The disciples, perhaps like most of us, tend to “half-hear” what Jesus is teaching. In today’s Gospel, for example, Jesus teaches that his way is the way of humility, the way of the Cross: “Behold, we are going up to Jerusalem, and the Son of Man will be handed over…they will mock him, spit upon him, scourge him, and put his to death.”
The disciples “half-hear” this message. While Jesus is teaching and showing the way of humility and sacrifice his disciples, James and John, are seeking the way of glory: “Grant that…we may sit one at your right and the other at your left.” When James and John start jockeying for positions of honor and glory the other ten become “indignant at James and John.” Jesus could have well just thrown up his hands and given up at the “temper tantrum” of his disciples. Instead, he patiently tries to show them that God’s way of honor and glory is very different from the human path to glory:
“You know that those who are recognized as rulers over the Gentiles lord it over them, and their great ones make their authority over them felt. But it shall not be so among you. Rather, whoever wishes to be great among you will be your servant; whoever wishes to be first among you will be the slave of all. For the Son of Man did not come to be served but to serve and to give his life as a ransom for many.”
Jesus teaches that his way is one of service and sacrifice. So, we too are called to serve: “whoever wishes to be great among you will be your servant.”
Jesus teaches that God’s way is very challenging, because it is very different from the normal human way of exerting authority. Leaders today too often “make their authority felt” through slogans and threats. They lead through fear, bullying, and intimidation. What if our leaders and each one of us tried instead to follow the way of Jesus through service and sacrifice? Jesus teaches and shows us that the only true way to glory is through humility. The only true way to authority is service and sacrifice. This teaching has been difficult and challenging for disciples throughout the ages. Yet we are challenged each time we hear the words of the Gospel:
“For the Son of Man did not come to be served but to serve and to give his life as a ransom for many.”
Image: “Jesus on cross” by Berndt Abraham Godenhjelm (1799–1881) is licensed under CC BY-SA 2.5.