Going Up to Jerusalem

They were on the road, going up to Jerusalem, and Jesus was walking ahead of them; they were amazed, and those who followed were afraid. He took the twelve aside again and began to tell them what was to happen to him, saying, ‘See, we are going up to Jerusalem, and the Son of Man will be handed over to the chief priests and the scribes, and they will condemn him to death; then they will hand him over to the Gentiles; they will mock him, and spit upon him, and flog him, and kill him; and after three days he will rise again.’ James and John, the sons of Zebedee, came forward to him and said to him, ‘Teacher, we want you to do for us whatever we ask of you.’ And he said to them, ‘What is it you want me to do for you?’ And they said to him, ‘Grant us to sit, one at your right hand and one at your left, in your glory.’ 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?’ They replied, ‘We are able.’ Then Jesus said to them, ‘The cup that I drink you will drink; and with the baptism with which I am baptized, you will be baptized; but to sit at my right hand or at my left is not mine to grant, but it is for those for whom it has been prepared.’ When the ten heard this, they began to be angry with James and John. So Jesus called them and said to them, ‘You know that among the Gentiles those whom they recognize as their rulers lord it over them, and their great ones are tyrants over them. But it is not so among you; but whoever wishes to become great among you must be your servant, and whoever wishes to be first among you must be slave of all. For the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life a ransom for many.’ Mark 10:32-45

We are on the cusp of Holy Week, that sacred journey and Christ's holy passion. The brothers James and John, former fishermen, wanted to secure their place beside Jesus. They sensed something was about to change. Jesus' response to them, and to all of us, is for us to be close to Jesus, we must be servants. Fighting for power and control has no place in the formula. Serving the least among us and aching with compassion and care, are the only standards we have been given. As we approach Holy Week, may we seek to model Jesus' lordship of humility and service.

Wondrous Creator, you love the whole world

your heart is with the poor and the needy

calling us to proclaim your love in service

offering ourselves to the care of others.

We struggle and fight for honor and control

not following your model of sacrificial service

we want to be coddled and pampered

and bristle when we are asked to give up something.

Help us to see you in the least and the aching ones

make us those who are willing to be on our knees

empower us to let go of the attitudes that keep us

from loving you and yours in our hurting neighbors. Amen.