Reflecting on Mark 9:30-37
"Anyone who wants to be first must be the very last, and the servant of all." (Mark 9:35)The way of Jesus is backwards.
It goes against what we think is natural or normal.
Actually, what we see as normal is unnatural.
God did not design us to put ourselves over others.
God designed us to love like Him, which mean going beneath.
This section starts with Jesus talking about His suffering and death.
The disciples do not understand this, because it is backwards.
God’s coming messiah would win, not suffer and die.
God’s coming kingdom would be powerful, not weak.
But they were thinking in normal, natural human ways.
Our ways are not God’s ways, because we no longer follow God’s ways.
We follow the way of self, just like Adam and Eve did when they ate the fruit.
Jesus is following God’s way, the way of self-giving, other-serving love.
As Jesus followers, we need to drill the Jesus Way into our hearts and minds.
The whole gospel hangs on it, for this is how God saves us.
Human saviours through the centuries have followed the way of self.
Elevate yourself, crush your enemies, put everyone under your feet.
This ‘king of the hill’ strategy may work for a time.
But eventually another ‘king of the hill’ comes along to topple them.
Satan entices Jesus in the wilderness to follow his human way.
Bow to him, and he will force the nations under Jesus (Matthew 4:8-9).
But Jesus does not follow the human way, the Satan Way.
Yet for some reason, Jesus followers keep getting duped by this human way.
How many times through history have christians gained and used power?
They’ve used Jesus and the church to enforce their kingdom agendas.
They make themselves and their nations great again by use of force.
Legal force, military force, numerical force, religious force.
Christendom for centuries was ‘king of the hill’.
Western colonialism for centuries was ‘king of the hill’.
American nationalism right now seems to be ‘king of the hill’.
But eventually another stronger ‘king of the hill’ comes along.
Are we so blind, are we so foolish?
God does not save us by sending a powerful messiah.
God saves us by going to the lowest position, becoming a servant.
God saves us in Jesus by denying self and serving others.
God saves us by self-giving, other-serving love.
Though His way seems weak and foolish, it is the power of God.
It seems upside down, but only because our world is upside-down.
Jesus is actually turning things right side up.
We cannot fix the world’s problems by having power and control.
We cannot force human nature to submit to God’s Way, God’s will.
Love, patience, kindness, gentleness – this is how God overcomes evil.
God raises up all who join Jesus in this downwardly mobile way.
Once again, it seems foolish.
Does God want me to love that sinner?
Does God want me to be kind to that unkind person?
Does God want me to support that foolish person?
Does God want me to wash the feet of that arrogant person?
Does God want me to help that person who denies Jesus?
Does God want me to submit to that face-slapping jerk?
Does God want me to forgive that unforgiveable $%#@#?
Does God want me to pray for that abuser?
According to Jesus, YES!
The Jesus Way is backwards to us, but it is the God Way.
"Do not repay anyone evil for evil. Be careful to do what is right in the eyes of everyone. If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone. Do not take revenge, my dear friends, but leave room for God’s wrath, for it is written: 'It is mine to avenge; I will repay,' says the Lord. On the contrary: 'If your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him something to drink. In doing this, you will heap burning coals on his head.' Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good." (Romans 12:17-21)History suggests the church will continue to forget this.
If our focus is on the church, we will lose our way.
But if our focus is on Jesus, His teaching, His life, we will see the Way.
This is why I have decided to follow Jesus, and not the church or the world.
Though none go with me, still I will follow, for Jesus is the true way to life!
I constantly fall short along this way, but thankfully Jesus is there.
When we walk with Jesus in His way, He helps us when we fail or falter.
Like little children, we hold His hand and He holds ours.
He guides and leads us along the way, gently correcting us when we stray.
There is no better way than the Jesus way… even if it seems backwards.
PRAYER
Lord Jesus,
Jesus turned the world right side up by His actions. It is difficult to live with the thought – as far as it depends upon me, live at peace with all mankind. It has been a favourite text of mine and it helps me to stand up for Jesus. I need to be an instrument of His peace at all times showing the fruit of the Spirit. Each day anew I need to dress myself with His armour so that I can be His servant in all I do and say. They need to see that Christ Jesus is living in me – Christian by name.