Have you ever noticed that in every crowd there seem to be a couple of entrepeneurs, the ones who have a sixth sense of how to get ahead, how to make their moves and when?
They are the kids voted "Most likely to succeed,"
        the ones who end up with a good job AND a car AND a terrific girlfriend AND good marks at school,
        the colleague who graduated at the same time as you and is assistant to the VP while you are still on a front line desk job.

        Had James and John been alive today they would have been such people. They were ambitious. Earlier in life they had developed a good fishing business with their father. That had been left behind when Jesus had called them to become a part of his entourage, his inner circle. But the basic drive to succeed, to get ahead was still very much with them. And we see some of it here.

        Our bible reading describes how Jesus has left the area of Galilee, his home turf, where he has done the majority of his teaching and healing ministry to this point. But now he’s headed, very deliberately, very aware of what’s ahead...... he’s headed towards Jerusalem and eventual confrontation with the political and religious leaders of the day.
        The disciples sense that something big is about to happen.
        They are not sure what, but they want to be in on the action,
                especially the goods that will come with it.

        They figure that somehow Jesus is going to make a big political move. He's going to head for the top - pushing aside the pharisees, getting rid of the oppressive Roman influence, building up Jewish greatness once more --
                -- a new Kingdom;
                        -- King Jesus -- Yes!

        So they begin the hunt for some political patronage. I can just imagine the two of them as they prepare to ask Jesus for this request:
        -trying to find a moment when they will get him alone,
        -trying to get to him before anyone else can to make the same request to be recipients of a good cabinet position in the new government that they figure Jesus is about to set up.
                "What about it, Master? Can you do us this favour, please?"
                "You don't know what you are asking. Can you drink the cup I drink or be baptized with the baptism I am baptized with?"

        The symbols of a cup to drink and baptism were well known to the disciples. The Old Testament shows baptism to be a symbol for a deluge of trouble (Ps 18.16; 69.1,2). It also uses "the cup to drink" as a symbol of trouble and suffering (Ps 75.8; Isa 51.17).
        James & John look at each other and shrug their shoulders. Sure, they would be able to endure some tough times to get ahead. Who wouldn't? They've done it before, they can do it again.
        "We can," they answered.

        Jesus continues "but to sit at my right or left is not for me to grant. These places belong to those for whom they have been prepared."

        And they drop back in line. Someone else must have beat them to the punch. Guess this wasn't the right moment. Oh, well, no harm in asking, no harm in saying no. There would certainly be other opportunities.
        Word eventually leaks out. Someone must have overheard the conversation and passed it on. Jealous frowns develop on the faces of the other disciples in that little group headed to Jerusalem; disciples worried that James and John would get to what they wanted and snatch it from them.

        And as tensions mount Jesus sits down at the side of the road, calls his quibbling troops together and begins to teach them about ambition - God's way.
        "You fellows know that in our society it is expected that those in charge use those under them for their own advancement and good. The one at the top has authority over the one at the bottom."

        Things haven't changed too much over the past 2000 years, have they? In our world, too, there are definite levels and hierarchies: CEO and president, vice-presidents, directors, managers, and so on down to the mail clerk.
        The boss says, "Boo!" and everyone down the line jumps.
        If you don't jump you're given a label. It's called "unemployed." That's the way the system works. Getting power, prestige, authority, and then wielding it.

Jesus then stands everything on its head:
"yes that's the popular way things are done, and
yes, that's the accepted way that one prepares ones bed in society,
        but
NO, that's not the way the Kingdom of God operates."

Says Jesus, "The one of greatest value in the Kingdom of God is the one who serves the most people.
        The most valuable is the one who hangs onto the least.
        The one who gains the most is the one who gives away the most.
        Top dog in the organization is the slave of all."

Then Jesus says, "You want to know how to do that? Watch me!... Even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many."

Having introduced the kingdom standards he then lives them in vivid colour.
        I said earlier that James and John had sensed that something big was about to happen, that Jesus was about to make his move.
                They were right about that.
                Jesus was about to ascend his throne.

The trouble was that the throne is not what the boys expected.
If you carefully read the book of Mark, all the way to the end, you will see that Jesus' throne is the cross.
        And the ones who sat on his right and left:
                those are the two men crucified with Jesus.....
                        one on the right,
                        and the other on the left.

When Jesus spoke of baptism and a cup, in other words of suffering, the disciples had in mind the heroic suffering of great national heroes, of generals that lead their troops into battle.
        Jesus had in mind the humiliating suffering of the cross,
of being condemned
        cursed,
        spit on,
        insulted,
        and murdered by people.

When Jesus speaks of the cup of suffering he is speaking of the cup of wrath that he would have to endure. He was going to be the one who endured the anger and punishment of God against the sin of humanity, your sin and mine leading us down a dead-end, hell-bound road.
        Jesus came to offer freedom from that fate by enduring death himself, and then while dead defeating death; rising from the grave.

Today is the first Sunday in the season of Advent.
Advent means - "coming, arrival". We remember the coming, the arrival of Jesus Christ on earth; the Holy, majestic Son of God stooping down to become a human being;
        the great God whom we serve getting off his throne and laying aside his royal robes to get down on his knees, becoming one with the experiences of his beloved but very wayward people, and ascending his throne called the cross.
        Doing it all for us
                for you!
                for me!

That’s Advent.
That’s the Christian message.
That's the road to glory, eternal glory.
        A road carved out and paved by Jesus.
        Immanuel - God is with us.

If you look at chapter 10 of Mark you’ll notice that pretty much right in the middle of the chapter is a short three verse section: 32-34. Those three verses are the bull’s eye of the chapter’s message. They are the heart, the essence of all the teaching in this chapter. Get it, and you’ve got the core. Miss it, and everything else falls apart.
        The suffering, surrendering servant work of Jesus on your behalf.

Note what I just said, though.
These verses are the core of the message. Not all of it.
The core of the message is about Jesus’ servant sacrifice for you.
The rest of the message is about your servant sacrifice.

The season of Advent, the season of "coming, arrival", is centred on Jesus.
        We look back to his arrival on earth.
        We also look forward to his return to earth.
                The second coming. Second advent.

Between those two Advents, those two great earth history events where we proclaim "Immanuel - God is with us" the presence, the coming, the arrival of Christ is seen and experienced here on earth through a group of people that the Word of God dubs, "The Body of Christ."

In Mark 10 we hear Jesus say to His disciples, "What I am doing for you, I want you to do for each other, and for all who you meet."
        It’s a teaching echoed, loudly, later in the New Testament.

Let’s read that echo together:

These words read quick. But, man, are they ever tough to live.
They run straight against the grain of human nature. As Mark 10 shows:

1. In v.13-16 adult disciples, in their grown up sense of self-importance, try to chase away mothers with diaper-clad children. "Go away. Jesus doesn't have time to waste on such unimportant matters as blessing and hugging children."

2. In v.17-31 a fellow comes seeking entrance into the Kingdom of God, into God's family, into God's eternity. Jesus says, "No problem. Just one thing you have to do. Ditch your riches. Sell off your stock and bond portfolio. Turn your housing units over to charity. Follow me." And the fellow leaves, dejected.

1. Prestige: being an adult is so much more important than being a child.
2. Possessions: having riches is so much better than being poor.
3. Power: it is so much better to be a cabinet minister in Jesus' coming kingdom, than just a peasant citizen.

        I was discussing some leading social trends with a few folks early last week. In reflecting on that conversation, it struck me: Wow, how amazingly different these trends are from what Jesus is calling for. It's a totally different road than that blazed by our Lord who's throne was a cross. Listen to a couple of these trends. You may recognize them. They’ve been around a while:

1. Cocooning - I'm hiding in my house with my family or a few of my close friends. I won't come out unless I have to or unless I gain a real benefit from it. And I won't let anyone in unless it looks like they are safe and can give me some real benefit.

2. Egonomics - If I get involved in something, or purchase something, I want it to be "just so" for me - tailor made, suited to me, meeting my needs and desires. If it doesn't, I'll go somewhere else where I can get it.

Both of these trends are powerful forces in today's society. Even in the Church. It's hard to get people to come out to meetings and various groups. Virtually every volunteer organization in Ottawa-Carleton is experience challenges staffing to required levels. Why? "I don't want to leave my comfortable home." Cocooning.
        Membership in organizations, including churches, is increasingly fluid. People move easily from one to another. Commitment is wanning to local congregations, to their local church families. Why? Because they want to find something tailored just for them. If it's not quite right, they'll walk. Or they’ll pick up a bit here, and a bit there - religion a la carte. Egonomics.

Prestige; Possessions; Power; Cocooning; Egonomics.
        They're all there.

But my friends, Jesus challenges us this morning to not let them get the better of us; to look up and expand our horizons; to look beyond our little self-centred universes and try to see things from God's perspective.
        See how much Jesus was willing to sacrifice for you.
        See how much benefit you derive from that. How much hope.
                How rich an eternity. What hope today.

        And think - can I not give something to another person and perhaps also enhance their life? Can I give some added meaning, added value, added joy to another person as a small reflection of the meaning, value and new joy that Jesus has given to me?
        Oh, how that would please our Father in Heaven.

How much joy that brings to Jesus.
I hear his words: "As much as you do it unto one of the least of these....."
        Remember the next words?
                "..... you do it unto me."

        Something else, a side benefit we receive from serving others. As we give, we become more and more able to appreciate and experience how much Jesus gave for us. His love for us and in us grows as we share that love.
        And conversely, the more we try to grab His love, hang onto it, hoard it; the more we try to hoard the tangible blessings He has given us.... the more they will slip through our fingers and disappear.
        Many who are first will be last, and the last first.

James and John figured it out, eventually.
        And yes - there were rough spots in the road. James received a throne: he was executed by King Herod. John received a throne: he was banished to the remote island of Patmos.
        But beyond that was, for both of them, a crown in glory, a home in heaven, an eternity with their Saviour and King who greeted them with the words, "Well done, you good and faithful servant."

Friends,
We’re into a season of gift-giving..... if you haven’t noticed by all the advertisements, store displays etc.
        The greatest gift is the humble service gift of Jesus.
        His gift to you.
                Your life.

Your life is, as someone said, a gift from God.
How you now leave here and live it, becomes, in this season, your gift back to Him.
        May today not only be the beginning of Advent in church services.
        May it also be a new advent - a new coming, new arrival - of service to others, service as recipients of Jesus’ gifts, service as representatives of Him -
                a new advent of service in Ottawa-Carleton.
 
 

Let's pray:

Lord, I am so much like James and John.
I easily find myself sizing up other people in terms of what they can do for me;
How they can help me, satisfy my needs, fit in my schedule, build up my life.

It's so easy to try and make other peoples' lives revolve around my life.

I confess, Lord, that I even find myself doing that with you;
        turning to you to get the inside track
                to obtain special favours,
        your direction for my schemes,
        your power for my projects,
        your sanction for my ambitions,
        your blank check for whatever I want.

Yes, Lord, I am so much like James and John.
        Forgive me.
                Change me Lord.
Make me a person who asks of you and of others,
"What can I do for you?"
        Help me to pass on the joy and care and love which You first
                have shown to me.
        Help me to walk the trail Jesus blazed.
                to live the life he calls me to. AMEN.