Mark 9:30-37
Grace and peace to you from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.I'm going to test your knowledge of American history. Do you know who said "Walk softly and carry a big stick"? Teddy Roosevelt the 26th president of the United States.
Teddy Roosevelt was successful in domestic and foreign policy. Teddy was known for the formation of the National Park system and reigning in business with the Square Deal with his domestic policies. His foreign policy was characterized by his quote, "Speak softly and carry a big stick". Roosevelt was the force behind the completion of the Panama Canal; he sent the Great White Fleet around the world to display American power, and he negotiated an end to the Russo-Japanese War, for which he won the Nobel Peace Prize. Roosevelt brought the United States into our era as a global power.
As flamboyant a figure as he was in his public years he was a timid individual in his earlier life. His calling to public office seems to have coincided with wisdom beyond his years. To date Teddy Roosevelt is the youngest to become president yet his philosophy speak softly and carry a big stick is perhaps one of the wisest of any of the presidents. It denotes a certain humbleness as a nation. Having power and yet properly restrained in its use.
Jeremiah was similar in his character and personality to Teddy; he is the prophet we know the most about. The book exposes a great deal about his character and personality. Timid and reserved by nature the Lord assured him that he would become strong and courageous in his public service. And that he did. As time was running out for Judah before the crushing defeat by Babylon, Jeremiah continued to express in various ways the need for Judah to repent. He humbly continued to serve, even somewhat naively, in hope that the pending disaster might be averted through repentance of the people. As we read in the Old Testament text for today (Jer 11:18-20) the Lord made known to him the plotting to take his life. It would appear that Jeremiah never considered that people would try to kill him. He was humble and knew where true power came from and the extent of restraint God held before acting.
Then one greater still will speak in humility and meekness. Unfortunately the way of the world often equates meekness with weakness. Meekness is not a virtue that people consider valuable or desirable. But Jesus lists it as a primary virtue of anyone who will inherit His Kingdom.
Jesus even spoke of himself as meek.
In the first verse of the epistle reading James (3:13-4:1) tells us wisdom is like faith it must have works if it's genuine. Meekness is essential to the beginning of wisdom and closely related to "the fear of the Lord," the Old Testament definition of the beginning of wisdom (Ps 111:10; Pr 1:7; Jb 28:28). In other words meekness understands where true power comes from, God Almighty. James (3:17) also shares with us that the wisdom that comes from heaven is first of all pure; then peace-loving, considerate, submissive, full of mercy and good fruit, impartial and sincere. This sounds like a description of the Christ that suffered for us, who is "the wisdom of God." (1 Co 1:24)
In the reading from Mark we find that Jesus takes the disciples on a route that gives Him time to continue to teach them in private. During this time Jesus again predicts His suffering and death. He said to them, "The Son of Man is going to be betrayed into the hands of men. They will kill him, and after three days he will rise." This is a statement of absolute certainty, it befuddles the disciples and they are afraid to ask Jesus what He means.
This is a statement that also demonstrates His meekness. Jesus is telling them God, the root of all power, is going to give permission to common men to have power over Jesus, His Son. Jesus fully understands His role in the passion God has for His people.
As we read on we soon find that the fear that entered the void left by the disciples lack of faith gives rise to pride as they begin to argue about which of them was the greatest. Isn't being prideful and arrogance the opposite of humility and meekness? Isn't that how the world we know works?
Its like the saying the best defense is a good offense. This week I witnessed an amazing example of this very philosophy. A fellow we work with ran a job that triggered 400,000 transactions to flood our system bringing normal message traffic to a halt. The problem was rectified in a timely manner and we all moved on with our normal tasks. For some reason this fellow felt he needed to divert attention away from that incident by complaining about the 100 hundred messages per week his department had to correct. To put this in perspective 10's of thousands of messages run through that department's process each week but he managed to stirrup plenty of attention to focus on those 100 errors. It's strange how we react sometimes when our pride is bruised. We are quick to try to cover our failings by attacking another person.
From the parallel account in Matthew we know that Jesus waits until they are meeting privately in a house in Capernaum to ask the question: "What were you discussing on the way?" Of course Jesus knew about the discussion even though the disciples were certain they were out of His ear shot. Jesus didn't act in the same way many of us might have. Rather than a public rebuke of the disciples He chose a private setting to allow the weight of their prideful foolishness to sink in.
I'm sure that was an awkward moment.
Each one had to realize how foolish the argument had been. Jesus takes the opportunity to use a little child as an object lesson about the heavenly view of things. He says, "If anyone wants to be first, he must be the very last, and the servant of all." He wraps His arms around the child and continues, "Whoever welcomes one of these little children in my name welcomes me; and whoever welcomes me does not welcome me but the one who sent me." At that time it was common that children were seen as a burden on the household and as free labor. Being the childlike servant is most important in the kingdom. Being childlike is recognizing someone greater has power of you.
Of note is the use of the word welcome four times no doubt to emphasize the meek will be first. They will be gathered into the waiting arms of Jesus. What a shocking demonstration of how futile the worldly hierarchy of power is in the eyes of God.
I look around and see people caught up in the trappings of worldly power everywhere. We really do some incredibly foolish things to climb the ladder of perceived power. And sometimes even worse things to stay in power. That power can be worldly riches and possessions or position. This is where pride and selfishness runs amuck; our gods are not always the One True God.
So many fail to see or forget where true power and wisdom comes from. We see the arrogance of business leaders and the arrogance of government leaders. God has given them authority over us in our jobs and our security as a nation but they soon forget why they are there. The trappings of power and pride are a hard temptation to resist.
I am just as guilty of it as the next guy. If I don't take time each day to reflect on God's will I can easily get swept away by pride. I can easily forget that God's power is shown in meekness and humility.
The good news is even though we look away Jesus never looks away. He patiently waits for us to come back. When we do return He wraps His arms around His very special child. He gave up His life to protect and wash clean with His precious blood each child adopted into the Kingdom. All heaven rejoices with Him as each one comes to Him.
Resist being like the disciples on the road posturing for position. Be like Jeremiah strong and courageous in the service of others, carrying the message for all to hear.
In the name of our risen Lord Jesus Christ, Amen.
