October 19, 2003
By Jack Price

Series: Life's Detours

      The noted philosopher Yogi Berra is famous for saying, "When you get to a fork in the road, take it."  We have taken many of the forks encountered and today marks the last in this sermon series on Life's Detours.  The series ends, but our journey of detours continues. 

      Throughout this series, the Gospel of Mark has been our guide, particularly the section known as Jesus' Galilean ministry.  Some scholars believe that this material was used in Mark's community to teach new Christians prior to their baptism at Easter, to help them learn about the implications and costs of discipleship.  Let us turn again to Mark's gospel.

      The Galilean ministry of Jesus is now over.  He and the disciples are walking toward  Jerusalem, toward detour of the cross.  Typical of teachers in that day, Jesus goes out ahead of the group.  Ched Myerss suggests this is a foreshadowing of Mark 16: 7 -- "He goes before you to Galilee."  The twelve follow, still amazed at what they have seen and heard.  Still others follow, further behind, in touch with their fear concerning what lies ahead in Jerusalem.

Jesus continues teaching the twelve privately.  This is Mark teaching his "church" and us.  Jesus again speaks of his passion and death and again there is little clear reaction from the disciples.  Then, James and John come privately to him.  Matthew records that their mother comes to Jesus on their behalf, but Mark uses no intermediary. 

James and John, with visions of grandeur and power dancing in their heads, approach Jesus in a way that many children come to their parents.  "Promise you'll give us what we ask for."  And Jesus responds as most parents do, "Well that depends.  What do you want?"  James and John, interpreting Jesus' teaching through thick filters of triumphant messianic frenzy, ask to receive the first and second places of honor at Jesus right and left hands when his kingdom comes.  They are actually pretty graceful about it, leaving Jesus the choice of whom to place at which hand.  Jesus must have felt frustrated and probably angry.  Despite his best efforts, James and John did not get it.  Perhaps Jesus' response as relayed in the Gospel has been edited for general audiences?  "You don't know what you're asking!  Can you drink the cup I drink?  "Can you undergo the baptism I am facing?" 

These were hard questions, challenging to sensitive and thoughtful disciples.  But James and John respond immediately.  Perhaps with thoughts of battle and valor, of heroism in the coming time of conflict, and with the assumption of Jesus' ultimate protection, they do not hesitate.  "No problem!"  This reminds me of the old hymn "Are ye able said the Master to be crucified with me?"  "Yes, the sturdy dreamers answered, 'To the death we follow Thee!'"  "Yes, we are able.  We can do it!"

"Yes, you will." Mark's community knew James' fate as depicted in Acts.  King Herod killed James.  John's ultimate fate is not clear to us.  But James and John have forgotten, the honored places in God's realm are for least and the outcast.  Ironically, two thieves occupy these places when Jesus comes into kingdom.

The other ten are furious when they find out about this request.  But they are not angry because James and John misunderstood Jesus' teaching.  No, they are angry because James and John asked for "priority seating" before they could.  It was a power struggle among the disciples and Jesus' frustration could only grow.  He is as close to sarcastic as we ever hear him in the gospels.  "No, you guys are not like the Gentiles (the Romans).  Their rulers "lord it over them."  "It is not so with you!?!"  You are the chosen few, the spiritual elite - my guys!"  It reminds us of the Chosen People Israel, chosen to tell the world about Yahweh.  They were chosen to be a blessing to the nations.  They were not chosen for special honor or recognition, not chosen because of special ability, and not chosen to be better.  They were chosen to serve!

Jesus continues his teaching.  Leaders must be servants.  To be great, work at being small.  To be a leader, work at being a servant.  To be set apart, be in community.  To find your unique calling, be firmly grounded and translucent to the Spirit.

Mark taught his community and us on the lips of Jesus.  He turned the disciples' world "upside down" (right side up!) with the revelation of God's perspective.  He turns cultural values of status and power on their heads.  And, in an almost hidden sub-text, teaches us a great deal about his own community.  In these passages, notice how women interact with Jesus without any husbands around.  Children are often present and no parents are mentioned.  Mark seems to be saying that anyone may approach Jesus on their own, even the "least" of that culture.  It reflects a new approach to leadership for Mark's community.  You can be female.  You can be young and still be a valued member of the community.  This truth still shines for us.  "In Christ there is no male or female, no old or young, no gay or straight, no in or out.  All are one in Jesus because all belong to God."

Jesus concludes his teaching.  "I have come to serve and give my life as a ransom for many."  Ransom meant to buy a slave's freedom.  The good news is the ransom is paid.  The slave is redeemed.  We are free.

            Mark's/Jesus' teaching speaks to us in terms of Life's Detours.  Over the last few weeks, with the aid ofDr. Wayne Oates' book of that same title, we have examined four "Laws of Life's Detours".  To review them, first is the Law of Compensation --when something is lost something new is gained.  Second is the Law of Realism - no matter how hard, the truth can always be heard and embraced.  Third is the Law of Perspective (a.k.a. patience) - trust deep truth of  Spirit's process; learn to see life from the perspective of heaven, with eyes of God.  Fourth is the Law of Resurrection - new life always comes out of the ashes of what has been; the promise of God's creation begins when we reach our own dead ends.

The fifth Law of Life's Detours is the Law of Fellowship.  Oates tells us, "God meets individuals when a chosen way of life has had its day and begins to cease to be"  How does this happen?  There are two ways.  First, we receive "spontaneous insight from within ourselves."  Second, through the "behavior, words, and sustaining grace of others."  We always need a "ground crew" and support system.  Oates says again, "The fellowship of Christians is the life support community and of the individual while we re-chart our course, " gently bearing one another's burdens, gently holding us to account in our faults, supporting us in bearing our own burdens when too much, joining us in casting burdens on God when they get too grievous, and helping each other devise new routes to make Life's Detours a life-giving journey.

What does this mean for us?  Each of us is unique, especially created and chosen by God.  We are chosen not for special status, but to serve with our unique gifts and calling.  Evidence for this uniqueness lies throughout scripture and throughout the creation itself.  Being special and unique is very cool and can motivate us to develop those gifts, discover that calling, and make the contribution to life we have to make.  On the other hand, focusing on our uniqueness can leave us focusing on our uniqueness.   The spiritual center of our lives can become ourselves, our uniqueness.  That is idolatry!  

What is true for us as individuals is also true for this congregation.  We are unique, as every congregation is unique.  Yet, it is our common connection through the body of Christ, through the universal church, that gives us our true identity.  Theologian Gary Larsen is unique.  His theological efforts are usually displayed in his cartoon series, The Far Side.  One cartoon of his reflects for me the "crashing truth of being special."  Roger plays the cymbals in an orchestra.  Evidently Roger has screwed up before because he is standing there, waiting to play, thinking, "This time I won't screw up!"  The caption reads, "Roger screws up."  We know this will be true because Roger stands there holding only one cymbal!

You and I play the cymbals in life's orchestra.  The uniqueness of our gifts, experience, and calling is one of our "life cymbals."  It represents the unique name given us by God (Revelation 2:17).  No one else can offer our gift to life.  But do not let this cymbal become a status "cymbal."  We need the other cymbal so as not to turn out like Roger!  The other cymbal is community.  Each of us is part of a whole, one cell in the body.  We are far more alike than we are unique.

                  What is true for us as individuals is also true for us as a church.  As we seek to clarify our identity and mission, the answers lie in our uniqueness to a large extent.  They also lie is staying connected to the body - the law of Fellowship.  Let us not stand holding one cymbal and hoping not to screw up.  Take in one hand the truth of your unique name, our unique identity given by God.  Take in the other the common name we share - Christian, children of God.  "Blessed be the tie that binds our hearts in Christian love.

Eternal God,

                  You weave us with the threads of our uniqueness into the fabric of a common humanity.  Give us grace to be part of that whole and strength to claim that unique name you give each of us.  In our community, let us love one another, yet not make that love a stifling bond.  Let us sing and dance together and celebrate your gift of life, but let us also be alone, each one of us, like the strings of a harp are separate yet quiver with the same song.  We commit ourselves to one another even while knowing only You can truly hold the allegiance of our hearts.  We stand as one, a community of individual creations with a single identity -- your children.  The threads of our lives and the fabric of our community we offer to You, Spirit of Life.  Amen.