The church hierarchy of today has rightly been criticised for protecting perpetrators and the institution and having no empathy for victims of abuse. The request of James and John for Jesus to grant them to sit, one at his right hand and one at his left, in his glory.’ was inappropriate. Jesus had just told them he was going to Jerusalem to be handed over to the chief priests and scribes who would condemn him to death, of how he would be handed to the Gentiles to be laughed at, flogged, spat at and killed and rise from the dead three days later. James and John showed no empathy or concern for their friend. They could have asked why they were going if what was coming was so awful. They could have walked in silence and sadness or asked Jesus if he was frightened. They could have held Jesus and hugged him. Instead, they were wrapped up in their concerns and ambitions and totally unable to relate to what was going to happen. Some people edit out all the bad things in their lives. Instead of focusing on the negative they focus on the positive as a way of coping. Sometimes the awfulness of other people’s suffering makes it too great a load to bear. It is important when faced with suffering that we act appropriately. We need to listen and learn from others and not blot out what is being said. We have to be real about the awful things that happen to us and others to prepare ourselves and those who have shared their suffering with us appropriately. There are things each of us needs to do to prepare for suffering and death, such as telling our loved ones we love them, writing our wills, sorting out our affairs and finishing well. We may need practical help to achieve those things, friends to empathise with us, walk with us and help us, friends who listen and hold us in prayers and in their arms, friends who hug us. Jesus needed James and John to be there for him. Sometimes all we can do is be there. There are all sorts of inappropriate responses that we might make when friends are suffering. “It’s going to be alright.” “I’ll be right there with you.” “Jesus is going to heal you.” “Name what you want and pray and Jesus will give it to you.” “I know what you’re thinking. I had an experience just like yours.” We can walk with a person but we cannot walk in their shoes. We don’t know whether things are going to be alright or not. We need to be encouraged with hope that is real, not false. Hebrews 12 says that Jesus, “for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, disregarding the shame, and has taken his seat at the right hand of God.” Jesus rose from the dead and so will we. There is joy to come. After being close to Jesus for so long James and John still didn’t understand him or what he had come to do. The only thing they seem to have taken on board, possibly because of witnessing Jesus’ transfiguration, was future glory and victory. They were still looking for a Messiah who would take earthly reign defeating Rome. They envisaged, since they were two of Jesus’ closest friends, a role as his prime ministers. Their request was arrogant and ambitious. They did not give a reason why Jesus should choose them for such high office. Maybe their father Zebedee was richer than the fathers of the other disciples employing servants so they considered themselves to be socially superior. Jesus was going to confront the privileged temple-based religious aristocracy. James and John were vying for positions of authority in a society they envisaged would be similar, though maybe kinder than the last one, with a change of leadership. The same privileges of money, wealth and power for those at the top would apply. They were attempting to push Jesus into making a decision immediately so that none of the others had the opportunity. Our world is often ruled by those who capitalise on privileged situations, push themselves forward and think of themselves more highly than they ought. As a result the gifts of many are ignored. We should think of others more highly than ourselves. Jesus came to bring down the powerful from their thrones and lift up the humble and meek. He is King in a different kind of kingdom where all are valued and welcomed. What arrogance James and John showed in asking Jesus to do whatever they asked of him? They were taking authority over Jesus and using him for their own purposes. Since Jesus is Lord, he is the one who has the authority to ask us to be obedient and do whatever he asks of us. Unlike his disciples Jesus doesn’t assume authority. He models what it means to be humble and serve others. Instead of reprimanding his friends he asked them, “What is it you want me to do for you?” In response to their request for the best positions in the kingdom, he kindly tells them they do not know what they are asking. Those who push for power often do not know what they are letting themselves in for. We need to find out what roles we are best suited for, whether we can do what the job entails, consider whether we deserve the respect of those we want to lead and whether we want to work sufficiently hard. We need to prepare ourselves carefully and prayerfully considering whether this is God’s will for our lives. James and John had done none of these things so Jesus asked them a question. “Are you able to drink the cup that I drink, or be baptized with the baptism that I am baptized with?” James and John responded that they were. They were close to Jesus. They frequently shared meals together and in the ministry of proclaiming the kingdom. Like Jesus they had been baptized by John in the River of Jordan. As disciples they followed and learnt from Jesus. They were, fully immersed in what Jesus was doing, adopting the same lifestyle. They never doubted Jesus, believing one day he would triumph. We are disciples of Jesus called to share the life and ministry of our Lord. We are privileged. We drink of the same cup, the blood of the new covenant poured out for us, given to us by Christ. We drink of the same Holy Spirit that Jesus was baptised in, becoming one with Jesus in his divinity and glory. Like James and John we spend our lives finding out what it means to fully identify with Jesus in all aspects of humanity. Jesus said to them, ‘The cup that I drink you will drink; and with the baptism with which I am baptized, you will be baptized; The baptism Jesus would suffer was his death. He was fully immersed in our suffering, hatred, pain and death. James and John were soon to understand what Jesus was asking of them. John stood at the foot of the cross with Jesus’ mother and watched him die. James was the first of the apostles to be martyred for his faith under the reign of Herod Agrippa. They were never going to sit at the right hand of God in his Kingdom. That place was reserved for Jesus alone, who always fully submitted himself to his heavenly Father. They were never going to become leaders of the other disciples. When the ten heard, they were angry and would not have obeyed them. As they shared in the life of Christ and served others in his way of suffering love they would help form a loving community of people who like Jesus did not Lord it over others or behave in an abusive, tyrannical way. Jesus calls us today to be like them.
A rich, young ruler went away grieving because Jesus had asked him to sell all he had, give to the poor and follow him. We can make a huge difference in the lives of some poor people through our giving. God is just and merciful. He agrees with our prime minister that there needs to be a levelling up in our society so that the poor have opportunities as well as the rich. Those in poverty will have a rough winter without help. Many rely on food banks already. As the furlough scheme comes to an end this week and the £20.00 extra given in Universal credit is taken away, many more will be left in crisis. The huge increase in gas prices and council tax will mean many will no longer be able to heat their homes. Many wealthy people live lives smothered by drugs or alcohol or engage in promiscuous sexual relationships to blot out their inner emptiness. The more money a person has, the more they have to worry about it. In contrast lives of unencumbered simplicity can be lives of great joy. “It’s a gift to be simple; it’s a gift to be free.” St Francis stripped naked to give his clothes away and his follower’s embraced poverty delighting in nature, humour, song and dance. Early communities of monks and nuns didn’t have to worry about what to wear or where to live. They were more available to spend time loving God and others, more able to care through hospitals, inns and schools. The rich young ruler appeared to have everything. Matthew tells us he was young. Luke tells us he was a ruler. There is no better time to come to Jesus than in our youth. Jesus can make something special out of our entire lifetime. The man had money and possessions and probably the power and popularity money brings. He wanted to do what was right. When Jesus asked him if he knew the commandments, “You shall not murder, you shall not commit adultery, you shall not steal, you shall not bear false witness, you shall not defraud, honour your father and mother” he was able to say he had kept all those things since his youth. This suggests he didn’t use his power to gain his wealth falsely. Few business people behave this honourably. The commandments Jesus quoted focus on what he didn’t do. He never did people any harm, but there is no evidence that he used his wealth to do the good he could have done. He was a ruler, possibly in the synagogue, a person of influence over others like the young men Bishop David is keen to appoint into positions of leadership in our churches, safe and reliable. He knew the scriptures and acted on them. He was a good family man who looked after his mum and dad, religious, hard working, not involved in wrong sexual relationships, a worthy role model for others. He had what most people want, but not what matters. He was unsatisfied and unfulfilled. His clean living and religious activity had not satisfied the deep longing of his soul. It had failed to give him what he wanted most, a relationship with God. He came running, interrupting Jesus. If anyone could help him Jesus could. He was urgent, recognising he may not have this opportunity again. He came humbly, kneeling before Jesus. He didn’t use his status or wealth to impress. He recognised Jesus was worthy, good and holy and he was not. Jesus ruled in this situation. He didn’t. Jesus was surrounded by his disciples and others travelling to Jerusalem for the Passover. He humbled himself in front of everybody. He came asking the right question, “Good teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life?” As a religious person, he knew the answer to this in theory. He knew the law, that he should love the Lord with all his heart, soul strength and might. He knew he should keep the commandments. He also knew he was missing out on God’s purpose for his life. He hadn’t got life in all its fullness. Eternal life is not length of life; it is the quality of life that belongs to God. The young man was saying, “I have the life that belongs to man but I want God’s life.” If possessions, prestige and power were all there was to life, then he would die miserable. The question “What shall I do to inherit eternal life,” shows us the man thinks eternal life can be earned and is the reward for doing good things. Judaism, Islam, Hinduism and Sikhism all teach that eternal life is earned. Eternal life is a gift too precious to be earned. It is the gift of God. It was purchased by Jesus on the cross. We cannot buy it with money. We sometimes try to earn it by being good, doing more, learning, reading our Bibles and spending more time in prayer. Without the help and life of Jesus within us, we will not succeed. Since Eternal Life Comes from Jesus, it is important that we know who Jesus is. The young man called Jesus “Good Teacher.” Jesus reminded him there is no one good but God. Jesus was inviting him to think about whether he viewed him just as a great rabbi, prophet and teacher or whether he recognised he was from God. Jesus is more than a great teacher. He is God in human form. He didn’t just come to dispense eternal life. He is life in all its fullness. When we receive Jesus we gain eternal life. Without Jesus there is no eternal life. Jesus looking at the young man loved him. He wanted to have a relationship with him. Jesus is on the side of the rich as well as the poor. He looks deep into our hearts and loves us. He knows our pressures and responsibilities as well as our sin. Jesus told the man to do three things, sell his possessions, give to the poor and follow him. This was shocking for a Jew. Possessions were a sign of God’s favour. Jesus was placing his finger on the root of the man’s problem. He loved his possessions more than he loved God. Jesus was saying that if you want me you can place nothing above me. The 1<sup>st</sup> commandment, “You shall have no other Gods before me,” still stands. If we want Jesus we have to die to our loves, goals, desires, and plans. Jesus was telling this man to give up his possessions for his own benefit not because it would change the world. Sell all that you have and give to the poor is not God’s calling for all of us. Money is not evil in itself. We need to look after our families, the poor and the vulnerable. If we gave all our money away, we would not be able to challenge evil, help people get out of debt and create a better society. The young man was being asked to take an irreversible step of faith, to give what he had away to benefit the poor, like Jesus who became poor so that we might be rich. The man trusted in the safety of his riches, and wanted to receive eternal life as an extra. You cannot serve two masters; you cannot serve God and money. Jesus says follow me. You cannot trust in power, prestige, position and possessions and follow Jesus. Jesus must be Lord in our lives. Only this brings us into the kingdom of heaven and gives us eternal life. We cannot take our wealth, possessions, prestige, power or anything else into eternity with us but if Jesus is in our lives, and we have followed him we will have treasure in heaven. The man did the sensible thing in the eyes of the world. He put his possessions, family, power, prestige, responsibilities, and parents before Jesus instead of being a fool for God and giving it all up to accept the invitation of Jesus to follow him. He settled for life weighed down by many possessions and responsibilities. He missed a life spent ushering in a new way of living, the kingdom of God, a place of joy, righteousness and peace. He missed all that Jesus offered, all that he longed for in his heart. What are we hanging on to which stops us following Jesus? What can be more important than the quality of life Jesus wants us to have?
This week the police officer Wayne Couzens was given a life sentence for the planned murder, rape and mutilation of Sarah Everard. Last week Sabeena Nessa was murdered on her way to join friends. Neither Sarah or Sabeena knew or provoked their attackers. Three women every week are murdered by men. Many more suffer gender based violence. Violence against women is on the increase. The police and home secretary are being pressed to do something about it as women no longer feel safe on the streets. Women are not safe in their homes either. Honour killings and forced marriages take place within many families. Female genital mutilation or circumcision continues to take place illegally here and abroad. Many Westernised women live in constant fear. Controlled and beaten they have nowhere to run to. Churches have a responsibility to interpret scripture in a way which brings honour to both men and women. Christians have interpreted the scriptures in a way which emphasised differences between men and women instead of similarities. Male dominance, leadership and control and female submission, silence and obedience has been supported from the Bible, particularly from the creation passages and from some of Paul’s letters. These were written in a culture which gave far less power to women than ours does, one in which women needed male protection because they didn’t have rights of their own. The culture in Afghanistan or Saudi Arabia today is similar to the culture of Palestine in the time of Jesus. Women were not educated, they sat and ate separately from men; they were veiled and had no role in formal worship outside the home. It wasn’t as bad as it is in some countries today. Some had independent means and were allowed out without males accompanying them. Unlike the religious authorities of his time Jesus fought for more equality between men and women. He treated both with respect spending time in the company of both. The Pharisees tested Jesus on the Jewish law’s position on divorce asking if it is lawful for a man to divorce his wife. Jesus said that anyone who divorces his wife, except on the ground of unchastity, causes her to commit adultery; and whoever marries a divorced woman commits adultery. For Jesus there was no get out clause from marriage other than adultery and remarriage wasn’t an option. Jesus knew that the best and safest relationships were ones which were lifelong, stable, committed and faithful. However, “Moses allowed a man to write a certificate of dismissal and divorce her.” Their law was heavily biased in favour of men. Women were at the complete disposal of the male head of the household. Men could divorce wives on a number of petty grounds whether she agreed or not while she could only obtain a divorce if he was willing, or if he became a leper, a tanner, ravished a virgin or falsely accused her of pre nuptial sin. All the man had to do was write the certificate of dismissal. He could do it if his wife was a bad cook, if she was loud, if he found someone better in his eyes or for any number of trivial reasons. Unlike the Pharisees, Jesus treated men and women in marriage in the same way. Marriage was sacrosanct for both and neither were permitted to divorce except on the grounds of adultery. Jesus said Moses only allowed divorce because men were hard of heart. If men no longer wanted their wives they could be cruel and they were better off within their parental homes without them. He then emphasised how we are alike. We are both created by God in his image. God is Father, Son and Holy Spirit. When we look at the Trinity we see equality and mutuality. We see one God who is relational and of one heart and mind. We see in Genesis that it is not good that humans should be alone; we are designed to relate to others. The second reason given for God creating marriage is that we all need a helper. When I was a teenager, I was told that as a wife I was created to be the helpmeet of my husband and was therefore inferior. The word, help in the Genesis passage is elsewhere used to describe the way God helps us. In marriage and in society we are all called, male and female, to help and serve one another. We are not complete human beings otherwise. We are called in marriage into the closest possible relationship with another human being, a relationship in which we become one flesh and one in body, soul and spirit. The human needed more than a helper, the human needed a partner, so the Lord God caused a deep sleep to fall upon the man,; then he took one of his ribs and closed up its place with flesh.<sup> </sup>And the rib that the Lord God had taken from the man he made into a woman and brought her to the man. The woman unlike the first human and the animals was not formed from the dust of the ground but taken from the rib, the substance and bone of the first human. The similarity of men and women is emphasised here, not their differences. She was taken from the side of the first human, not to be dominated or subdued but to be loved. The man speaks in poetic verse as a sign of the ecstasy and joy that accompanies this discovery, “This at last is bone of my bones and flesh of my flesh.”. The imagery speaks of a bond between so strong that to sever it would be like ripping out a physical part of one's own body. It is a bond so intimate that the two "become one flesh," naked, open to each another, vulnerable, trusting, passionate, loving, and "not ashamed." Two lonely human beings yearning for community find it in each other. Sadly, the happy union was quickly marred in the story of Adam and Eve's disobedience and expulsion from the Garden of Eden. Mutual trust, partnership, support, freedom from shame, and equality of relationship are all threatened by human disobedience. Both Jesus and the writer of the Genesis story had the highest possible picture of marriage, a picture of mutuality, equality and unity. Unlike my predecessor, I conduct weddings of divorcees, particularly if the couple have been together for a long time and their first marriages have irretrievably broken down. We live in a broken world in which few of our marriages come anywhere near to the unity of heart, mind and flesh depicted as the ideal in scripture. Marriage is the foundation of family life and strengthens community for those outside the marriage as well as those in it. None of us need feel alone, abandoned and without help. In marriage we see God’s ideal for each of us. As human beings in marriage are designed to have the closest possible relationship with each other, so we are called to be united with Christ, our heavenly bridegroom. If men saw women as “bone of their bones and flesh of their flesh,” they might stop hurting and killing them. Jesus is not hard like the Pharisees. He forgives us our sin and draws us into an intimate relationship with himself and each other.
There are two groups of people, in this account, the rabble and those taking responsibility for others. Rabbles are disorganised, disorderly crowds. Rabbles are a dangerous threat to life when out of control, particularly when hungry. Moses, the leader of the Israelites had a problem. The rabble had a strong craving for meat. Unless we are vegetarian or vegan I guess most of us can identify with this. We’ve been told to eat less meat. Our farmers have been told to cut down on meat production and use the land animals grazed on to plant trees. Farmers in South America have been doing the opposite, cutting down rain forests to produce beef. Since the Amazon rain forest is the lungs of the earth, this is accelerating climate catastrophes elsewhere. Apparently cows and pigs in particular blow off an exorbitant amount of carbon into the atmosphere and are adding to the increase in temperature and extreme weather conditions we have seen on every continent this year. Ironically, because of the exorbitant rise in gas prices we cannot produce enough carbon dioxide to stun animals before slaughter. We also have a lorry driver crisis so getting meat products to our supermarkets in time for our Christmas dinner might be problematic. Eating less meat will lower our need for our overstretched NHS. Cancer, lower immunity to diseases, heart disease and being overweight are all associated with diets high in meat. These are predominantly illnesses suffered by richer, Western nations. Those living on bean and rice based diets are healthier. Plant based diets are better for our weight, health and grocery bill. Yet, we crave meat, preferring the diets we were brought up on. Like the Israelites we don’t like change. The Israelites had suffered a huge amount of change. They were refugees in the wilderness, camping in tents on their journey to the Promised Land that God had promised to lead them to. Life had not been wonderful for them in Egypt. The Egyptians were incredibly wealthy. We see that in the tombs, artefacts and architecture. Around the banks of the River Nile Egyptians produced much food. The Israelites remembered the meat, fish, cucumbers, melons, leeks, onions and garlic with affection. Israelites and Egyptians had lived together for over 400 years before the Israelite children were seen as a threat. They had been reduced to living as slaves, building cities with less and less resources. Their children were being murdered at birth. Ethnic cleansing was taking place, perhaps in much the same way as it is for the Uighurs in China today. God had rescued his people, leading them out by a cloud by day and a pillar of fire by night. The waters of the red sea had swept back to enable them to cross and begin their journey in becoming the people God had called them to be. The rabble only remembered the good times. They were jealous of what the Egyptians had materially. They were bored. They complained that there was nothing to look at in the desert. They were becoming weak on the staple of manna and quail which God had provided. They were depressed and weeping at the entrances of their tents. They were putting pressure on Moses to do something about it. Where was he to get meat for such a large number? Moses was displeased and felt helpless. He had obeyed God and now he felt he was being treating unfairly both by the Israelites and God himself. I wonder whether our politicians sometimes feel like that. Moses felt so depressed and angry he asked God to put him to death at once to end his suffering. He was exhausted and recognised there was no way he could provide for God’s people by himself. It is not good for us to always get our own way. Lives of luxury and waste damage both us and our environment. We do not have to be broken by the changes that are happening around us. We are changed for the better when our focus is on God and not on what we will eat or drink. The desert is an awesome place to meet with God. God had provided for all the Israelites needed so they could concentrate on him and form a strong bond with each other. The Lord was angry with the rabble. He had done so much for them but they were not thankful. Moses needed the Lord to do something so the Lord told Moses to gather 70 of the elders and officers of Israel, people who were responsible and reliable, those who had a history of helping their people. Moses then placed them round the tent of meeting, where they came to worship and hear from God. The Holy Spirit came down in the cloud upon the 70 and Moses. They were reenergised and prophesied. When we prophesy we don’t necessarily predict the future. Primarily we speak the words of God gives us. The anointing the elders received was just enough to re-establish their position. Once the anointing had faded they didn’t prophesy again. Eldad and Medad, two of the men who were not elders and not called to the tent of meeting were also anointed by the Holy Spirit. They continued to prophesy when the cloud lifted. The Holy Spirit transformed the lives of these two ordinary men who were receptive to him. Because they didn’t have any positions of importance, Joshua, Moses’ assistant was jealous and asked Moses to stop them. Moses response speaks to us today. “Would that all the Lord’s people were prophets and that the Lord would put his spirit on them!” Those filled with God’s Spirit were given new ministries. They were no longer depressed and bored. Instead of craving meat and exotic fruits, they craved more of God and his Spirit. Instead of feeling empty and deprived they were filled. They were no longer helpless and useless. They were enabled by God’s spirit to minister to those around them. We are facing unprecedented changes as a result of global warming. Even the food we are able to grow and the time of harvest is changing. We can choose to complain and harass our leaders. We can be part of the rabble or we can act responsibly. God in these last days has poured out his Spirit upon all who are thirsty. The Holy Spirit enables us to dream dreams and see visions of a better future. Let’s forget about ourselves and our fleshly appetites and invite God’s Holy Spirit to satisfy and fill us. May he enable us to minister to those who fearful of the days to come.
