Word to the Wise
Wednesday, March 3, 2010 - Wednesday in the Second Week of Lent
[Jeremiah 18:18-20 and Matthew 20:17-28]" Behold, we are going up to Jerusalem, and the Son of Man will be handed over to the chief priests and the scribes, and they will condemn him to death, and hand him over to the Gentiles to be mocked and scourged and crucified, and he will be raised on the third day. " Then the mother of the sons of Zebedee approached Jesus with her sons......
This is the third time that Jesus warns the disciples that his fate in Jerusalem will be a grim one. They appear to be in complete denial. Earlier, Peter had tried to argue with him about it and was rebuked. Now the mother of James and John (most likely at their request) tries to gain favor for her two sons when Jesus "kingdom" is established! Jesus has to call them all together and remind them that his kingdom is not one of ruler and ruled but one of server and served. This may go as far as giving "his life as a ransom for many." Jesus' statement about his fate speaks not only of his suffering but his resurrection. Both of these are part of our faith and an over emphasis on either of them distorts the meaning of his life. Neither the crucifixion nor the resurrection really make sense without an understanding of the rest of Jesus' life (this is probably the one big gap in St. Paul's preaching since he rarely mentions Jesus' ministry). His service of others was clearly demonstrated in his ministry and dramatically symbolized in the Washing of the Feet at the Last Supper (John 13). His death and resurrection are a continuation of the service he brings to all of humanity. All who would be "intentional" disciples need to remember that power comes from service and not the other way around. James and John and their mom and all the other disciples had to learn that lesson, some of them in a very painful way. The same must be true of all of us who would follow in their footsteps. AMEN
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