Sermon 21st October 2018: Year B: 22nd Sunday after Pentecost:Text: Mark 10:35-45 – Life turned upside down

Sermon 21^st October 2018

Text: Mark 10:35-45 – Life turned upside down

When something unexpected disrupts our lives we use the term – it’s turned my life upside down.

We struggle when life doesn’t seem to go the way we want it to go.

We like to be on top of things but sometimes things happen out of our control.

It is natural to want life to go smoothly and according to our plans but as you would be well aware that’s not always the case.

Disruptions can be hard to manage especially when one comes on top of another and another.

We like to be at the top of our game and in control.

In our Gospel reading today, James and John thought they would get a head start on the other disciples.

Their thinking is that Jesus has 2 spare seats right next to him – one on his left and one on his right.

Let’s grab them before someone else thinks of it.

And when the other 10 disciples found out about it they began to be angry with James and John.

Not because they were being disrespectful to Jesus but probably because they hadn’t thought of it themselves.

Jesus teaches his disciples a very important life lesson.

James and John were correct in their thinking.

There would be only 2 seats directly next to Jesus in heaven – one on his left and one on his right.

But how long before James and John would have started fight about who would be at the more prominent position on Jesus’ right hand side.

But Jesus points out that the true meaning of life is not found at what the world might consider the “top of the ladder” but hidden in the opposite of what the world deems as being on top.

For Jesus it began at his birth.

This King of Kings was not born to a Queen or Princess.

His entry into our life came through a young girl, born in a stable in poor humble surroundings.

His life was in danger from an early age when Herod wanted to kill him.

He became a refugee fleeing to Egypt.

Mary and Joseph with their baby Jesus had their lives turned upside down even though just prior to that angels had sung about his birth and locals had flocked to see him and royalty from other lands had come with gifts to worship him.

As he grew he had no secure lodgings as he said: “Foxes have holes, and birds of the air have nests, but the Son of Man has nowhere to lay his head.

His friends were the lowliest and poorest, the diseased and the outcast.

And even though he claimed to be sent from God and the people at one stage gave him a parade, he was so unlike the Son of God, the Messiah that had been expected by the people of God. 

His life was almost immediately turned upside down again as the people called for his death – crucify him!

His death on a cross was cruel, humiliating, shameful, painful and yet this, again, is where God has hidden his victory in the opposite.

God had turned Jesus’ life upside down!

Jesus humiliation becomes his glory.

Jesus death becomes his victory over death.

Jesus suffering becomes his comfort for us.

This is so hard to understand, especially when we read in today’s reading from Hebrews:

In the days of his flesh, Jesus offered up prayers and supplications, with loud cries and tears, to the one who was able to save him from death, and he was heard.

This was such a difficult thing to understand even for those who were the closest to him.

The one who came to save them dying on a cross.

That’s not the way life for Jesus was meant to be.

And so we can see that even though life for us is not always how it is meant to be as far as we’re concerned, God reveals a hidden glory behind what seems to us to be pretty dismal things.

And then we can hopefully begin to understand the strange sayings of Jesus.

“The greatest one among you must be your servant.

Whoever makes himself great will be humbled, and whoever humbles himself will be made great”

 “Those who want to save their life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for me and the gospel will save it”

“If anyone of you wants to be great, you must be the servant of all; and if anyone wants to be first, you must be the servant of all”

Life turned upside down is where God’s hidden presence is found.

As St Paull also discovered – when I am weak then I am strong.

Life in Jesus is back to front and upside down. 

The Kingdom of God is not the same as that of the rest of the world. 

Jesus defines greatness in such a different way – he uses words like love, humility, service, kindness, meekness, mercy, servants, losing one’s life to reveal greatness in God's Kingdom.

Values are changed. 

What is great in God's kingdom is different to what is considered great in the world. 

It might be considered great in the world to put down those we don’t life, or to ridicule people who are different, but greatness in God's Kingdom is to show kindness and love to our enemies and rivals and help them to succeed even if it means we miss out – as the 5th commandment says.

We might show our strength by criticising others and gossip about them to put them down but in God's Kingdom greatness means to defend others, speak well of others and be supportive as we follow the 8th commandment..

It might be considered great in the world to look after your own needs first and then the needs of others but in God's Kingdom greatness means to give food to the poor, a cup of water to the thirsty, shelter to the homeless, visit the sick and clothe the naked, to go the extra mile – to give up our spare coat and not keep it just in case.

Jesus spoke of being a servant and he leads by example.  “For the Son of Man did not come to be served; he came to serve and to give his life as a ransom for many”.

Following the upside down ways of Jesus is not easy. 

They are challenging.

Hopefully they will make us rethink our values and see the ways our society influences our thinking and behaviour in a negative way.

 Jesus’ upside down ways will open our eyes to realise how far we have gone off track going down the easy path, followed popular trends, done the “in thing” rather than taken the harder path of humility and service to others.

In the Sermon on the Mount Jesus outlined the true path:

“Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted.

Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth.

Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled.

Blessed are the merciful, for they will be shown mercy.

Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God.

Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God.

Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

“Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of me.

Rejoice and be glad, because great is your reward in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you.

Notice that the starting point for all those blessings are what we might consider things we would want to avoid.

As you experience turmoil and disruption in your life ask God to reveal his blessing and trust in him.

Prayer is not always about healing but sometimes it’s about revelation: asking God to reveal himself amongst us.

We all want life to go along smoothly without disruptions but you would know from experience that that is not how life goes.

It’s in those difficulties when God’s upside down love rests on us as St Paul heard from God in his suffering that was turning his life upside down:

God said to him: My grace is all you need, for my power is made perfect in weakness.”

And so Paul said: Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me.

God called it grace. 

We think greatness is all about us. 

But thank God for his grace that comes to bless us when life has turned upside down.

It doesn’t always mean that God will turn our life back around but he will bless our lives in the midst of our suffering and will reveal his love for us.