Who is the Greatest?

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Mark 9.30-37 James 3.13-4.3 You know the sort of questions! Firstly, the ones we cannot find an answer too. Why, for example, do populations like the Syrians live in reasonable harmony for years and the burst out into blood letting? Why indeed should someone set out to harm a small child. Then there are the ones are too frightened to ask, say, of the doctor. But then there are ones we are too embarrassed to even think we would ask. Not least of these involve fidelity in relationships. Those questions indeed that reveal more about ourselves than we would like. Well, that seems to be the sort of question that we heard of this morning. Because we do need to ask why were the disciples arguing over who was the greatest. I don’t think it was just some alpha male ego trip. Albeit admittedly that sort of dispute would have left them somewhat shame-faced when Jesus asked his own question. No I suspect their argument had an even less savoury basis. For as you heard Jesus had told them of his coming passion and crucifixion. And whilst they did not understand the need for it - another penny had resoundingly dropped. And it was this! If Christ was no longer there who would take over as leader? No wonder they were embarrassed. Since their questions had showed up more of themselves than they had wanted. In fact, they had transgressed into the area of unworthy ambitions so warned against by James. They had in truth been captivated by the wisdom of the dark side. No wonder that Jesus thought to himself - Ok enough’s enough. And as result he sat them down and taught them the wisdom of God and its pathway to heaven.

He did it - as we heard - in a way that seems quite natural today. For you will remember he pointed out a child and compared that boy or girl’s desires to that of his disciples. However, back two thousands years ago, Christ’s comparison would have been quite shocking. Let me explain. You see, startling as it may be to us today, children in the ancient middle eastern culture had absolutely no status. They were loved but every other family member was more important. A child was therefore the most vulnerable yet least regarded of human beings. Even a slave had an economic value which as child possibly had not. Jesus then was teaching his disciples that they aspire to a vision of themselves as the least rather than the most. In that context then, we realise how astonishing Christ’s illustration was. But he then made the point even more prominently. Because he doesn’t just gesticulate to a child who was running around. He singles one out as a his blueprint example. He actually reaches out to one and sits him on his knee and puts his arm around him. Here then is a perfect demonstration of God’s love and welcome for the most helpless and overlooked and even downtrodden. Here is the clear example to us plagued - as we may be - with frightening, perplexing even utterly unworthy questions. Here is the gateway not to false thinking but the wisdom that descends from heaven. And it is to have the trust, faith and hope of a child.

Since what better way in times of doubt, temptation and trouble than to cease the questioning and surrender as a child. What better time just to sit beside Christ and be content in his company. What better opportunity, in fact, to acknowledge our vulnerability to God and to find out - possibly -that our questions aren’t that important or their answer we are better without or even the answer awaits us in the life yet to come. Yet what if after careful consideration we still feel we have key question to ask? A question whose answer is a necessity for the genuine living of our lives Then we still have the solution before us. Let me illustrate that with a story.

A new Head Teacher was checking over her school on the first day. Passing the main store room, she was startled to see the door wide open and teachers going in and out, carrying off books and supplies. The school she came from had a checkout system that required the teachers to indicate what supplies they had obtained. Curious about the practice in her new charge, she asked the school secretary, "Do you think it's wise to keep the store unlocked and to let the teachers take things without asking?" The secretary responded, "We trust them with the children, don't we?" If today you are feel you must have the answer to a question that is crucial to you. Then, of course, you must submit it to God. However, James reminds us to submit it without any shadow of ambition, dark motivation or selfishness. Instead only offer it from the purest motive and faith of a child. Since then alone will its answer will make any sense. Only then will you understand the response. Only then will you have the

eyes of faith to see. Because it is only in truly trusting is the child within us set free - free to be creative - free to see the possible in the impossible - free to settle our fears, feelings and circumstances. Free to accept others and ourselves as authentic human beings held safe in God’s parental love. Free indeed to sit still in the presence of our Saviour and recall with a pure innocence the old childhood hymn: Saviour teach me, day by day Loves sweet lesson to obey Sweeter lessons cannot be Loving him who first loved me. Amen Offering HYMN....

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