Rebels Without a Clue
A Sermon Preached by
The Rev. Paul Debenport
October 25, 2009
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On this Reformation Sunday, hear Jesus’ proclamation to re-form
the first disciples and us, from Mark 10: 31—45:
But many who are first will be last, and the last will be first. …They were on the road, going up to Jerusalem…. He took the twelve aside again and began to tell them what was to happen to him…that “they will mock him, and spit upon him, and flog him, and kill him; and after three days he will rise again. James and John…came forward to him and said to him, “Teacher, we want you to do for us whatever we ask of you.” And he said to them, “What is it you want me to do for you?” And they said to him, “Grant us to sit, one at your right hand and one at your left, in your glory.” 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?” 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; 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.” When the ten heard this, they began to be angry with James and John. 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. But it is not so among you; but whoever wishes to become great among you must be your servant, and whoever wishes to be first among you must be servant of all. For the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve,
and to give his life as ransom for many.
The Word of the Lord. Thanks be to God.
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Rebels without a clue. That’s a line in an old Tom Petty song that really describes James and John here, for they were both rebels and clueless. Rebels because they followed Jesus, and what Jesus is proclaiming here and elsewhere is nothing short of revolutionary. Not political, armed revolution, of course, but a revolution of values totally at odds with human culture and human nature. Clueless, because they weren’t getting what Jesus had been making startlingly clear. In the preceding chapters time and again Jesus tells them of his impeding death and resurrection and in words and actions tells them that, “Whoever wants to be first must be last of all and servant of all.” You’d think they would have gotten it by now.
But they hadn’t. They were still acting like “rebels without a clue.” They still seem to think it is politics as usual in Jesus’ kingdom—that Jesus will have a list of appointments he will soon be making using the familiar patronage system. How many clues must Jesus give before they get it?
As many as it takes. And though it is tempting to portray the disciples for laughs as sort of lovable, but bumbling dolts, like some “Twelve Stooges” movie, they are not. They are us. And it seems to take Jesus proclaiming over and over again that to God greatness is in humble service to others for us to start getting it, for the world still proclaims the opposite as truth:
Might makes right. Be a star. Be a celebrity.
Wealth, power, status and publicity are what really matter.
Don’t sacrifice for God or to serve others.
Don’t suffer for God or others.
Take care of number one.
Jesus is determined to change all that by sacrificing his all as God’s suffering servant of all. And his disciples are never to lord it over others as the world tells us we should. And we need to keep hearing Jesus say this over and over again, until we “get it” and become “Rebels With a Clue” for life well lived both now and eternally.
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One way to look at the Protestant Reformation we’re celebrating today is to see how another generation of disciples finally “got it.” Specifically, when the reformers searched the scriptures and discerned God truth to include both the doctrines of “The Priesthood of All Believers” and “The Sanctity of the Common Life,” they were following Jesus’ teaching here, and not the impulses of James and John, for these beliefs reject any hierarchal approach to God. Ordained Priests and Pastors are not any closer to God than any other followers. All are Priests and Pastors, all servants of both God and people in need of God. And all healthy vocations—not just ordained vocations in the church—are sanctified, made sacred, to be used for the glory of God and the service of people. You are priests—all of you—just as much as I am. And your work, whether it’s a job outside or inside the home, or whether it’s your volunteer work in the church and elsewhere, [your work], the daily living of your life, is discipleship, and is made holy and sacred to bless others. That’s true greatness. That’s what matters in this life and life beyond this life. Those who serve God and people with loving humility, not for fanfare or wealth or status, are the holy ones in God’s economy. That’s about as obvious a clue from God as we’ll ever get. And you know, James and John and the others finally got it, never perfectly, but by God’s grace, sufficiently. As can we, never perfectly, but by God’s grace, sufficiently.
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Six days a week, every week, we are enmeshed in the world’s values. The world holds up celebrities, sports’ stars, actors, politicians, rulers, titans of business, and even some greatly acclaimed pastors and priests as examples of success and high status. But in this one hour a week, every week, we get to hear again and again God’s alternative to the values and influences of the world—Jesus’ persistent efforts to re-form us and to continue reforming Christ’s church.
Today I want to hold up an alternative, Gracie Sellers, who, though she would be the first to deny it and to note her imperfections, was one of us who “got it.” In her life and witness, I see her as a humble example of being one of Christ’s priests who lived a sanctified common life.
Nine days ago in this sanctuary, we grieved Gracie’s death and witnessed to her joyful resurrection. Gracie was baptized and raised in the Presbyterian Church of Millers Ferry, Alabama; was educated at the Presbyterian School of Millers Ferry, a school much like our Menaul School, and was graduated from Knoxville College, one of our Presbyterian colleges. At the tender age of 22 she moved here to teach at Menaul School, which she did for 13 years, teaching everything from Social Studies to Physical Education, to Sunday Bible lessons, as well as coaching girls’ sports, cheerleading, and helping the boys Football coach—even correcting him when necessary. She then taught history for 32 years at Manzano High School, but she really taught life, good citizenship, caring for others, especially the students who were struggling. She loved her students, corrected them when necessary, and they knew she loved and cared for them and they respected and loved her. She never drew attention to herself and never received much attention publically. But over a thousand students, former students, and colleagues were at her celebration of life service at Manzano.
Gracie was a faithful member of this church for 44 years. Unless she was sick or out of town, she was here every Sunday to glorify God. She sang faithfully in the chancel choir for years, and most recently served our sick and grieving members as a Deacon. If her health would have allowed it, she would have been in this year’s class of Elders we just elected.
Again, Gracie avoided the limelight—probably many of you didn’t know her by name. But she loved and served the Lord and God’s people here quietly and humbly and joyfully. And over 500 people, at least a hundred, students and colleagues from Manzano and Menaul, filled this sanctuary to thank God for the gift of her life—which was a priestly, common life made sacred to the glory of God and the edification of people. Gracie got it! As can we.
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Jesus called them, saying, “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. But is not so among you; but whoever wishes to become great among you must be your servant, and whoever wishes to be first among you must be servant of all. For the Son of Man came not to be served
but to serve, and to give his life a ransom for many.”
Thanks be to God.
Amen.
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