Series: Living Like Jesus VBC Pastor John Johnson Luke 9:46-48 Nov 21-22, 2015 “The Folly of Comparison” Monday morning—I was waiting in a busy Seattle terminal—when amidst the noise and commotion -An ugly quarrel broke out between family members. It was as if we were suddenly in their home witnessing the mess. -In Luke 9, the writer brings us into another family’s mess—the disciples were arguing—read verse 46 -what prompted their concern for status? 1. The immediate context likely had something to do with it (verse 44) -Jesus announced His coming departure—and it triggered a discussion regarding roles, functions they would play in God’s kingdom -Jesus was speaking of His coming humiliation—meanwhile they were jockeying for position 2. The recent invitation to the three—Peter, John, James—to go up to the mountain might have also prompted it -They liked the charms of the inner circle -The self-importance that comes when some are granted admittance while others are left outside 3. Peter had just received the keys to the kingdom—maybe he wanted to solidify his position -But then John began signing his emails with “the one Jesus loves”— what does that mean? APPLICATION—we can’t be too judgmental here -We too are often concerned with our standing, pecking order -We play for power—and the status and privilege that come with it -We find ourselves sizing one another up— -So how many do you employ? What is your stock selling at? Do you fly business? -It happens at parties, class reunions, family reunions, company dinners Illustration—meeting with over 3000 theologians this week—presenting papers -I’m sure there was a fair amount of sniffing—so where do I stand? What name can I drop? What erudite language can I use to appear intellectual?

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-“So in what field do you teach? Is your doctorate a professional or an academic degree? Have you published?” -Vainglory is a common vice—particularly on Facebook, where we can be overly attached to how we appear -Some willingly admit to their own vanity— -Garrison Keillor once confessed—“I lust after recognition. I am desperate to win all the little merit badges and trinkets of my profession” Parents sometimes aggravate the problem -Matthew 20:20 tell us the mother of James and John sought to advance the status of her children -It might have been behind the remark of Jesus’ mother at Cana— “they have no wine” -If Jesus provides in a miraculous way—this will be a wonderful opportunity to say to those at the wedding -A place where parents tend to catch up and compare -My son’s studying to be an engineer -My daughter is in bioethics—my oldest is an engineer -Mary—“as you can see, my son is God” -Rivalries go all the way back to Cain and Abel, Ishmael and Isaac, Esau and Jacob, Joseph and his brothers, Moses and Aaron—IT’S IN OUR NATURE -In his Falling Upward, Richard Rohr speaks of life’s two halves A. in the first—we are creating what he calls a “container”, a structure -We are working on our career—seeking to answer—how can I reach success -Who will I journey with, what is my identity, what does success look like? -Like these disciples—they were “container focused” B. in the second—we shift—we should anyways—concentrate on the “contents” to put in the container -The character, the core values, core convictions -But his warning is that if we are not careful—we can remain preoccupied with the first half for the whole -Obsessed with our standing—looking good, staying on top-and end life as basically a shell Time for Jesus to step in—but what will He say? -who does He think is great? -how will He define greatness? -is it based upon performance, who gets to the top first?

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-maybe it is measured by who has the most faith—or the most decisions— BUT IT IS NONE OF THIS—read verses 47-48 Illustration—Abraham Lincoln—he didn’t challenge me to greatness -It is here Jesus challenges us to greatness—but we might miss it if we are not listening -The disciples would need a visual aid—Jesus loved to teach in this way… -Here is what leadership looks like—and He took a towel and a basin -Here is what intimacy with God is—and He pointed to a vine and branches -Here’s is what greatness looks like—and He reached out His hand and placed a child next to Him -Mark adds—He took the child in His arms Can you see this child? -A little girl maybe—the noun does not tell us the sex -Hair messed up—clothes that do not match—an old T-shirt, pants soiled with dirt -The disciples would have been anything but impressed -Small children in ANE culture were not highly valued—not until they could contribute to the family -Socially—they were viewed as the “unarrived” -The least of the least—often regarded as a nuisance -But Jesus more than reached out—He linked His very identity—and the Father’s identity—with her -And told the disciples—receiving such a one is greatness What was Jesus doing? He was diverging from the way of the world He was turning our ideas of greatness on their heads 1. We think of greatness in terms of power -Posturing, manipulating—asking: “how can we get to the top?” 2. Jesus views greatness in terms of humility 1. We think of greatness in terms of status 2. Jesus views greatness as self-emptying 1. We think of greatness in terms of being served 2. Jesus views greatness as serving others -“Whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant”— Mark 10:43 1. We think of greatness in terms of privilege 2. Jesus views greatness as laying aside privilege for the sake of others

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1. We think of greatness as exclusion -Creating separation—erecting barriers—closing curtains between economy and business 2. Jesus views greatness as inclusion -Embracing the marginalized—the odd, the elderly, the young, the ordinary, the undesirable, the different POINT—greatness in God’s kingdom is not reserved for the gifted, the privileged, the wealthy; it presents itself to every believer in the simple task of receiving others. This is what Jesus regularly did— -He welcome the outsider, the unattractive, the undeserving—the leper, the widow, the sinner. -Those the world might leave out, who didn’t get chosen at recess, invited to the dance. -Those who have gotten blackballed and cold shouldered and voted off the island—people who sit in economy. Application—by this standard—Jesus is saying—these are the greatest churches… -They open their doors—and keep them open -They welcome the marginalized—the poor, the ostracized, the odd, the immigrant, the refugee Illustration—one of the main conference speakers at ETS was Dr Wesley Hill, author of Spiritual Friendship -A believer who has openly confessed his attraction to the same sex -Because he honors God’s Word—he has chosen to remain a celibate and not act out his sexual desires -His question for us was this—can I find community in your church? Would he here? -Will a Muslim refugee who is searching for help be welcomed—and loved—at Village? -Are single parents, the unemployed, those who have suffered moral failure and repented—received? -Do we value the visitor enough to leave our circles? -As Sittser puts it—“We are to be ‘there you are’ kind of people rather than ‘here I am’ kind of people” -to “welcome” is a word that means to take in -receive into our space, our community, our vision, our mission—our very lives -it is the antithesis of ignoring, slighting, rebuffing, excluding, rejecting— and most of us know that pain—

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-A conversation you are not welcome to share in -A gathering where no one seems to notice your existence -A routine, mechanical, cursory greeting that seems contrived, manufactured, (tortured?) -Does this matter? It does if you want to be great CONCLUSION -Stopping at a ME restaurant on the way to the train to catch a plane I struck up a conversation with a young Arab and asked him—where are you from? -Nazareth (I love chance encounters—I was just there the week before) -Instantly he introduced me to his father—the owner of the restaurant -Instantly the father embraced me took me back and showed me pictures of old Nazareth -I suddenly felt I was family -And then he sent me on my way with his famous baklava—as a gift -Churches occasionally send their pastors to conferences to learn the latest trends, techniques—how to grow—HOW TO BECOME GREAT! -In light of this passage—maybe we should send them to this restaurant -And learn receiving—welcoming What if this becomes our greatness— -The church that reaches out to the stranger in our midst -With a welcome neither perfunctory nor formal -A welcome that is not conditioned by color, personality, interests, background, social status, economics, politics, or religious convictions

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