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The Gospel of Mark Bible Studies
January 2006
February 2006
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April 2006
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December 2006
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The 20th Sunday after Pentecost (B)
[Pr. 24] There’s a funny story that I once heard. One day a state trooper was driving down a country road. As he passed by a farm, the farmer came running toward him yelling, “PIG! PIG!” while shaking a pitchfork. The trooper wasn’t exactly the sensitive type – and so he began yelling back out the window at the farmer – “REDNECK! REDNECK!” and even gave the farmer a “single-digit salute” to let him know exactly what he thought of him. Then the trooper sped up, rounded the curve – and ran smack into a PIG that was in the middle of the road! The state trooper had understood the farmer’s yelling, “PIG!” as being a derogatory insult directed at him, rather than as being a helpful warning. Much to his regret, he soon learned that his way of thinking was entirely wrong. This story illustrates the meaning of what is called a “paradigm shift” – a term that was coined by a scientist named Thomas Kuhn in 1962 to describe how "one conceptual world view is replaced by another”. Let’s have another example of a “paradigm shift”. For this, I am going to need six to eight volunteers to help me demonstrate something. (Pick them – if possible all adults – perhaps that in itself is a paradigm shift!) Thank you! What I want you to do is to join hands and form a circle around the baptismal font. (Almost certainly, they will turn inward, facing each other.) Okay – but is that the only kind of circle you can make? (Keep urging them to make a different circle until they – or someone from the congregation – think of turning around so that they face out instead of facing in.) Thanks for your help – you all did a great job in demonstrating my point! Making a “looking out” rather than a “looking in” circle – that’s another example of a “paradigm shift”! Why is that such a strange, radical idea for so many of us? From the time that we are little children we have been taught that circles face in. That concept has become so ingrained in us that we find it extremely difficult to conceive of a different kind of circle that faces outward. It’s a part of our worldview – in the same way that people used to think that the sun revolved around the earth instead of the earth moving around the sun. A “paradigm shift” does not mean that things have changed. They have been that way all along. It is our understanding and way of seeing things that changes – whether it is about what the word “PIG!” means, or about what a circle can be like, or even about how we understand our solar system and universe. In our gospel readings for the past several weeks, and in today’s gospel text as well, Jesus has been trying to communicate a “paradigm shift” to his disciples as to what greatness is about in the kingdom of God – that greatness means being last of all and servant of all – and even being willing to suffer and die. But instead of understanding Jesus’ teaching, the disciples have argued with each other as to which of them was the greatest. They have tried to stop a person who wasn’t a member of their group from casting out demons in Jesus’ name, apparently because they were concerned about how that reflected upon their status. They tried to stop people from bringing children to Jesus to bless, because they thought that children were not important enough to bother Jesus with. And now in today’s gospel, James and John try to usurp the places of honor in Jesus’ heavenly kingdom – asking him to grant that they might sit, one at his right and one at his left, in his glory. And the other ten disciples of course are angry with James and John – perhaps because that is what they wanted as well! We might wonder why the disciples were so dense. Why did they again and again fail to understand what Jesus was trying to teach them about greatness and service? But perhaps our difficulty in conceiving of a simple circle that looks outward rather than inward might help us to commiserate with them. The disciples’ attitudes and actions were just reflective of their worldview. They were caught up in making the same old circle. The disciples had grown up with the understanding that the kingdom of the messiah would be one of glory and power – judging all and ruling all. Those who had remained loyal and righteous in the eyes of the messiah expected to receive honorable recognition for their stalwart, sterling behavior. A great and powerful messiah surrounded by his great, distinguished disciples was the vision James and John and the others had nurtured all their lives – it was the expected way that things would proceed. Jesus, however, taught that “greatness” consisted in looking outward rather than inward – that it meant serving others rather than being concerned for ourselves – and that it even meant being willing to suffer and die rather than gaining power and prestige. Jesus’ teaching was a very different kind of “circle” – a very different view of life – for the disciples to try to wrap their minds around. And it is still often hard for us to accept as well. The world still proclaims that being “successful” means being in charge, being on top, being fulfilled, and having what we want. And even we Christians are often prone to this kind of thinking. For example, we often think that a “successful” church is one that is big and growing rather than one that is simply faithful and giving and serving. But what if we were to really embrace Jesus’ teaching in our hearts and in our lives? It would be a “paradigm shift” – seeing everything in an entirely different light. It would mean our understanding that the purpose of life is NOT about us. It would mean looking outward instead of just inward. It would mean understanding that greatness is not about our success or even about our own salvation – but rather that it is entirely about loving and serving others. It would mean giving our lives totally – even as Jesus did – for the good and well being of others. It would mean giving up any thoughts as to what we may want or what we might get out of it. Today Jesus asks us, as he asked James and John: “Are you able to drink the cup that I drink, or be baptized with the baptism that I am baptized with?” Are we able? Are we able to look outward beyond ourselves, rather than just inward? Are we able to serve and give our lives for others, even at the cost of our own? Are we able? I think that in the end, James and John (and the rest of the disciples) finally “got it” – they finally understood what Jesus had been trying to tell them about what true “greatness” really means. They replied, “We are able.” – that is, “We want to be great just like you.” And then Jesus assured them that they would indeed be great and glorified by sharing all that he would go through. As he tells them, “The cup that I drink you will drink; and with the baptism with which I am baptized, you will be baptized.” If need be, may this be so for us as well. May we be able. Yes, living for others, suffering for others, and even dying for others – like Jesus did – is what true “greatness” is about in the kingdom of God. It is an “outward looking circle” – a “paradigm shift” that will change our lives – and through us – will change the world. Thanks be to God! Amen! -------------------- George R. Karres, Pella Lutheran Church 418 W. Main Street Sidney, MT 59270
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