Stupid questions
by Verena Johnson
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For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many (Mark 10:45).
Read Mark 10:35–45
Have you ever asked a stupid question and then really wished you’d kept your mouth closed? I can think of a few times when I just wanted the ground to swallow me up.
Today’s reading includes one of the most stupid requests in the Bible. James and John start off with, ‘Do whatever we ask’. Really?! What on earth were they thinking? Then they follow it up with, ‘Let one of us sit at your right and the other at your left in your glory’. What kind of a request is that?
James and John were already in Jesus’ inner circle with Peter. Maybe that gave them big heads or an inflated sense of importance. They weren’t even being secretive about this – the other disciples all heard. Again, what were they thinking?! Had they learnt nothing from all their time with Jesus and his teaching and example?
Three times, Jesus had predicted that he would suffer and die in Jerusalem. In Mark 8:31–33, 9:30–32 and just before today’s text in 10:32–34. Somehow, these two disciples made it all about them and completely missed what Jesus was saying.
Of course, Jesus knew what was in their hearts, but he still asked them anyway. If it were me, I’d be rolling my eyes and not even bothering to keep the sarcasm out of my voice. Jesus probably just sighed internally and lovingly prepared to use it as a teaching moment for the whole group.
Teach them he did. Again. Christians have called the way Jesus described his kingdom ‘the great reverse’. Jesus turned everything upside-down or backwards. The last shall be first and the first last. To be great, you’ve got to become a servant or slave of all.
Forget James and John for a moment. What about you and me? We can also struggle with our own sense of importance in wanting recognition, power, position, influence and even glory. We struggle with living the great reverse and being last or being servants. Serving ourselves instead of Jesus or others comes naturally to us.
Thank Jesus that he ‘didn’t come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many’. Thanks to the ransom he paid, we can be forgiven, like James and John, for our ungodly desires and actions, our daily stuff-ups, and even our stupidest questions.
Jesus, thank you that you came to serve and give your life as a ransom for me. Forgive me when I fail to serve you and others and instead serve myself. Help me to live today in service to you and those you send into my life. Amen.
Verena is a Church Worker Support Officer for the LCA’s Church Worker Support team, through which it is her privilege to support congregations, pastors, lay workers, employees and volunteers of the LCA. In her spare time, she is involved in drama ministry, women’s ministry and prayer ministry. She has three children and nine grandchildren in three different states.
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