Sermon by Felicity Thompson, Seminarian, 9/22/2024
Today we have the second Passion prediction in the first part of this Mark pericope. The first was at Caesarea Philippi last week and this second one is after another healing and more important, the Transfiguration where Jesus Christ’s appearance changed and that physical change revealed His heavenly glory. So do we hear Jesus’ words and how do we react to this? Let’s put that thought in the “parking lot” as we continue.
Taking the child in His arms, children are usually ignored and referred to as IT, not even acknowledging gender. At that time, in that society, children were not seen as full human beings, they were to be seen and not heard. So Jesus taking the child in His arms is significant. The child is dependent on others. Just like we are dependent on God for our needs.
Let’s go back to our gospel reading. An observation, “He will be betrayed by human hands”. That’s a troubling phrase, especially after the transfiguration. This tells us that Jesus’ life will be taken by “human hands”. How do we wrap our heads around Jesus being in a state of great suffering? It’s challenging for us to see a winner become a victim. This takes me back to our history. Yet how do we understand this? This tells us that God is not going to spare Jesus from what is going to happen. This is about protection (God’s protection for Jesus), being withdrawn. Remember this during Lent, when Jesus, on the cross says, “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?” Matthew 27:46. This is about God letting humans have their way with the Messiah.
The tragedy in verse 32. The 12 did not understand Jesus. Look at the comments the disciples make and how quickly there is a pivot! Knuckleheads talking about who is the greatest and they’re doing this with the G.O.A.T, the greatest of all time. Remember Peter, James and John saw the greatness of Jesus. But here the twelve disciples are so scared to ask Jesus what He means - out of fear, they distract themselves with nonsense.
Today when we don’t understand something said in church, we are more likely to just let it go rather than admit we don’t understand. Like the disciples who don’t understand what Jesus said. In the corporate world, being curious, admitting I don’t understand an assignment, a concept, a point made during a meeting, could cost me my job. We all know some congregations that don't let certain people worship in their spaces. So instead of having these conversations, we are busy propping up bruised egos. God's Word is the Living Word. What happened 2000 years ago, is still happening today. Some of us go silent because we are too scared to hear the truth. We are afraid there will be consequences or additional responsibilities. We do that in church! This shows how much we distract ourselves with superficial things that are not important. This is not just about the disciples. It is also about us not understanding Jesus dying on the cross for all of us. So we distract ourselves with what we think is important, even when we know it isn’t.
The abruptness of the shift of this conversation. Jesus had just healed people: the blind man, the sick. And here the disciples are talking about who’s the greatest. Today, with all the chaos in the world, those of us in church talk about who’s more deserving, who we pay attention to, who is the greatest. We talk about who is the winner and exalt the person. What was happening here with the disciples is happening with us today. This is 2000 years later, even we are having the wrong conversation.
I cannot skip over the reading in Jeremiah where Prophet Jeremiah says:
“And I did not know it was against me that they devised schemes, saying, "Let us destroy the tree with its fruit, let us cut him off from the land of the living, so that his name will no longer be remembered!"
Some people measure greatness by destroying the accomplishments of others. Some people measure greatness by tearing others down. Some people measure greatness by undermining the accomplishments and reputation of others. Some people measure greatness by forcibly taking indigenous people off their ancestral lands. Some people feel it is a privilege of greatness to be able to do any of the things I listed.
What qualities do we need to be a good Christian? It’s a process, it takes a lifetime. So don’t be too harsh on yourself. Remind yourself, God is not finished with you yet.
When Jesus says, "the first will be last, and the last will be first" (Matthew 20:16, Mark 10:31), He is speaking about a reversal of expectations in God's kingdom. It emphasizes humility and the value of selflessness. Those who seek status, power, or recognition in this life (the "first") may find themselves humbled in the end, while those who are humble, overlooked, or marginalized (the "last") will be elevated. It challenges worldly ideas of success and points to God's justice, where true greatness comes through serving others, and rewards are based on faithfulness and humility rather than worldly achievements.
This saying by Jesus, "the first will be last, and the last will be first," is a teaching that touches on several spiritual principles. In many societies, power, wealth, and status are seen as markers of success. Those at the top are often viewed as more important or worthy. However, Jesus challenges this worldly perspective. In the Kingdom of God, external success and privilege don’t guarantee favor with God. Instead, it’s often the humble, the meek, and the marginalized who are closest to God’s heart. Jesus frequently uplifted those who were ignored by society, like children, the poor, and the outcasts.
The saying highlights the importance of humility. People who are “first” in the eyes of the world—those who strive for prominence or dominate others—may be out of alignment with the values of God’s kingdom. Conversely, those who willingly put others first, serve selflessly, and act in humility are often exalted in God's eyes. Jesus Himself exemplified this by washing the disciples' feet and teaching that greatness comes through service.
The statement can also be interpreted as a message about the nature of God’s grace. Salvation and blessings are not earned by human effort or status but are gifts from God. The "last," those who may seem unworthy by worldly standards, are often the ones who receive God’s mercy and grace because they approach Him with open hearts. The parable of the workers in the vineyard (Matthew 20:1-16) illustrates this when all the workers, regardless of when they started, are paid the same wage.
The phrase also serves as a warning about judgment. Those who assume their place is secure because of their status, wealth, or achievements may find that God’s justice operates on different principles. God’s kingdom is about the condition of the heart, not outward appearances. The self-righteous or proud may be brought low, while the humble and repentant will be elevated. It speaks to God's fairness in rewarding faithfulness and true service rather than superficial status.
For those who are suffering or marginalized, this message is a source of hope. It promises that God sees our struggles and that our faithfulness, even in difficult circumstances, will not go unnoticed. It assures us that in the end, God will vindicate the humble and lowly, turning the current social order upside down.
Overall, Jesus' teaching here is a call to humility, service, and faith in God’s ultimate justice. It encourages people to rethink their priorities and to live in alignment with God’s values rather than the values of the world.
I didn’t like my name, my middle name. When I was in fifth grade, my home room teacher, Miss Post, told my grandmother during Open House that my middle name was memorably forgettable. Some of the missionary kids said my name sounded like black magic. I did not like it. I felt the other kids knew I was different but that name really made me different. I complained to my grandmother and she said, that name makes you special. That didn’t make me feel better. So, I came up with a plan. When I turn 18, I will change my name.
On one of many international trips before I moved to Michigan, the Immigration Officer, who happened to be an immigrant too, remarked, “wow, that’s a beautiful middle name”. Looking back he must have just started his shift because he was way too cheerful, welcoming and seemed to have a lot to say. “Do you know the meaning of your name?” I shrugged. I was tired, exhausted and just wanted to get to our final destination. My mother looked at me, trying to encourage me to go ahead and say something, anything. Mom was probably turning aubergine, not red, because I was embarrassing her with my rank attitude and I was displaying a “lack of home training”. Nothing could dampen his mood. The officer didn’t seem to care about my teenage attitude. He was so excited to hear my name, he told me the meaning.
Like everyone from the African diaspora, colonization influenced the way we spoke. It influenced the way we dressed. It influenced the food choices made available to us at the Country Clubs. It was food you all would be familiar with, baked chicken, mashed potatoes and gravy, liver and onions - you know, and that type of food. But on Sundays, Hill Station competed with our traditional jollof rice, fried plantain, efo riro and assorted stews with freshly baked meat pies that were mouth watering and scrumptious, dainty cucumber sandwiches, and fancy pastries all part of an afternoon tea. There was a significant part of the population where we lived, who were immigrants from India, Pakistan, Bangladesh and Sri Lanka so Yelwa Club served a traditional Indian curry with an array of tantalizing garnishes, different colored sauces and a variety of chutney, bite size vegetables and nuts. The competition was tough! Yet there was that message, that unspoken message, that our traditional food was not good enough. It wasn't up to par.
Martin Luther King said, "number 1 in your life's blueprint should be a deep belief in your own dignity, your own worth and your own somebodiness. Don't allow anybody to make you feel that you are nobody." I wish I heard those words when I was much younger. I wouldn't have been challenged with my middle name or my culture. And you know, that's what society does - society puts messages out there on what's acceptable. It's time we challenge society. Ask why.
The Bible contains several stories and parables that echo the theme of "the first will be last, and the last will be first." Here are a few examples:
The Parable of the Rich Man and Lazarus (Luke 16:19-31)
In this story, Jesus compares the lives of a rich man and a poor beggar named Lazarus. The rich man lived in luxury and ignored Lazarus, who sat outside his gate, hungry and covered in sores. After both men died, their fortunes were reversed. Lazarus was carried to Abraham's side (a place of comfort), while the rich man found himself in torment. The story illustrates how worldly status and wealth do not determine one’s standing in the afterlife, and how those who seem "first" in this life can end up "last" in the next.
The Parable of the Workers in the Vineyard (Matthew 20:1-16) In this parable, a landowner hires workers at different times throughout the day to work in his vineyard. Some workers start early in the morning, while others are hired later, even up to the last hour. When the day ends, all the workers are paid the same wage, regardless of how long they worked. The workers who started early complain, but the landowner reminds them that he was fair and generous. Jesus concludes this parable by saying, “So the last will be first, and the first will be last,” highlighting God’s generosity and the fact that His rewards are based on grace, not merit or effort.
The Pharisee and the Tax Collector (Luke 18:9-14)
In this parable, a self-righteous Pharisee stands in the temple and prays, thanking God that he is not like other people, especially the sinful tax collector who is also praying nearby. The tax collector, in contrast, humbly begs for God's mercy, acknowledging his sin. Jesus says that it was the tax collector, not the Pharisee, who went home justified before God, teaching that those who exalt themselves will be humbled, and those who humble themselves will be exalted.
Jesus Washing the Disciples' Feet (John 13:1-17)
In a powerful act of humility, Jesus, the Son of God, takes the position of a servant and washes His disciples' feet. Although He was their Lord and Teacher, He demonstrated that true greatness is found in serving others. He tells them, "Now that I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also should wash one another’s feet" (John 13:14). This act of service demonstrates the principle that those who lower themselves in humility and service will be lifted up.
Each of these stories illustrates how God values humility. They demonstrate the reversal of expectations in God's kingdom. Let’s go back to the thought we left in the parking lot. The disciples did not understand and were afraid to ask. A core problem of community, a core problem of church is not being open enough for people to ask questions. How can we get our needs met?
As we begin the new week in this new season, let’s continue supporting each other - Chima Ngozi Adichie has these words of wisdom, “Please do not be nice. Be kind because kindness is a measure of our humanity. But do not be nice. Nice means always wanting to be liked. Nice means silencing inconvenient truths. Nice means choosing to always be comfortable. Nice means letting go of courage. Nice means talking about peace but not about justice. There is no such thing as a perfect human being. The longing of perfection will hold you back. It doesn’t help any cause to start with perfection as a yardstick. We do not need to be perfect before we are able to do what is right”.
Amen