To Each His Own
St. Mark 10:35-45
July 25, 2021 anno Domini
Please do not call your funeral a celebration of your life. If you do and I’m still the pastor here, I’m going to do what the church does with St. James the Elder. I’m going to preach about the worst recorded event in your life and tell what Jesus did with that.
James is now with Jesus and he’s overjoyed that he doesn’t have to look down on earth, especially on his day, and hear the church around the world rehearse the most embarrassing day of his life with Jesus.
James was the big brother. He led the way. He is always named first because that’s how it goes with brothers. James and John. Their lives were tied to Jesus and Jesus was doing great, Godly, glorious deeds. Feeding thousands, casting out demons, healing the sick. He was not like other men, other Rabbis, teachers of the faith. He welcomed little children to sit on his lap. He told a rich man to sell all that he had and follow Him. He toppled the self-righteous, but stooped down to help the littlest and lowest.
James and John saw the great and glorious and that’s what they wanted. Matthew tells us their mother, the wife of Zebedee, also played her part. Moms. They always think the best of their boys and want the best for them. So, with mom’s encouragement and big brother James leading the way, the boys go to Jesus. (Read 35b-37)
What were they asking? What is Jesus’ glory? Was it not when He breathed His last and gave up His spirit? When the water flowed from His side was that not the glorious sign of the baptismal water of rebirth and regeneration for sinners? Is His blood not the cup of salvation? Can you think of any more glorious words of Jesus than “It is finished.” Your sin is atoned for. Your debt is paid. The Devil had lost. The cross was revealed as an overwhelming triumph when Jesus descended into hell rubbing the Devil’s nose in the living water and life-sustaining blood that coursed through His veins once again.
How many times do you think Jesus wants to say to us what He said to James and John? You do not know what you are asking. James and John thought they were asking to be the Vice-Presidents of Glory and Glamor in the Kingdom of God. What they were really asking for was to suffer and die with Jesus. Those spots were given by God to the two thieves who hung with Jesus.
Imagine the conversation that took place in Zebedee’s household after Jesus rose from the dead. Father Zebedee is looking across the table at his wife and boys. “What were you thinking? Could you have asked a worse question? I’m surprised Jesus even bothers with you anymore.”
But you see, that’s the way it is with Jesus. The most selfish, glory seeking, I-wanna-be God moments, that you would never want in your obituary, are the very sins Jesus Christ came to forgive. James and John would never forget how Jesus dealt them that day. He told them the truth – they could not be baptized with His baptism because His baptism identified Him as the Savior of the world. In His baptism He soaked up the sins of all the world in the murky waters of the Jordan. They could not drink His cup – His cup was the dregs of death and hell for all sinners. He had to swallow not only His Father’s righteous anger, but also His Father’s abandonment in hell.
James and John would each get their own baptism and their own cup.
One the one hand they got the same thing. They didn’t get earthly glory. They got the risen Jesus. They got salvation. They got called to be Apostles. They were saved from their self-seeking, glory grubbing, it’s all about me-ness, to became servants of the Most High and slaves of their Lord and Master Jesus Christ. By faith, they learned that the most glorious place to be is a servant of Jesus. The most glorious work is to be slave to those around you – a husband to love your wife to death, a parent to give your children the necessity of life – Jesus and His forgiveness, to work hard for your employer, to give thanks for whatever unique gifts or trials the Lord gives you.
On the other hand James and John didn’t get the same thing.
James was the first of the Apostles to die and John was the last. James died like Jesus – arrested by King Herod and put to death for preaching the Gospel. John died of old age, having heard or seen everyone of his brothers in the Apostolic band killed for the name of Jesus.
James had about a decade in the ministry in and around Jerusalem. John preached the Gospel for 7 decades and saw the spread of the Gospel throughout the Roman empire.
James was not chosen by the Spirit to write God’s Word. (The book of James was written by Jesus half-brother.) John on the other hand was chosen to write almost ¼ of the New Testament and to receive the powerful and comforting Revelation that concludes the Bible.
James was first and John was last.
Today we learn from James the Elder, Apostle. Watch what you ask for in your prayers. Jesus will always give you more. Don’t expect glory and good times on earth. First comes the cross then the glory – that’s how it is with Jesus, that’s how our salvation works, that’s how life in Christ goes. You don’t get what everybody else gets – because you are uniquely loved by your Father. I get Bruce Timm forgiveness because I have my own sins. I get Bruce Timm discipline from my Father because I need Bruce Timm correction. I get Bruce Timm suffering because my Lord knows what I need. I get mine. You get yours. Little Nehemiah gets his. Each of us, James, John, you and me, receive what is best for us. In the name of Jesus. Amen.