Mark 10:35-45
35 James and John, the sons of Zebedee, came forward to him and said to him, ‘Teacher, we want you to do for us whatever we ask of you.’ 36 And he said to them, ‘What is it you want me to do for you?’ 37 And they said to him, ‘Grant us to sit, one at your right hand and one at your left, in your glory.’ 38 But Jesus said to them, ‘You do not know what you are asking. Are you able to drink the cup that I drink, or be baptized with the baptism that I am baptized with?’ 39 They replied, ‘We are able.’ Then Jesus said to them, ‘The cup that I drink you will drink; and with the baptism with which I am baptized, you will be baptized; 40 but to sit at my right hand or at my left is not mine to grant, but it is for those for whom it has been prepared.’
41 When the ten heard this, they began to be angry with James and John. 42 So Jesus called them and said to them, ‘You know that among the Gentiles those whom they recognize as their rulers lord it over them, and their great ones are tyrants over them. 43 But it is not so among you; but whoever wishes to become great among you must be your servant, 44 and whoever wishes to be first among you must be slave of all. 45 For the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life a ransom for many.’
This Sunday's Gospel invites us to concentrate on three issues:
James and John's vying for authority;
The disciples’ reaction; and
Jesus' Principles and Model of Authority.
Approaching Jerusalem, the disciples expect to see the Messiah set Jerusalem free and restore David's kingdom. The de facto political Messiah would appoint his immediate assistants to govern the land and the nation. These two brothers, who were among the first to follow Jesus (Matthew 4:21-22), would like to ensure a high rank of authority, one on the right hand and the other on the left. They seem to value each other and they don't mind who might be on the right or on the left, but they request these first positions. The typical image of the Almighty Political Christ, Son of David whose reign will have no end, remains rooted in their minds.
Aware of their concepts and of their political expectations, as usual, Jesus tries to help them bypass their worldly thoughts and aspirations. He hints again, in vain, about His passion, crucifixion and resurrection in Jerusalem. Human thirst for power overcomes what He speaks about. The cup He speaks about doesn't seem known to them right now. They declare their firm readiness to drink it, but they ignore what He says about His Passion on the Cross that leads to Redemption.
The two brothers are not the only ones among the disciples to think and aspire to high appointments by the victorious Messiah. The other disciples feel offended and discontent because of James and John‘s request. It looks like a political campaign where all are running to win. Apparently we have two teams—ten against two. But it is more of an issue when we remember the disciples discussing on the road "who is the greatest among them" in Mark 9:33-36. They are looking for power.
Then Jesus intervenes to give us the meaning and the way to be entrusted authority by describing the difference between power and authority. We saw power with the same James and John on the way up to Jerusalem. When the Samaritans denied entry to Jesus and His disciples to go through their territory, James and John asked Jesus to allow them to bring fire down from heaven to destroy those who refused to receive them. The Lord said to them "You don't know what spirit you have been given” in Luke 9:51-56 - no dictation, no revenge and no violence.
Authority should be a responsible empowerment for the building up of the common good through orientation, humility and service. Notice the difference between how leaders among nations rule and between the authority you receive. In Mark 10:43-45, Jesus says, “Not so with you. Instead, whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant, and whoever wants to be first must be slave of all. For even the son of man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.”
How do I practice any kind of authority I am entrusted with in my personal life, my family life, my professional life or Church life? Do we use authority through service and humility, or would we would like to use power and impose our views on others? Are we taking the Teacher as a model for our life - He who knelt down and washed His disciples feet?!
When a person in authority makes peace with authority, starting by herself/himself, then she/he becomes real authority. Right and righteous authority leads to helping others reach places beyond where they are.
Happy are those who remember and copy the Teacher and the Lord, living according to His recommendation, “Do to each other what I have done for you!" John 13:14
Father Kamal Oct. 17, 2021