October 19, 2003

Mindekirken, Oct. 19, 2003
Pastor Jens Arne Dale

Mark 10.37-45

In quite a few places, heaven is described in terms of a great banquet. From all over people will come and be seated at the table. Isaiah 25.6 suggests a menu of rich food with marrow and well-aged wines strained clear. The NT doesn’t say anything about the menu. And who knows, maybe we might be served lutefisk in heaven? People buy tickets for Mindekirken's lutefisk dinner as if it would be heaven on earth. On November 15 they will be seated at the table, enjoying this Nordic delicacy which shivers yellow and white on the plate. There won’t be a head table at the Fellowship Hall. Everybody will be served with the same respect. Other times one might have special places at the table.

I remember once as a young lieutenant I was about to sit down at the commander’s table at an officer’s mess. Before I got seated, a colonel came and showed me another table. He didn’t know that the commander had invited the chaplain that day, and since the commander hadn’t arrived yet, I just had to sit at another table.

The mother of the disciples James and John asked for reserved places for her sons at the head table of heaven. She wanted Jesus to grant them to sit, one at the right hand and one at the left hand of him in your glory. We don’t know weather this request was caused by her care for the sons or her own ambitions. But it’s almost so we might smile at the whole situation. Mark tells that the other disciples began to be angry. And those were the apostles who later became saints! By this occasion they reveal their true humanity: envy and quarreling. And this was not the first time they discussed who was the greatest among them. Have you heard the Norwegian expression "sharp elbows?" Sharp elbows means to proceed without regard to others. Sharp elbows are common also in the church. But they may be kind of camouflaged. When the power is used in a pious way, it hard to disclose.

We may say: We have to pray for NN and XX who have problems in their relationship. It might be concern, but it might as well be a way of starting a rumor. It’s easy to talk about other’s problems to make oneself look better. Sometimes people claim their arguments are based on the clear word of God to undermine the theological integrity of others. It might be an efficient way of executing power. Not many years ago, women pastors experienced suspicion and rejection. The church had to spend time on the interpretation of some of Paul’s’ texts before acknowledging women as pastors. But these interpretations should not be based on disregard for women. Right now texts on homophile are actual. We have to respect different interpretations, but we have to do whatever we can to avoid homophobia as a basis of the interpretations.

Some get disillusioned and lose their courage by the internal fights in the church. Fights about the power and intrigues are not a good thing. But we have to admit that there is a link back to the first disciples when it comes to this. Just as we read about it in today’s text, where the mother of James and John wanted her sons to have the best place at the table reserved for them.

The quarreling among the disciples about who was the greatest makes a contrast to the Master himself. The disciples are concerned about their coming status in heaven, but Jesus tried to explain about his way towards suffering and death. Jesus invites us to go the humble way. True greatness is not based on what is great in people’s eyes. Whoever wishes to become great among you must be your servant, and whoever wants to be first among you must be slave of all. There are no other ancient texts with a similar ideal. Only at the Christian Church, there’s a hymn about him taking the form of a slave…he humbled himself and became obedient to the point of death.. Phil 2.7-8. We live in a society where rank, honor, position and fame count a lot. We are self-centered. Jesus represents an upside-down regarding this. In the Kingdom of God, the one who has nothing, gains it all. Here the grace is given to all. Jesus’ love never asks for what he might receive back.

The good Samaritan showed true greatness by kneeling down by the man who had fallen victim to robbers. He didn’t have to help, but he did. He served his neighbor without question. When the first Gulf war was ended, the commander, general Normann Schwartzkopf was asked if something had been specially important to him during the war. He answered by quoting from the prayer of St. Francis: Grant that I may not so much seek to be consoled as to console; To be understood, as to understand; To be loved, as to love…

What does it mean to have a servant’s mind in our everyday life? What does it mean when it comes to our family? What does it mean at our study place and job, where we are among our friends? When I think of this, I think of my own father and mother and all they have done and been for me . It’s good to grow up surrounded by people whose love is unconditional. Friendliness, helpfulness and love are values which never will go out of fashion. We should focus less on earning money, more on serving each other. Material values are not the most important things in life. The hymn writer got it right when he said: To live is to love.

When Jesus speaks about having the mind of a servant in today’s text, he has something special in mind. He describes the love which gives everything for others, even one’s own life. James and John appear in a strange light in today’s text when they quite frankly ask for the best places at the heavenly table. But we should not forget that they also followed Jesus on his suffering way. Acts 12.2 tells that James died as a martyr. John was also persecuted, but was the only disciple who didn’t die as a martyr. They all tasted the same cup as their Master.

Jesus describes the true mission of his life in today’s text. The Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life a ransom for many. In the OT the expression ransom is used about the sum required to buy the freedom of someone who is sentenced to death. We are the ones who are sentenced to death, we who are never able to live a perfect life according to the standard of God’s commandments. By his death and resurrection Jesus has bought us and set us free from sin and guilt. That’s why the communion bread has the shape of a coin. Jesus has paid our debt. He gives us life back. That’s the task of the suffering servant of the Lord, he who died for the sake of others, as we heard of in the first reading today (Isaiah 53). He came to give his life a ransom for many. Many means in this connection all. You and I are also included. Today we are reminded that we should live for others, and to serve others. But the greatest thing of all is that Christ has served and will continue to serve us. We may receive the love which is without conditions.

The Norwegian Lutheran Memorial Church ·  924 E. 21st St, Minneapolis, MN 55404-2952 ·  (612)874-0716