Lent 5B, 2024

Todd Cook

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5th Sunday in Lent, Year B

In the name of the Father, and of the +Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.

Brothers and sisters in Christ: grace and peace to you from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. Amen.

Today is the last Sunday of Lent, which means that our Lenten journey is nearing its conclusion. Throughout this season, we’ve spent much time talking about how our walk of faith might grow during this time, as we put more attention on ourselves in reflection, repentance, and discipline. As we take this journey, the lectionary describes for us the journey of Christ as he makes his way to Jerusalem - the location of the Temple of God, but also the place where he will achieve his ultimate goal.

The Gospel text for this morning shows us Jesus foretelling his own death and resurrection, but this is the third time in Mark’s Gospel that he’s done this. First was in chapter 8 vs 33, and Peter refuses to believe that Jesus would die. Peter even goes so far as to “rebuke” Jesus. Jesus responds: “Get behind me, Satan! For you are not setting your mind on the things of God, but on the things of man.” [ESV, Mk 8:33]

The second time Jesus foretells his death and resurrection comes in chapter 9 vss 30-31. And how do the disciples react this time? Mark tells us: “32 But they did not understand the saying, and were afraid to ask him.” In the very next verses, the 12 had been arguing between themselves about who was the greatest disciple. Jesus responded by saying: “If anyone would be first, he must be last of all and servant of all.” [ESV, Mk 9:35] Sound familiar? This is almost the same response he gives in today’s reading.

The lesson we read this morning begins by telling us that they were “on the road, going up to Jerusalem”. This is where Jesus will do his greatest work, and fulfill his ultimate purpose… but we’re not quite there yet. And so two of the Apostles ask him a question that for most of us seems not quite right: “Teacher, we want you to do for us whatever we ask of you.” (vs 35) Now at first glance, this sounds like something a small child would ask their parent, doesn’t it? It’s the kind of thing that the child KNOWS if I just ask this, she’ll say “no”. So I want a “yes” before I even ask. “Mom, can I have a whole box of Oreos all to myself?” I’m sure you can imagine a host of other such questions that would logically and reasonably demand a “no” from a responsible parent.

I was very pleased to learn this week in my studying this passage that this is a cultural thing from ancient times. To ask this question is to treat Jesus as a mighty ruler “who is able to grant any request and need not know what it might be. Great kings and emperors had done things like that…” [Lenski, 454] and made great offers to their subjects, or at least those who they favored. Herod made such an offer when Herodias’ daughter danced for him: “Ask me for whatever you wish, and I will give it to you.” [Mk 6:22] King Ahaseurus makes a similar offer to Esther when she serves him a feast: “What is your wish? It shall be granted you. And what is your request? Even to the half of my kingdom, it shall be fulfilled.” [ESV, Es 5:6] Our modern, western eyes might not see it this way, but it’s actually a request which comes from a sense of both honor and awe.

Now once Jesus hears what the request actually is, we get a sense of why Jesus has had to repeat himself so often. These guys don’t understand the differences between God’s kingdom and the kingdoms of mere mortals. Not to mention that they all seem to be completely oblivious/blind to Jesus’ Passion - that is, his suffering and death - and his resurrection. There’s no mention of it at all by the Sons of Zebedee. It appears they simply think he’s going to simply show himself as the Messiah foretold by the prophets, and everyone will simply come under his kingdom, and life will be good. And they want to serve the new Messiah-King. Nothing wrong with wanting to serve him. But they misunderstand the kingdom… and they misunderstand their King. This is now the third time that Jesus has foretold his death and resurrection, and this is now the third time that his own apostles didn’t understand what he is telling them. They don’t understand that Jesus *must* die.

And Jesus is aware of their misunderstanding: “You do not know what you are asking…” (verse 38) “They do not know what they are asking, [and they] are ignorant of what their request involves in the real kingdom that Jesus is establishing. ‘They sought the exaltation but did not see the step.’ (Augustine). The idea is not that, if they knew, they would not seek those high places, but that [if they knew] they would then not make a request which plainly reveals their mistaken idea of the kingdom and of how its high places are bestowed.” [Lenski, 457]

And so the Teacher proceeds to teach his students. He speaks of a cup he must drink, and the baptism he will soon receive - two powerful metaphors to describe the trials he will soon face. “In the Old Testament, “cup” can refer to blessings (as in Psalm 23:5)

5 You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies; you anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows.

or it can refer to judgment (as in Jeremiah 25:15–16)

“Thus the Lord, the God of Israel, said to me: ‘Take from my hand this cup of the wine of wrath, and make all the nations to whom I send you drink it. They shall drink and stagger and be crazed because of the sword that I am sending among them.’”

Here it seems to refer not simply to death but to an untimely, painful death. [Douglas, Westminster Bible Companion, 129] Of course Jesus means his own suffering and painful death, but certainly he intends that these two must also drink that same cup. To “drink means to accept and to endure the bitter suffering.” [Lenski, 457] James and John must accept it willingly.

The baptism is a slightly different metaphor. Notice that while whoever drinks the cup does so actively - Jesus, for instance, takes the cup and drinks it. He performs this action. The baptism, however, is passive. He “is baptized”. Jesus does not baptize himself (nor will James and John). And this is quite accurate - the suffering that is coming is brought upon him from the outside, just as water is brought upon a person in a baptism.

“With his double question Jesus points out to James and to John that the way to greatness in his kingdom is not, as they think, by a mere decree and grant of Jesus but by way of the deepest humiliation, and this is due to the spiritual nature of his kingdom which makes it the reverse of earthly kingdoms in many ways.” [Lenski, 458]

Even though the brothers answer “we are able”, their very answer makes it clear they don’t have a clue what’s involved. They’re just eager to make a deal with Jesus. They will do anything to have him grant their request. “So Jesus continues with great patience. These disciples did not realize what [drinking the cup and receiving the baptism actually] meant. There was little use in trying to make them understand since they [did not] even understand that Jesus’ own suffering and death were to be actual and not figurative. So Jesus merely repeats ... that they shall, indeed, drink that cup and be baptized with that baptism. The only point to be noted is that in v. 38 drinking the cup, etc., is set as a requirement for attaining the highest places in the kingdom [of God]. [Ibid., 458–459]

Jesus goes on to explain this by comparing what the rulers of earth do, versus what the citizens of the Kingdom of God are expected to do. His Kingdom is not like any other kingdom.

Jesus is trying to teach them that discipleship involves self-sacrifice and service. He has just told his closest followers and friends that if they want to be great, they must serve. They must “minister to” others. They must humble themselves. They must serve. I read one place this week that the proper word here isn’t “must” - as though it were a command to do this. Instead, we should read it as “shall” - whoever would be great among you shall be your servant, and whoever would be first among you shall be slave of all.” It’s not a command; it’s a statement of fact: it simply *is* when talking about God’s Kingdom. Jesus has taken the Gentile idea of greatness and turned it upside down. “the great man does not sit atop the lesser men, but the great man bears the lesser men on his back… The greatness is measured by the service and not by the power and authority … displayed.” [Lenski, 462-463]

Which brings us to verse 45. “For even the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.” And this is the climax of this passage, and the whole section of Mark’s Gospel from Jesus’ first description of his death. “The Son of Man came not to be served [as earthly kings are], but to serve...” Jesus is no ordinary or typical king. The very purpose of his life was to give, not to take. He instructs his followers to follow his own example - serving others. Not being served.

He gave his life as a ransom… this is a rare word that has the same meaning today that it did 2,000 years ago - a price paid to get a captive released. We don’t have to transcend time and culture to understand this. We are held captive - in bondage, as we confessed earlier - and can’t free ourselves. The ransom is paid. “This meaning was extended to the payment for release from guilt and penalty. The ransom then becomes a payment in [atonement]. [Lenski, 464] That is, in giving up his life and shedding his blood, Jesus paid the price of reparation for our sins. He covered the cost of the sin that separated us from God, and closed that gap. That is what that ransom earned for us. For all of us.

For the second half of this verse, I’d like to use an older translation of the last phrase: “...to give his life as a ransom in place of many.” The word “for” in our language carries the meaning of “on behalf of”. This is not a wrong way to read it; of course he did this on our behalf… but I agree with those scholars who find this translation incomplete. “In place of” on the other hand gives us the substitutionary idea that he took the place that we deserved. And that’s exactly what he did. He took our place and endured the suffering that we have earned for ourselves. "Christ’s ransom was paid for our sin and guilt. Our sin and guilt held us liable to the penalties that were due them at the hands of God; and save for the intervention of Christ’s bringing his sacrificial ransom, release for us was impossible. The ransom was offered to God, against whom we have sinned, and who alone has power to inflict the penalty… Luther has stated it perfectly: ‘[Jesus] purchased and won me from all sin, from death and from the power of the devil, not with silver or gold, but with his holy, precious blood, and with his innocent suffering and death.’” [Lenski, 465]

This might be the best thing I read all week. This talk of ransom is typically explained like a financial transaction. In human transactions, often there’s haggling. Successful haggling ends up in compromise. We can’t apply this type of thinking to the ransom of Jesus, “as though what he paid was merely accepted although it was really not the full price. The justice and the righteousness of God are never described as striking a bargain. The blood of the Lamb of God, of God’s own Son, exceeds all computation. The ransom he laid down in the sacrifice of himself was so completely an equivalent for the divine claims against the many that one must say that it exceeded these claims.” [Ibid.]

In other words, Jesus didn’t just pay the exact amount of the debt. He paid it and much more. There’s just NO QUESTION that our debt has been paid. I don’t know about you, but I take great comfort in that.

And so this is the lesson he teaches his disciples - both then and now. Whoever will follow his example will shed all worldly ambition. In following his example, they will partake somewhat of the greatness of the Son of Man. Those who do follow his example will be that much nearer to him, and will share in his glory accordingly. [Ibid.] This is how Jesus led his disciples - both then and now - to Jerusalem, and ultimately to Calvary. I pray that we will all take his teaching to heart, understand it, and follow him.