22nd Sunday After Pentecost – Byron Tindall
They just didn’t get it, again for the umpteenth time.
Zebedee’s sons, James and John, indicate what kind of kingdom they are expecting when Jesus takes over the leadership of that kingdom. “…and they said to him, ‘Grant us to sit, one at your right hand and one at your left, in your glory.’”
The place of honor at a ruler’s court at that time was just to the right and left of where the ruler sat. It seems like James and John were expecting Jesus to come back as some type of political ruler or a leader who would be recognized as such by the way his court was organized.
“But Jesus said to them, ‘You do not know what you are asking. Are you able to drink the cup that I drink, or be baptized with the baptism that I am baptized with?’”
The brothers agreed that they were capable of following Jesus down that road and told him so.
About this time, the other 10 disciples got wind of the conversation that was going on between Jesus, James and John. They got a little miffed.
Jesus called the 12 to come to a meeting where he tried to explain to them that his kingdom was unlike any other kingdom ever seen on earth. They just didn’t get it.
Matthew and Luke report similar incidents in their Gospels. John makes no mention of this exchange between Jesus and his disciples. Interestingly enough, Matthew has the request to sit on either side of Jesus coming from James’s and John’s mother.
This exchange between Jesus and the 12 amounted to one of the passion announcements.
When we stop and think about it for a minute, James and John, along with Peter, are the most often mentioned of the disciples in all four of the Gospels.
We have another announcement of the Passion of Jesus earlier in Mark.
In Chapter 8, verses 30-38, Mark wrote: “Then he began to teach them that the Son of Man must undergo great suffering, and be rejected by the elders, the chief priests, and the scribes, and be killed, and after three days rise again. He said all this quite openly. And Peter took him aside and began to rebuke him. But turning and looking at his disciples, he rebuked Peter and said, ‘Get behind me, Satan! For you are setting your mind not on divine things but on human things.’
“He called the crowd with his disciples, and said to them, ‘If any want to become my followers, let them deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me. For those who want to save their life will lose it, and those who lose their life for my sake, and for the sake of the gospel, will save it. For what will it profit them to gain the whole world and forfeit their life? Indeed, what can they give in return for their life? Those who are ashamed of me and of my words in this adulterous and sinful generation, of them the Son of Man will also be ashamed when he comes in the glory of his Father with the holy angels.’”
This time, the main character who was confused was Peter. Peter, just like the rest of them, just didn’t get it.
The so-called passion announcements are not the only time the followers of Jesus didn’t understand what he was attempting to tell and teach his followers.
On more than one occasion in the Gospels, Jesus had to take his disciples aside to explain to them what he was saying in one of his parables. Sometimes even then they just didn’t get it.
Misunderstanding Jesus is not limited to the 12 either.
In the Third Chapter of John’s Gospel, we find the exchange between Jesus and a Pharisee named Nicodemus who was also a member of the Jewish Council.
After hearing Jesus answer his question, Nicodemus replied, “How is this possible?” After the explanation of his answer, Nicodemus once again asked, “How is this possible?” He just didn’t get it.
Using parables to get a point across can be risky, as parables can be understood on many levels at the same time. The message may not necessarily come through the same way on the different levels. People hear the same message differently.
It’s a lot like the difference between a sign and a symbol.
For those of us with drivers’ licenses, when we come to an eight-sided sign with white lettering on a red background, we know we are supposed to come to a complete stop. I have to admit, however, there are those who respond to this sign by slowing down a bit and continuing on through the intersection. These signs are supposed to mean stop, not just slow down.
I have a collection of crosses I wear, mostly on Sundays. For me, they are a symbol of my belief and faith. For others, a cross is a pretty piece of jewelry with no indication of anything else. Either meaning is acceptable.
That eight-sided sign is supposed to have a universal meaning. A cross on a chain can be understood on many levels.
But I digress a little.
In the Baptismal Covenant in the Book of Common Prayer, the celebrant and people in the congregation engage in an exchange, which goes, in part:
Celebrant: Will you continue in the apostles’ teaching and fellowship, in the breaking of bread, and in the prayers ?
People: I will, with God’s help.
Celebrant: Will you persevere in resisting evil, and, whenever you fall into sin, repent and return to the Lord?
People: I will, with God’s help.
Celebrant: Will you proclaim by word and example the Good News of God in Christ?
People: I will, with God’s help.
Celebrant: Will you seek and serve Christ in all persons, loving your neighbor as yourself?
People: I will, with God’s help.
Celebrant: Will you strive for justice and peace among all people, and respect the dignity of every human being?
People: I will, with God’s help.
The way I read and understand this, following Jesus does not just mean giving up an hour or so once a week to come together to worship him. It’s a 24/7 commitment, but sometimes we just don’t get it.
In a little over two weeks, we should exercise our right and responsibility to vote for the next President and Vice President of the United States. I’m not going to tell you for whom you should vote. I ask you to remember your commitment to follow Jesus when you mark your ballot.
The expression goes, “If you don’t vote on Tuesday, you don’t have the right to complain on Wednesday.” Sometimes, we just don’t get it.