Text: Mark 9:30-37 16 Sunday after Pentecost September 20, 2009
Reality shows, what a phenomenon. I don’t get it.
Do people want to be the survivor, the most talented, the dancer, the biggest loser, the star, the hero, the greatest? Are the disciples having their own reality show? Jesus just told them for a second time that he was going to die. Which one of them will be the survivor, the most talented disciple, the star, the hero, the greatest?
My dilemma, what do I use for a theme? America’s Greatest Servant? You’ve Got Talent? Our Stewardship theme is “Blessed by God to be a Blessing”, so should it be, “You’ve Got a Blessing?” What I settled on was, “You’ve Been Blessed.” And you have, you’ve been blessed beyond measure, beyond anything that any reality show can shower upon you.
They are walking along in their home territory; the death had been predicted. You know how groups walking together get separated. They no doubt hung back from Jesus so they could share their frustration about his death; who’s going to take over, which one of us will be the leader, which one of us will survive and be the greatest, preoccupied with themselves, they were. This story kind of reminds me of riding in a car with kids. I just did that with the confirmation class Friday night. Somehow they think the front seat can’t hear what the back seat is saying. The disciples must have thought Jesus couldn’t hear them talking. So they get to the house, which many scholars believe Jesus used frequently for teaching purposes, as he does again, “What were you arguing about, not talking about, but arguing?” When you get caught at something, often you have nothing to say, and this was the case.
Jesus continues to teach, “You do not become great in God’s eyes by competing or achieving, but by humility, God’s blessings and loving others, by serving.”
Visualize what’s next: a bunch of guys sitting around being taught and Jesus knocks their socks off by bringing in a child. Children were nobodies in that culture, down there with women; nonentities, invisible, non-persons, and not only does Jesus hold the child but he takes it in his arms. What is wrong with him? What was he thinking? He was thinking like God would think, he was thinking like a servant. A servant takes care of others, even children, loving them, embracing them. This was something done by people of low stature. A servant, blessed by God, will make sacrifices for others, giving of themselves, putting aside their own interests without ever drawing attention to themselves, maybe that is why Jesus kept telling them to tell no one, don’t draw attention to me. This story emphasizes the importance of this child, but perhaps more importantly it emphasizes the role of the servant. Those blessed by God to be a blessing.
A number of years ago I attended a class on customer service at Disney University as it was called then. The premise was people don’t mind paying more if you give them quality service. Jesus paid the biggest price possible, the quality of his service was of the highest standard and that is what he expects of you. That will be great.
You have been blessed and you have opportunities to serve, to minister, and that is what we will look at now.
As I have been speaking the Ministry opportunity forms have been passed out. Please don’t open them yet. If you are visiting, this is not our normal procedure. If you are a Wartburg student or not a member we invite you to fill one out, or follow along. If you need something to write with, please let an usher know. I will go through this form, you may fill it out as we go or at the end of the service, follow along, or take it home and bring it back next week.
Corrie Ten Boom said, “You just collect roses, the praise and compliments, during the day, put them together in a bouquet, at the end of the day get on your knees and say, “Here, God, these were yours all along. I just held them for you.” You are blessed by God to be a blessing. Then you will get a sticker that says, “God thinks you are great, and that’s all that counts.” Amen
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