August 7, Friendship Day

Lesson: Matthew 20.20-28

INTRODUCTION:

ARE YE ABLE?

"Are ye able," said the Master,
"To be crucified with Me?"
"Yea," the sturdy dreamers answered,
"To the death we follow Thee."

Refrain

Are you able to relinquish
Purple dreams of power and fame,
To go down into the Garden,
Or to die a death of shame?

Refrain

Are ye able, when the anguish
Racks your mind and heart with pain,
To forgive the souls who wrong you,
Who would make your striving vain?

Refrain

Are ye able to remember,
When a thief lifts up his eyes,
That his pardoned soul is worthy
Of a place in paradise?

Refrain

Are ye able when the shadows
Close around you with the sod,
To believe that spirit triumphs,
To commend your soul to God?

Refrain

1. Earl B. Marlatt was on the faculty at the Boston University Theological Seminary School of Religious Education when he was asked to write an original hymn for a consecration service.

1. This song was the result.

2. It raises the essential question that comes directly from our text:

1. "Are you able?" says the Master.

2. "Yes, we are able," was the reply.

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MAIN BODY:

1. Jesus tells them that they are asking the wrong question.

1. Why is the question the wrong question?

2. They do not know what they are asking.

1. Jesus has spoken with a young man about wealth and the kingdom.

2. He has revealed what is necessary to have a place in the kingdom.

3. He told the disciples that they would have so much more than what they have left behind.

4. Jesus has told the story of the laborers and the vineyard.

5. Jesus has revealed the details of his betrayal and death.

6. They still do not get it.

3. It is the wrong question because it is not a question that Jesus can answer.

1. The places are not his to give.

2. The places are for those for whom it has been prepared by the Father.

4. It is the wrong question because it reveals the desire for a higher place, greater power, more privileges.

J. B. Phillips says that all we need to do to contrast the way of Jesus and the way of everyday and everybody is to look at how the beatitudes of many ordinary people might read.

Happy are the pushers, for they get on in the world.
Happy are the hard-boiled, for they never let life hurt them.
Happy are they who complain, for they get their own way in the end.
Happy are the blasé, for they never worry over their sins.
Happy are the slave drivers, for they get results.
Happy are the knowledgeable men of the world, for they know their way around.
Happy are the troublemakers, for they make people take notice of them.

2. Jesus in turn asks them if they are able to drink the cup that he is about to drink.

1. Their answer demonstrates their naiveté.

2. They do not yet know the meaning of the cup.

1. The cup may be the cup of blessing and joy.

2. The cup, this cup is the cup of sorrow and affliction.

3. In time, James and John will drink from the same cup.

3. Jesus again seek to use this moment as a teaching moment.

1. He wants to talk about slaves and servants.

1. The early part of Jesus ministry is well-described in Matthew 12:15-21 (NRSVA)

¹⁵When Jesus became aware of this, he departed. Many crowds followed him, and he cured all of them, ¹⁶and he ordered them not to make him known. ¹⁷This was to fulfill what had been spoken through the prophet Isaiah:

¹⁸"Here is my servant, whom I have chosen,
        my beloved, with whom my soul is well pleased.
    I will put my Spirit upon him,
        and he will proclaim justice to the Gentiles.
¹⁹He will not wrangle or cry aloud,
        nor will anyone hear his voice in the streets.
²⁰He will not break a bruised reed
        or quench a smoldering wick
        until he brings justice to victory.
²¹ And in his name the Gentiles will hope."

2. He is called a "servant."

3. He came to serve and not to be served.

2. This is why ²⁵...Jesus called the rest of the disciples to him and said:

1. "You know that the rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and their great ones are tyrants over them.

2. ²⁶It will not be so among you; but whoever wishes to be great among you must be your servant,

3. ²⁷and whoever wishes to be first among you must be your slave;

4. ²⁸just as the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and

5. to give his life a ransom for many."

3. There way is a form of slavery of the wrong kind. ⁽¹⁾

There was a little boy visiting his grandparents on their farm. And he was given a slingshot to play with out in the woods. He practiced in the woods, but he could never hit the target. And getting a little discouraged; he headed back to dinner.

As he was walking back, he saw Grandma's pet duck. Just out of impulse, he let fly, hit the duck square in the head and killed it. He was shocked and grieved.

In a panic, he hid the dead duck in the woodpile, only to see his sister watching. Sally had seen it all, but she said nothing.

After lunch that day, Grandma said, Sally, let's wash the dishes. But Sally said, Grandma, Johnny told me he wanted to help in the kitchen today, didn't you, Johnny? And then she whispered to him, Remember, the duck?

So Johnny did the dishes.

Later Grandpa asked if the children wanted to go fishing, and Grandma said, I'm sorry, but I need Sally to help make supper. But Sally smiled and said, Well, that's all right because Johnny told me he wanted to help. And she whispered again, Remember, the duck?

So Sally went fishing, and Johnny stayed.

After several days of Johnny doing both his chores and Sally's, he finally couldn't stand it any longer. He came to Grandma and confessed that he killed the duck. She knelt down, gave him a hug and said, Sweetheart, I know. You see, I was standing at the window, and I saw the whole thing. But because I love you, I forgave you.

But I was just wondering how long would you let Sally make a slave of you ...

1. Jesus deeply desires that his followers not to be enslaved by the whims, desires, and dominance of other Christians.

2. Jesus provides the model of leadership.

Judith Viorst, in Imperfect Control ⁽²⁾ writes

Authoritarian leadership...is conducive to apathy or resistance on the part of others, while in a situation of democratic leadership, one finds more originality, less aggression, and more productivity.

Psychologist David McClelland, in his exhaustive study of power, supports her point. Slaves, he writes, are the most inefficient form of labor ever devised by man. If a leader wants to have a far-reaching influence, he must make his followers feel powerful and able to accomplish things on their own.

A friend of mine, the hugely successful owner of several companies, talks about how he runs his organization. You can insist on having control over everything, he tells me, but the people who'll stand for that will be second-rate. To keep the best people, you have to give them the freedom to make decisions and run their own show. To be the top dog of a first-rate organization, you need to be willing to give up some of your power.

You need to accept having only imperfect control.

3. This the kind of leadership the disciples exercised in the early days of Christianity.

4. When it changed to a more authoritarian leadership the church changed and became weak and ineffective.

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4. A different question is emphasized in a story by Noah benShea, in Jacob's Journey ⁽³⁾

On his travels, Jacob the Baker encounters an old woman along a forest path and asks for her help in navigating this unfamiliar road. She questions why he would ask an old and lonely woman for help, fearing that she has no assistance to give him.

Fear, said Jacob, turning back to the woman, fear makes us not only less than we might be but less than we think we are. Faith reminds us we should doubt our fears.

Jacob motioned to the path ahead of them. Perhaps we can lean on each other for a while.

The woman laughed out loud. How can I be a support to you?

Ah, that is not so difficult, said Jacob. You see, the difference between a Tower of Babel and a tower of strength is the difference between those who live to make themselves more and those who know the way to heaven is in making others more.

1. What if James and John had come to Jesus and said something like this:

We know that the days ahead are going to be difficult and dangerous, full of trouble and at last death, "What may we do to help you and support you?"

2. What a difference this might have made.

3. The whole brouhaha over who was going to be the top dog or cat in the kingdom would never come up.

4. There would have been peace and harmony.

5. I guess that we are all aware of the dangers of leadership.

1. Much of this passage is directed towards the clergy.

2. But at the same time, we are all disciples.

3. There is a danger that one of us might come to believe that they know what is best.

4. Or, that one might exercise influence to gain a point.

1. I remember well a congregational meeting where we were discussing the Stephen Ministry Program.

The Stephen Ministry web site describes this program as "...a transdenominational Christian education organization that provides high quality training and resources to strengthen and expand lay ministry in congregations."

The Stephen Series provides congregations with the structure, training, and resources to set up and administer a complete system for lay caring ministry (called Stephen Ministry) in the congregation.

In Stephen Ministry congregations, lay caregivers (called Stephen Ministers) provide one-to-one Christian care to the bereaved, hospitalized, terminally ill, separated, divorced, unemployed, relocated, and others facing a crisis or life challenge. Stephen Ministry helps pastors and congregations provide quality caring ministry for as long as people need it.

1. We had the money.

2. We had the leadership.

3. Congregational support was necessary.

4. It was present, but needed to be acted upon to confirm the decision.

5. One of the leaders of the congregation rose from his seat and said rather disdainfully, "We don't need this."

6. It was voted down.

7. We did need it.

8. It might have helped to change the complexion of that congregation.

2. The self-assertion of one person of influence killed what ought to have been a church-wide development project.

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CONCLUSION

1. Are you able to accept the teachings of Jesus in this instance where he is attempting to help his followers understand the nature and place of leadership and placement in the kingdom?

2. It might help to repeat the words of the song with which this sermon was opened. This time I'll read the chorus.

ARE YE ABLE?

"Are ye able," said the Master,
"To be crucified with Me?"
"Yea," the sturdy dreamers answered,
"To the death we follow Thee."

Refrain

Lord, we are able. Our spirits are Thine.
Remold them, make us, like Thee, divine.
Thy guiding radiance above us shall be
A beacon to God, to love and loyalty.

Are you able to relinquish
Purple dreams of power and fame,
To go down into the Garden,
Or to die a death of shame?

Refrain

Lord, we are able. Our spirits are Thine.
Remold them, make us, like Thee, divine.
Thy guiding radiance above us shall be
A beacon to God, to love and loyalty.

Refrain

Are ye able, when the anguish
Racks your mind and heart with pain,
To forgive the souls who wrong you,
Who would make your striving vain?

Refrain

Lord, we are able. Our spirits are Thine.
Remold them, make us, like Thee, divine.
Thy guiding radiance above us shall be
A beacon to God, to love and loyalty.

Are ye able to remember,
When a thief lifts up his eyes,
That his pardoned soul is worthy
Of a place in paradise?

Refrain

Lord, we are able. Our spirits are Thine.
Remold them, make us, like Thee, divine.
Thy guiding radiance above us shall be
A beacon to God, to love and loyalty.

Are ye able when the shadows
Close around you with the sod,
To believe that spirit triumphs,
To commend your soul to God?

Refrain

Lord, we are able. Our spirits are Thine.
Remold them, make us, like Thee, divine.
Thy guiding radiance above us shall be
A beacon to God, to love and loyalty.

Are ye able? Still the Master
Whispers down eternity,
And heroic spirits answer,
Now as then in Galilee.

Refrain

Lord, we are able. Our spirits are Thine.
Remold them, make us, like Thee, divine.
Thy guiding radiance above us shall be
A beacon to God, to love and loyalty.

1. Cited in Vanguard Magazine Online, www.vanguardmag.com.

2. --Judith Viorst, Imperfect Control (New York: Simon & Schuster, 1998), 201.

3. Noah benShea, Jacob's Journey (New York: Villard Books, 1991), 37.

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