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Job 38:1-7(34-41)      

Hebrews 5: 1-10        

Mark 10: 35-45

“Teacher, there is something we want you to do for us.”

The conversation between James, John and Jesus started OK, but when Jesus asks; “What is it?”  they have the impertinence to ask: “When you  sit on your throne in your glorious kingdom, we want you to let us sit with you, one on your right and one on your left.”

It’s easy for me to stand here and criticise James and John because there is still so much about life, and life with Christ, that I don’t fully understand, but James and John had apparently come to some understanding about Jesus’s relationship with God and that Jesus would ultimately, somehow, rise to be with God, seated on his own throne, but they certainly didn’t realise the price Jesus was about to pay, not just so he would be in heaven with his Father but in order to reconcile all of mankind, all of us, to God, our Father.

James and John asked that question of Jesus, and I have to agree with Jesus -( how could I disagree?) - when he responded by saying; “You don’t know what you are asking for.” 

They couldn’t possibly know what they were asking, although we can say that now because we have the benefit of hindsight.  We now know the real purpose of Jesus’s time on earth so it’s easy to be critical of James and John because how could they possibly know, although, having said that they made it very clear that they were prepared to “drink the cup of suffering” that Christ would have to drink, and I have to wonder if that’s something I would do if I was really put to the test.

Jesus put a stop to any further discussion about the issue when he explains to them that even he didn’t have the right to choose who sits on his left or on his right, it simply wasn’t his choice to make.  That choice remains entirely with God alone and He will give those places to those for whom He has prepared them.  It’s God’s choice - end of story!

However, that wasn’t the end of the story for James and John because we are told that when the rest of the disciples learned of their request they were a bit upset, which is a rather euphemistic way of saying they were very angry, but Jesus brought them back to reality fairly quickly when he pointed out the differences between what he called the rulers of the heathen, who have complete power and authority over them, and the followers of Christ.  Jesus made it quite clear that if any of them - (and perhaps we should read, any of us,) - want to be great, they/we must be the servant of the rest.  In other words, if they/we want to be first they/we must be the slave or servant of all, and Jesus went on to make the final point that; “ even the Son of Man did not come to be served; he came to serve and to give his life to redeem many people.”(Mark 10:45)

There will be times when need to ask for help,  or ask others to do something for us,  but at all other times isn’t it better for us to be asking;  “what can I do for you?”

Jesus led by example - he served - he didn’t just sit on a throne and give directions/orders/commands, he moved and worked amongst the people, serving them, helping them, healing them, - isn’t that the way we are supposed to operate?  If we call ourselves followers of Christ then surely we should truly follow his example and serve, not expect to be seated at the “top table” or elevated to a position of honour but simply to do as he commanded; to “love one another as I have loved you.”

Over the years there have been many examples of good people and good deeds in the so-called “honours lists’ that are produced each year.  There have been, and hopefully will continue to be, many good people who have committed themselves to serving others within their communities with love, joy and humility.

I also note that there have also been others who have been honoured for their apparent “service” to other facets of our society, such as the corporate world, industry, finance etc.  I am rather cynical about those honours, especially when those honoured have only been doing it as part of their job or career and have made personal fortunes in the process ( Maybe I’m jealous??)  However, it’s not for me to judge.  I do not,- we do not,- have the right to judge and, at the end of the day, as Jesus told the disciples, it is God who will make the ultimate decisions as to where we will sit, be it on the right, on the left, or even in the same room!  Our thoughts and actions today and every day will greatly influence that outcome.

I was reminded of the good that so many people do for others in so many different ways when I attended the AAW meeting last Tuesday evening  because when I walked in the room was full of happy women busily filling beautifully coloured shoe boxes with gifts of games and toys for the children of Samoa.  It was a happy, yet moving, scene and I was really impressed with the hum of activity and the obvious love that was being packed into those boxes.  Well done AAW!

I have no doubt that the most important thing we can do is to continually strive to, sincerely and faithfully, be true followers of Christ.

It is not productive if we keep focusing on what others do or don’t do but it is vitally important that we be continually vigilant and aware of what we do as individuals.

There are two key questions that should be foremost in our minds;

What can I do?  What would Christ do?

Isn’t that second question the answer to the first?

Amen.