Finding Faith ... in just following in Jesus' faithful footsteps

EDITOR'S NOTE: In October 2017 I began a new venture as a synodically authorized minister at Faith Lutheran Church in Wolverton, Minn. The ride over the past nearly four years has been an amazing journey of learning, growing and a deepening of my theological mind. This sermon took place on Sunday, Sept. 19, the 17th week after Pentecost.

This week's gospel: Mark 9:30-37

Jesus Again Foretells His Death and Resurrection

30 They went on from there and passed through Galilee. He did not want anyone to know it; 31 for he was teaching his disciples, saying to them, “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.” 32 But they did not understand what he was saying and were afraid to ask him.

Who Is the Greatest?

33 Then they came to Capernaum; and when he was in the house he asked them, “What were you arguing about on the way?” 34 But they were silent, for on the way they had argued with one another who was the greatest. 35 He sat down, called the twelve, and said to them, “Whoever wants to be first must be last of all and servant of all.” 36 Then he took a little child and put it among them; and taking it in his arms, he said to them, 37 “Whoever welcomes one such child in my name welcomes me, and whoever welcomes me welcomes not me but the one who sent me.”

The message:

Just a couple of days ago, you may have seen it in the new "Time Magazine" released. It's annual list of the world's most influential people. Each year, the magazine's editors get together, and they weigh in on who are the most influential 100 most influential people in politics and sports and entertainment and through all of the other fields, etc. ... all across the globe.

It comes out with great fanfare. The magazine is a special edition. Other news media follow who they've chosen as their most influential person. The Times' list of influential people isn't the only one of its kind.

Of course, there's actually an infinite number of such lists that rank people, and we use them to measure against others' exploits and accomplishments. I'm sure you can think of many yourself. But one of the ones that gets a lot of attention is the Forbes Magazine's annual list of wealthiest people in the world. Bill Gates often tops as No. 1.

And, of course, there's the Oscars and the Tony's and th Emmy's and the Grammy's each year to decide who the best actors and singers are. ... And TV stations have developed an entire new genre of television show dedicated to all of the red carpet events that celebrate these awards.

Don't forget about sports. ... Sports fans and broadcasters are obsessed with who's No. 1! ... G.O.A.T. ... GOATS? ... Have you heard that acronym yet? If you have a teenager in your house, I'm sure you've heard of G.O.A.T. ... It stands for "Greatest Of All Time." ... Sports fans are notorious for endlessly debating who is the greatest of all time. ... Is it Michael Jordan or Lebron James? Tom Brady or Joe Montana? Or Aaron Rodgers? ... The debates are endless.

And then of course, there are lists that rank and measure and compare each of us in nearly every aspect of our lives. From the moment we are born, to the moment that we've passed, humans are from the day that we enter into this world indoctrinated into the cult of comparison. It's unavoidable, I suppose, because you know, in our world, the very values instilled in us from the society around us, from the moment we begin to think and talk, we measure up against those around us. ... And that is of utmost importance!

We are are all complicit, guilty of this need to determine our superiority, or maybe even our inferior, as compared to others. ... I don't know if this makes me feel better. But evidently, we've been doing this same unhealthy sizing up for the past 2,000 years, because that is exactly what the disciples are arguing about in today' gospel.

When Jesus busts them, they were debating who was the greatest. Could there be anything more embarrassing? ... You and your buddies are walking down the road and debating who is the greatest disciple. ...You are walking down the road behind Jesus, the Son of Man. ... The debates are pointless at that point. But regardless, to even be having that conversation among that 12 , it makes me feel you either have to have a very colossal ego or monumental dopeness. ... Or maybe both.

And if Jesus pointed out this failing in the disciples, if Jesus is shining a spotlight on their humanness and pettiness to determine who is the greatest isn't embarrassing enough, let me remind you that this is taking place immediately after Jesus has just informed the group that quote: "The Son of Man is to be betrayed into human hands and they will kill him. Three days after being killed, he will rise again."

In other words, Jesus has just shared with all of the disciples that he is going to be betrayed, and brutally crucified, and then be resurrected. ... The greatest story in human history. ... And rather than be shocked by this Good News, all the disciples care about is who is going to be at the top of "Time Magazine's" "Greatest Disciple of All Time."

The discussion seems a little ludicrous. ... I can't even imagine how exasperated Jesus must feel in this moment. But Jesus, being Jesus, doesn't scold them, or castigate them for being in cahoots. Thankfully, for our sakes too, because as he's speaking directly to the disciples, we know Jesus is speaking to us as well.

So, instead of scolding, or casting, or demeaning, Jesus gathers the 12 disciples around himself because he knows this is a teachable moment. And instead of getting angry, Jesus says to the effects, "I understand that in this world, this earthly kingdom, everyone is focused on status and that is the greatest. ... Who is the richest? ... Who is the best?"

Even Jesus's disciples can't help but be caught in that hamster wheel! ... But Jesus says, "The values of my father's kingdom, the Heavenly Kingdom, isn't served with who is the G.O.A.T ... the greatest of all time." ... Even when it comes to the disciples, Jesus says. ... "If you want to be first, then you must be last. If you want to be the leader, then you must serve all, even the least of these."

Talk about a poignant moment for the disciples! ... Talk about a moment that upsets the apple cart for the world, because Jesus is telling them that man who was half human, half divine being great isn't important at all. ... That's not a message that we're used to hearing in our daily lives. ... And obviously, it wasn't a message that the disciples were used to receiving either.

So, to illustrate this point, Jesus picks up a child and places that child among the disciples. And he says, "He who welcomes one such as this child in my name welcomes me."

"See disciples. you're no more important than this child. ... Whoever first stops to serve others, the most vulnerable among us, is serving me," Jesus says. And if you are serving me, he tells the disciples, you are serving my Father. You are serving God, Faith family.

We are bombarded daily in this world with messages that tell us to rank and compare ourselves with others in almost every imaginable fashion. ... We drive ourselves to the brink of exhaustion, if not beyond, trying to keep up with the others. ... We drive ourselves to the brink of sanity. If not to fit in, or to be even better than those around us, we drive ourselves to the point of self destruction ... all in the hopes of measuring up. ... All in the hopes of keeping up with the Joneses.

When Jesus tells us that actually none of those comparisons matter to him, or to God, he's saying that he doesn't care that we want to be first. ... Jesus says, you want to be first, take care of the children. ... You want to be considered a leader: Care for the widows and the destitute and the homeless and the sick and the imprisoned.

However, the message from Christ is: We don't need to be the richest, the most influential, the most successful ... to be important in the kingdom. ... You just need to follow Jesus, and follow in his servant footsteps. And that is a level playing field for us all.

And that is the Good News for this Saturday, Sept. 19, the 17th Sunday after Pentecost. ... Amen.