Two separate stories but
with a tie-in. Maybe an odd, roundabout tie-in…
Let’s begin with what
Jesus reveals to the disciples as they journey through Galilee on their way to
Capernaum. For a second time, he tells them about his death and resurrection.
Comparing the first
telling to the second, what are the differences?
·
In MARK 8:31-32,
Jesus mentioned he would suffer and be rejected. He was specific as to those who
would do such – elders, chief priests, scribes.
·
More importantly
though is what’s in the second tell. Jesus
adds the bit about betrayal. “I’m going to be betrayed.”
In the study group,
several open-ended questions were posed:
·
Why did Jesus
announce he would be betrayed?
·
Did Jesus know the
traitor was actually in his group of disciples?
·
Did Jesus know it
was Judas who would betray him – in his “reveal” to the group?
·
Was Jesus, who
loves and cares for all of us, giving this disciple a chance for a change of
heart?
·
If Judas had
changed his mind, would someone else (disciple or not) have betrayed Jesus
“into human hands”?
You can imagine the
discussion with these questions. For me, I believe Jesus had a certain mindset
– knowing the eventual outcome, even if he didn’t precisely know all of the
pieces at this juncture. Through it all, it takes a remarkable person to calmly speak of their death – a
prediction – a death of crucifixion and humiliation.
As for the disciples, they
had a different mindset – one that couldn’t comprehend their leader, the Messiah
– speaking of such things. And what would happen after Jesus rose from the dead,
if one truly believed this would happen?!?
Also I believe something
was seriously ruminating within Judas. The seed of doubt, despair, fear,… and
the root of this seed was taking a firm grip around his heart and mind.
Did Jesus know it was
Judas at this time? Gene * stated, “If Jesus could meet the woman at the well
and have the kind of knowledge he shared without actually knowing her (JOHN 4:5-26),
Jesus knew Judas was in trouble. He knew Judas would betray him.”
The perspective of Joe *, concerning
the two passages, reminded us in Chapter 8 it was foreseeable Jesus would die
if he continued what he was doing. It was in the cards. Yet in Chapter 9, when
Jesus uses the word “betrayed,” that raises it to another level. Betrayal is
personal. Betrayal is done by someone who is on your side.
Betrayal is fear-based and
about ego.
Then talk about ego gone
awry! “Who is the greatest among us?” “Me!” “No, me!” “You’re out of your mind,
it’s me!” “Seriously? You’re a lowly fisherman. It’s me!” “You couldn’t even
heal a boy! It’s me!” “Jesus called me the
rock. I’m the greatest!”
Being together for three
years with Jesus, some may have thought they were better than others, carried
more weight, could minister better,…. We know Peter, James and John were privy
to the amazing transfiguration of Jesus that no other disciples witnessed. That
doesn’t mean what the disciples were discussing was right. Their egos had been
self-inflated. I love what Joe * shared in taking the word “ego” and treating
it like an acronym “E-G-O.”
E-G-O: Easying God Out
When Jesus, who well knows
what was being bandied about (I mean, c’mon, he had to have heard the bickering
and boasting within the group), he asked them, “What’s up?”
The sound of crickets
could be heard in response. The disciples had been caught. Instead of shaming
them, Jesus provided his team with yet another valuable lesson. In essence, he
put it this way, “You want to be great? Is that what you really want? To be
great, you have to think and live differently than the world does. You have to
put others before yourselves. You have to be a servant to all.”
A little child is nearby; Jesus
takes this youngster into his arms. He explains to the disciples, “This young
one is seen by others as a lesser human; is look upon like a servant who has
low-status. Do you know what I see? Someone who represents humanity. If you can
accept this child in my name, you are accepting me as sent from God. What will
you do then?”
Looking at this another
way – is it wrong to be ambitious? To be industrious? No, it’s not wrong,
except when it pushes service aside. If ambition is self-serving, then
it’s about pride and one’s insecurity. One’s values are out of whack, which serve
no purpose in God’s kingdom. As Brenda * mentioned, we (as a whole) make up a
circle but some think of themselves solely as the circle.
Going further… “It is easy
to cultivate the friendship of the person who can do things for us, and whose
influence can be useful to us. And it is equally easy to avoid the society of
the person who inconveniently needs our help. It is easy to curry favor with
the influential and the great, and to neglect the simple, humble, ordinary
folk. …In effect Jesus here says that we ought to seek out not those who can do
things for us, but those for whom we can do things,….” [i]
It is absolutely easy to
ease God out of the mix. We become our own god! We must however set aside our
egos in filling our own plates first and instead fill the plates of those
around us. By caring for those in need who have less than we do, we actually care
for ourselves. God is then in the mix. That, my friends, is greatness!
NEXT
I’m a believer but you’re
not; I should cut off what?!?
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