A misguided zeal (2)

Then James and John, the sons of Zebedee, came to him. “Teacher,” they said, “we want you to do for us whatever we ask”…

When the ten heard about this, they became indignant with James and John. Jesus called them together and said, “You know that those who are regarded as rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and their high officials exercise authority over them. Not so with you. Instead, whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant, and whoever wants to be first must be slave of all. For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.” Mark 10:35, 41-45

James and John (or their mother, if we follow Matthew’s alternative account) did what seems a truly outrageous thing: they approached Jesus and told him, “Teacher, we want you to do for us whatever we ask”. Jesus replied that they didn’t have any idea what they were asking; and that anyway such a thing “is not for me to grant”.

Focussing on this story last time, three lessons stood out for me. First, stating the obvious, it is wrong to seek glory for ourselves; be happy to be a nobody if that is God’s will. Second, to do so is a waste of time anyway, because all earthly glory fades and dies. Third, and more positively, the only place in life to be at peace is firmly in the centre of God’s will, so be content with his decisions for you.

But the episode didn’t end there. Jesus took the opportunity to teach these self-centred brothers that even to follow his will for them (to “drink the cup” he drank and to “be baptised” with his baptism) might take a very different form from what they expected. So, Christian, expect the unexpected!

Mark now has still more to add. When their fellow-disciples heard what James and John had done “they became indignant” – which is probably putting it pretty mildly. “Huh! Who do they think they are!” might capture their mood best. So Jesus calms the storm among his disciples by giving them a talk about leadership - being a leader according to the way of this world is a very different matter from being a leader in his coming kingdom. As far as he is concerned, to lead is to serve; so they had better get used to that idea!

Taking this incident as a whole, there are other insights we can gain that we might easily overlook.

First, an insight into Jesus’ humanness.

Last time I rather glossed over his comment that certain things “are not for me to grant”. It’s worth pausing on that for a moment, for I think that we can be guilty of emphasising his divinity to the neglect of his humanity. Here’s an example…

I heard a preacher once tell his congregation that Jesus would have known all 150 psalms by memory “because of who he was”. This idea was new to me, and I took a moment to digest it. I ended up concluding that it was very mistaken. The preacher, a truly fine Christian, was, I think, so keen to honour Jesus as the divine Son of God that he was in danger of turning him into a kind of spiritual superman; perhaps he hadn’t grasped the truth that Jesus was fully human as well as fully divine. It’s no accident that one of his favourite titles for himself was “Son of Man” (verse 45).

In the James/John episode Jesus specifically stated that his authority was limited - some things are “not for me to grant”. Likewise, when the disciples asked him the time of his return in glory he plainly stated that “about that day and hour no one knows, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father” (Matthew 24:36).

There is no reason to think anything other than that Jesus was a normal Jewish boy who learned like any other such boy in the local synagogue school; indeed, Luke 2:40-52 pretty much tells us so. And, of course, we know that he experienced every kind of human suffering: he sat at the well in Samaria, “tired as he was” (John 4:6); he was puzzled by a sudden loss of energy (Mark 5:24-34); he felt the need of human companionship and knew terrible loneliness in Gethsemane (Matthew 26:36-46). Not to mention, of course, the abandonment he felt on the cross: “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?”

Christian, honour Jesus Christ, Son of God and Saviour of the world, of course, But delight too in his shared humanity with you! He knows your aches and pains, your griefs and sorrows.

Second, the James/John episode give us a rare insight into the humanness of Jesus’ first followers.

We rarely give much thought to the original twelve. I must confess that, with the exception of Simon Peter (the “big fisherman”, all impulse and enthusiasm) and, of course, Judas Iscariot, my mental picture of them is hazy, to say the least.

We know that the father of James and John was called Zebedee, a fisherman, but no sooner is he named than he disappears from sight. Their mother, presumably Zebedee’s wife, is not even named in Matthew’s account of this story.

We know that Simon Peter was married, for Jesus was called upon to heal his mother-in-law (Mark 1:29-31). But we are not told his wife’s name (and we may find ourselves wondering how Peter got on with his mother-in-law). Indeed, we know next to nothing of the apostles’ family circumstances – did they have wives, parents, children who perhaps involved themselves in the work of the gospel?

What was life like among the twelve as they travelled with Jesus? How, for example, did Levi (or should that be Matthew?) the tax collector get on with Simon the Zealot? – surely a case of chalk and cheese. We know too that Thomas “doubted” (John 20:24-29). But there’s not a lot more.

But this story of James and John does tell us one thing more: the original disciples quarreled; they had their rivalries and jealousies.

In a strange sort of way that makes me feel better as I look at the very “damaged goods” that constitute the membership of our churches. Not, of course, that we should excuse differences and falling-outs; no, we are called to be holy and united.

But… well, isn’t it wonderful what God can do with such imperfect human material! This rather raggedy bunch ended up totally transforming the world and changing history!

Christian, take heart as you look at your imperfect church – and, of course, your imperfect self… There’s no knowing what God might do through you!

Father, thank you that you sent your Son Jesus not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for us. Please give me the same kind of humility and self-effacement – and so may all the glory go to him. Amen.