Mark 10:35-45
“The Cup and the Baptism”
Peter isn't the only one of the
disciples that makes a fool of himself from time to time. James and
John, the sons of Zebedee, could give him a run for his money. Jesus
called them the “sons of thunder”, perhaps because they wanted to
call down the fire of heaven on some Samaritan villagers who wouldn't
welcome Jesus. This earned them a stern rebuke from Jesus, as they
just moved on to another village.
Here, James and John come with a
request of Jesus. Matthew's parallel account tells us they even got
their mother involved in making this request. And they tried a
little trick - to get Jesus to agree to the request before saying
what it was they wanted – which, even today, is never a good thing
to agree to. “Promise me you won't be mad” or “Promise you'll
keep this a secret”. We try to use these little tactics to get
people to react the way we want, give the answer we want them to
give. But Jesus won't be so easily manipulated.
The request is a simple one, though
bold. They want to sit at his right hand and left when he comes into
his kingdom. They want the #1 and #2 places of honor, the top two
spots of power. They want to be his right-hand man, and his
left-hand man. No wonder the other disciples were indignant when they
heard. James and John just beat them to the punch. These are the
same disciples who liked to argue amongst themselves who was the
greatest.
And their request tells us quite a bit
about their thinking. It shows us that they didn't have their
listening ears on when Jesus told them what kind of Messiah he was.
He spoke plainly about his arrest, crucifixion, death and
resurrection. He repeated this, giving more details about the
involvement of the Jews AND Gentiles, the spitting and the flogging.
He continued to repeat, over and over again, that he had come to die,
and that he would rise from death. But they would not, perhaps could
not hear it.
They looked for an earthly kingdom, a
worldly sort of Messiah, a king who would restore the glory and give
the people good things, and preside over peace and prosperity. Like
so many others who can only see the vain things of this life, and
therefore end up looking for a savior who is really quite small.
Jesus has come to do far more than all that. His kingdom is not of
this world. Sure he's the king of this and every world. But he is
no mere earthly king. No savior for only this world. His mission
has a far greater scope. He comes to save the world, not just
Israel. He comes to save from sin, not just from poverty and want.
He comes to conquer, not the Romans, but death itself.
And don't you forget it, either
Christian! Though we often do. How often do we aim so low in our
prayers and expectations of God. Our eyes can only see the things of
this world. The temporal troubles that distract us and occupy us.
The pursuit of worldly good, worldly glory, worldly peace, worldly
happiness. So often we think, if only _______, then I would be
happy. Then I would be fulfilled. Then everything would be all
right.
But your biggest problem isn't
________. Your biggest problem is sin. Sin that corrupts every
corner and facet of your life. Sin that drives a wedge between you
and your loved ones, your coworkers, your neighbors. Sin that drives
you to continually look out for #1. Sin that inheres to your very
nature and will ultimately bring you down to the grave. Luther
called our sinful flesh the man that always hangs on our neck. He's
a burden. He's a drag. He's the problem. And won't just go away.
Jesus said to them, “What do you want
me to do for you?” And their answer should have been, “Save us,
Lord. Renew us. Cleanse us from sin. Have mercy on us.” But no.
They wanted to sit at his right and left.
Jesus has the cross on his mind. And
he knew it was coming. He told them so many details. You have to
wonder if he even knew, specifically, that his cross would be flanked
by two others, two thieves – one on his right, one on his left.
However it would be, whatever it would look like, it was all part of
the plan – it was already prepared, appointed, ordained.
And so he challenges James and John,
“Can you drink the cup I'm about to drink? Can you handle the
baptism I'm about to undergo?” Not having a clue, they say, “We
are able!” Jesus uses these figures of speech – the cup, the
baptism, to speak of his suffering and death. He drank the cup of
God's wrath – the cup that he prayed about in Gethsemane – that
it might pass from him, yet not my will be done but yours, O Father.
And the baptism, also a picture of death, as we too in our baptism –
in a very real way - are baptized into Christ's death. The early
Christians called martyrdom the “baptism of blood” and so forth.
Can you suffer what I'm about to
suffer? Can you face the foul breath of death? Can you sustain the
physical whipping and the verbal lashing? Will you stand as an
innocent man condemned? Can you accept the rejection of your people?
Could you bear the brunt of it all? Can you bear the sins of the
world? Can you absorb the wrath of the Father? Can you endure the
pangs of hell itself? “We can!” No, James and John. You can't.
And thanks be to God and to Christ that he has done it for us all.
We can't even imagine that kind of suffering – bearing the sins of
the world.
But Jesus does use this moment, and
turns the conversation another way – to indicate to them that they
will indeed, in a way, share his cup, and his baptism. And really
this goes for them, for all the disciples, and even for all
Christians. So take note. Following Christ means taking up your own
cross. Being united to Christ means being united to him in
suffering. He is the head, and we are the body – connected always
– and so where he goes, we go also, at least in some sense.
James, we know from Acts 12, would
suffer a martyr's death. King Herod Agrippa had him put to death by
the sword – beheaded, according to other sources. He is considered
the first of the apostles to die. But in this way he, too, shared in
the cup and the baptism of Christ, dying for his confession of
Christ, an innocent man murdered at the hands of the wicked.
And then there's John. The only one of
the 12 apostles not to die a martyr's death. But that doesn't mean
he escaped the cup or the baptism. John knew the torments of
persecution in his own way – as he was exiled to the prison island
of Patmos in his later years. It was there that he received the
vision he recorded for us, and we know as the book of Revelation.
And so out of his suffering, God worked great blessing. The visions
of Revelation are some of the most powerful words of hope for
Christians who face suffering – some of the most comforting words
in all of the New Testament.
Yes, James and John would, in a sense,
have a share in Christ's cup and baptism, and a place in his kingdom.
But it wasn't the honored seats of worldly glory they sought. It
was a part in his suffering, and a blessed death in Christ, and now
we know they enjoy the blessings of paradise with all the other
believers who have gone before us. In a way, they do sit at his
right and left hand, sharing his reign and glory, wearing a crown of
righteousness, and awaiting the resurrection with all the saints.
James and John, it seems, would also
learn the lesson eventually – that greatness comes in service to
others. Whoever would be great among you, must become your servant.
Whoever would be first, must be slave of all. Christ, first of all,
firstborn of Mary and only Son of God from eternity – he who was
greatest by right – didn't exert his greatness. Instead, he became
servant of all, laid down his life for all. The cross is the
greatest service ever rendered – the death of God for the life of
all men.
And following in Christ's path of
service, James and John, along with all Christians – means we serve
one another. We don't all do it, literally, unto death – though
some do! But we lay down our lives in many ways – small and large
– not seeking greatness, but seeking the welfare of our neighbor.
It's diametrically opposite of seeking the places of honor and glory,
the right hand and the left. It means seeking the lowest place, the
place of dishonor, coming underneath and even washing feet if
necessary. This is simply another way of describing what love is. We
serve because we've been served. We love, because we've been so
loved. Consider how you might follow Christ in this way. What needs
does my neighbor have? How might I serve him?
You, Christian, have a share in
Christ's cup and baptism. Though you may, in your sin, seek worldly
things – the fame, the fortune, the pleasures of this world. You
may be, like the sons of Zebedee, focused on the things below, and if
so - repent. Turn your eyes to the things above, and see Christ as
he truly is – the suffering servant sent by the Father, to lay down
his life as a ransom for many.
Yes, because of Jesus' cup of suffering
and Jesus' baptism of death, you have another baptism and another
cup.
You, Christian, are baptized into
Christ's death – and life! A baptism, not of judgment, but of
mercy. Though you received it long ago, you live in it every day.
You, Christian, are invited to drink
the cup of Christ's sacrament – not a cup of wrath, but a cup of
mercy. The very blood of Christ for the forgiveness of sins. Come
and receive it, even today.
You are united to Christ in his
baptism, and by his cup. And you may suffer for it. Your faith may
cost you friends. It may cost you time and treasure. It may bring
you the scorn of men and divide your own family. It may even mean
you taste of death. But the one who laid down his life for you will
not forsake you. And remember, where he goes, you go. Not just to
death, but also to life. Jesus' resurrection is your resurrection,
too. He laid down his life to take it up again. And when your life
is finally laid down, however it happens, he will take it up again.
He will raise you up. He will bring you with James and John and all
the other believers into resurrected glory. He will do better for
you than anything you could ask.
In Jesus' Name, Amen.
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