Go Ahead, Ask Questions

Pentecost 17b, September 23, 2012 (Mark 9:30-27)

1.      Have you ever thought about how you learned as a child?

2.       How have you come to your present perception of the world and what truly matters in the way you are living your life?

3.      Last beginning question, how are you continuing to learn about life/ God/love/creation/ others now?

 

In today's Gospel Jesus has the disciples off by themselves. They are not "getting" what he so desperately wants them to understand, to know. I'm not sure if that's because it is beyond their comprehension of if it's because they don't want to "get it". As they journey towards Jerusalem Jesus had just told  them that he must undergo great suffering, be rejected, be killed and the third day be raised  (Mark 8) But they aren't open to that. In fact Peter says in effect, "No way, Jesus. Such suffering and dying is not for you." Then Jesus rebukes Peter. They continue on their way. Jesus continues his healing work - bringing sight to the blind, restoring those who have been excluded to community. He wants his disciples to know and understand WHO HE IS.

 

So, yet again he tells them about himself. "The Son of Man is to be betrayed into human hands, and they will kill him, and three days after being killed, he will rise again." Make no mistake, he will be killed.

 

Did you hear Mark's editorial comment immediately following Jesus' self identification "But they did not understand what he was saying and were afraid to ask him".

 

They do not understand. They ARE AFRAID TO ASK HIM. . .

 

How can we understand, if we do not ask?

 

I am reminded of a statement by Mark Twain. Since I couldn't find the source I paraphrase. The meat of Twain's comment goes like this – I am not bothered so much by what I don't understand in the Bible. Rather I am bothered more by what I do understand.

 

Were the disciples afraid to ask because Jesus had already rebuked Peter when Peter stood opposed to Jesus' suffering and dying? Perhaps. But hadn't they also seen Jesus welcoming, accepting and helping so many people? Or are the disciples afraid to ask because they are beginning to get a glimpse of this Jesus, that is very different than that which they had been hoping for? Perhaps they had been hoping that Jesus would be the Messiah of their cultural expectation – the One who would throw off the Roman Empire's yoke. Then in their mind's eye, they may be allowed  to do what they would like, to pursue their own interests, to travel wherever, with fewer cares. Or, maybe they had hoped that Jesus would lead them not through suffering and pain, including death, but rather to success, and greater status.

 

Whatever the case, their refusal to ask questions about Jesus' self identifying statements of being killed reveals that they aren't into exploring Who He is, then or there.

 

Thankfully he doesn't give up on them!

 

Nor, does He give up on us! Thanks be to God!

 

Yet – are we also refusing to ask the hard questions of God, of Jesus? I am talking about the hard questions that are around the edges but which cut to the centers of our lives. Why do good or relatively innocent people suffer and die? Why does evil often succeed? And – if God's own Son is betrayed, suffers and dies – well then, who is "safe"?

 

These questions run to the very center of our lives. If God is God, if God has indeed become human and lived among us full of grace and truth... if Jesus is as He claims in today's Gospel, the very Son of man – sharing our humanity, vulnerability, hopes and dreams – well  WHAT ABOUT THESE QUESTIONS?

 

Do you realize that when we stop asking questions we often revert to the exact behaviour that the disciples exhibit in today's text? They begin to argue about who is right. In doing so, they become blind to God to Jesus. Then they are ignorant of their own callings and personhood.

 

While in their midst Jesus has been reaching out to blind people, allowing them to see – literally and figuratively. In their company Jesus has been restoring to community people who had been cast out, excluded. Despite this, all the disciples seem to be able to think about is – who among them is most important? The way they are to live, the very Son of God is right there with them but they don't see any of it. They are blind to what matters, to who matters.  Sometimes the disciples are not only deaf, they are also dumb, LITERALLY. . .

 

Occasionally I have to wonder if we aren't right there with them? What do you think?

 

Where do we see, hear and feel God? Is it with the most vulnerable in our midst? Is it when we are most vulnerable, when we or someone we cherish are sick, hurting or dying? Is it when we are struggling in those relationships we most depend on? Is God there with us then? Are  we seeing, feeling, hearing God even now?

 

Or, are we so busy trying to look good, get more, play more, achieve status in someone else's eyes – that we don't see, don't hear God or others, or even ourselves?

 

Hear the truth. It's an audacious claim – but backed up by who Jesus is. We are loved by God in Jesus Christ. That's why Jesus puts the little child in the midst of those disciples who are foolishly arguing over their own status. Jesus doesn't put the child there because the child's cute and oh, isn't that so nice. NO! Jesus puts the child in their midst – because the child is vulnerable and has little or no status in their culture. It would be like Jesus today placing a person who is a prostitute or an addict in full drug withdrawal in our midst and telling and then telling us that as His followers we are to care for this person. In doing so we welcome both Jesus and God. WOW!

 

That's so offensive to us – so contrary to the way we have been raised to think.  But this is also contrary to our culture: we ourselves are being loved, forgiven and accepted by God in Jesus Christ, before we can do anything. Yes, before. Some would add - despite anything we can do.

 

I know. We like to think we earn our way – our stuff, our status, our reputation. But God in Jesus Christ gives Himself over to our human hands, suffers and is killed to flesh out that such betrayal, violence, hatred and fear are not God's ways.

 

For God's sake, don't be afraid to ask questions – all kinds of them, especially of and to God. For who knows what will happen then? We might actually see Jesus sitting in our midst and realize that even though we are often hurting, by God's grace we can welcome and care for each other – all others. And what will happen then? One can only imagine. Amen.