable lives – for us to engage with the trials faced daily by other people?
Whether it is the safety of women on our streets, or the ways that poverty will diminish the lives of many this Winter; or when we see lines of division drawn on issues of gender, sexuality or race – if you believe God loves all of Creation, then yes – it is your problem, my problem…. Our problem.
So keep pushing against doors that won’t open….
Put your hand up when everyone else around you turns away.
On Friday we saw a stark and ugly reminder of the high, personal cost that can come with public service. Our communities are served by many who just get on with it, not counting the cost to themselves or considering their own safety – regardless of their motivations.
We are not going to get God to love us more by serving other people, but we live as servants because we are loved – and we reflect that love back.
If we take just one thing from what Jesus has been trying to say, in all the times we have heard this or similar scripture passages…. What will it be?
That being a true disciple is hard and often seems too difficult, but that seeking a right relationship with God is the direction our lives must take?
If Jesus asks: can you follow me?
What do I say?
Well, I have already said “yes”.
I say it every day, in prayer….. although I don’t often feel very confident with my “yes” – I wonder if you do you, with yours?
The reality of saying “yes” to Jesus – in seeking that unity with God, is not the same for everyone… and its different every day!
As disciples now, how will we respond….?
What will you do tomorrow to follow Jesus to the Cross and beyond?
Amen.