Text:              Mark 10:32-44

Date:             June 1, 2008

Title:             What do you want me to do for you?

Jesus has set his face toward Jerusalem knowing that this was perhaps the last time he would enter this city; a city known for stoning the prophets of God.   Early in his ministry the religious leaders began to plot against him.  His message threatened their beliefs.  Better yet, he threatened their power, a power they would not easily nor willingly relinquish.  Mark tells us that as Jesus walks, he walks alone.

The disciples are following him from a distance.  They are afraid.  They are afraid of what might happen to Jesus.  Twice he has told them that he would die in this city.  But their fears run deeper.  They are afraid of what might happen to them.  Worst case scenario is they would also be killed.  The best case is that they would disband and fade into the land of what might have been, what could have been, but what will never be again.

As they walk in silence, their minds began to travel beyond this dusty road taking them to the first time they met Jesus, the first time they had heard him preach and teach, saw him heal the leper and cast out demons.   They remember the fear the swelled up inside their hearts when they answered the call to follow him.  What would that mean?  Where would he take them?  How would their lives change?  Now that fear is felt again, especially when Jesus takes them aside once more to tell them what they don’t want to hear.  He is going to die.  

This dramatic scene is the backdrop of the next question that Jesus asks.  It comes to us as a response to a request made by James and John.  They say to him, "Teacher, we want you to do for us whatever we ask of you."  Interesting request don’t you think?  The image that comes to my mind is a magic lamp as James and John seemingly treat Jesus as if he were some kind of Genie in a lamp whose purpose is to give us what we want when we want it.  To this request Jesus responds accordingly with the question, “What do you want me to do for you?”

Now it would have been nice had they said, “Be careful.”  Or “Let us walk with you instead of behind you.”  But no!  They are thinking of themselves, their wants, their wishes, and they ask Jesus for the good seats in heaven.  They are wanting special treatment.  It is rather appalling when you think about it.  It is like asking someone who just told you she was going to die, if you can have the car or be remembered in the will.  News flash, it’s not all about you, James and John.  

Yet this episode does raise a good question for us to consider.  What do you want from Jesus?  What do you want Jesus to do for you?  Have you thought about it?  Do you want Jesus to be like a guarding angel, protecting you and yours from harm?  “Jesus watch over me and don’t let anything bad happen to those that I love.”   Or perhaps you want Jesus to be like a Genie or divine Santa Clause.  “Jesus, I have been a really, really good boy and you said whatever I ask in your name I will get it, so in the name of Jesus I  want a nice house and fast car, big screen T.V., and lots and lots of money.”   Or perhaps you want Jesus to be the middle man between you and God.  “Jesus, could you put in a good word for me, mention my name a few times during staff meeting, remind God who I am every once in a while, and while I am at it, let me grease your palm with a $20.00?”  Or maybe you want Jesus to help you get into heaven.   He is your ticket. 

Some people believe that this is the whole reason to believe in Jesus in the first place, that the goal of being a Christian is so you can get to heaven.  I guess it does not matter that Jesus never taught this.  The church certainly has, but not Jesus.  Instead he taught about the kingdom of God in the here and now, the living in the present.  He taught about how to be in relationship with God and others.  He taught about love and compassion and how to treat one another.  He taught us that God loves us and is always with us.

Perhaps this is what we really want or better said, what we really need.  I like the word need better than want.   We want a lot of things but actually need very little.  So let us say need.  What do you need from Jesus?  I am not going to assume I know what you need, but I would like to share what I do and do not need from Jesus.

I really believe that I do not need Jesus to get into heaven.  I agree with Paul, that God’s grace is sufficient.[1] But I do need Jesus to help me understand and accept God’s grace.  Nor do I need Jesus to be the middle man between God and me.  I believe in God’s promise to be always present in my life, even in the moments that I am unaware of God.  But I do need Jesus to help me know and experience God.  

In the day of Jesus, the word God, or Yahweh was never spoken by anyone other than the high priest one time of year and that was behind a curtain in the inner sanctuary of the temple or synagogue. Instead they substituted the word Adonai which means Lord or Master. Jesus changed all that, at least for me.  He taught that when you pray, call God Abba which means “dada.”  By this Jesus is not telling us that God is male and male only.  Instead Jesus is teaching that God is close, intimate, and seeks relationship.  I need Jesus to help me be in relationship with God, who is already in relationship with me.  That is what I need as well as needing to be made whole.  I need Jesus so I can be whole.  That is what I need, but what does that mean?

To be whole and complete as humans we need to know that we are loved, that we are worthy, that we have value, that we are cherished, that we are God’s beloved.  To be made whole we need to know that we are forgiven.  To be made whole means to be viewed and treated as a loved child of God, which we are.  To be made whole is to receive God’s grace. But that is just the half of the whole.

You see, in order for us to be whole, not only do we need to feel loved, we also need to love.  We not only are to be valued, we are also to value others.  Not only are we to be forgiven, we are also to forgive others. Not only are we to experience God’s grace, we are also to be and share God’s grace with others and it is this part where I need, I really need Jesus to come into my life and to be a major part of my life. When I open my Bible and my mind to listen to Jesus’ preaching and teachings, I can hear truth.  When I see Jesus forgive and accept, I can see love and grace.  When I feel Jesus healing the ills of others, I can feel a hand upon me.  When I experience Jesus, I experience God.

“What do you need for me to do for you,” asks Jesus?  What do you need?  What will you say?