The essence of Mark’s gospel is encapsulated in the question “Who is Jesus.” We have been hearing from the 3rd Unit of the Gospel which has the overall theme of the Mystery of the Son of Man. Presently we are following the stage entitled the ‘Way’ of the Son of Man.This Sunday two of the principal disciples make an appeal (how could they have forgotten the recent argument about who was the greatest) for even greater rewards and honours. They obviously cannot remember hearing any prediction that discipleship entails suffering! Not even the suffering of service!
Jesus’ reply must have puzzled them “You do not know what you are asking.” The cup and the bath (being immersed) are images of God’s judgment in the Hebrew Scriptures. The cup of judgement is one which sinners will have to drink, even to the dregs. The bath of fire – sometimes seen as purifying, sometimes as destroying – awaits those who come under God’s judgment. The disciples wanted to become judges with him, meting out punishments on their enemies. Jesus tells them that they must stand as the accused, the judged, in place of the world in order to redeem the world. Rather than lust after the throne of power, his followers must identify with him precisely as rejected, judged, and put to death.
So, following previous references to the Kingdom of God, Jesus now uses the rulers of the world to contrast with the divine. James and John had fallen into the trap of aspiring to be “great ones.” What they totally overlooked was how Jesus, through his words and actions was leading them and giving them example!
While they were aspiring to power in the world, he was trying make them understand that real power i.e. divine power, expresses itself in loving service, in giving oneself for others. So not unlike the comfortably well-off young man from last Sunday’s gospel the disciples still did not latch on to the notion that the only real security and power came from trust in God. Neither wealth nor power can prevent or survive death!
As the disciples of this age, whose needs this week will I put before my own?
St Benedict’s faith family
