Who is more valuable to a basketball team, a player who scores 30 points a game or one who has 20 assists? A fan may vote for the 30-point person; a coach, however, goes with the 20-assists player. Twenty assists brings on 40 or more points for the team, and besides that promotes a sense of team and interdependence among the players. Young high school basketball stars must go through some “ego-tempering” when challenged to share the spotlight with others, learning that team is more important than individual stardom.
Jesus assembled a team of soon-to-be leaders who seemed to be more interested in being superstars than team players. When he talked about the Kingdom of God, they imagined Jesus taking over Jerusalem and eventually the world. And, of course, they would join the ranks of being V.I.P.’s with Jesus. From being nobody fishermen, they would become national heroes. Today’s gospel selection shows us how Jesus’ goals and those of his followers clashed (Mark 9:30-37).
“Jesus and his disciples left from there and began a journey through Galilee but did not wish anyone to know about it.”
If Jesus was aspiring to be a great leader in Israel why would he want to remain incognito? After all, popularity is the name of the political game. Why not take advantage of his journey by doing some teaching and healing along the way? At this point in his ministry, Jesus’ goal became focused on Jerusalem and his passion and death. And so he said to his disciples,
“The Son of Man is to be handed over to men and they will kill him, and three days after his death the Son of Man will rise.”
How confusing this must have been to the disciples. Jesus was forecasting a “shame” trip instead of a “glory” trip.
“But they did not understand the saying and were afraid to question him.”
They were hoping Jesus was talking in some kind of parable language. Surely he didn’t mean what he was saying. Being afraid that he meant what he said, they kept their mouths shut.
Meantime, as they forged ahead toward Jerusalem, the disciples were bickering among themselves. Jesus picked up on this and said,
“What were you arguing about on the way?” But they remained silent. For they had been discussing among themselves who was the greatest.”
They were still wallowing in their imagined view of the Kingdom and aspiring to be top scorers instead of assist makers. Each one wanted to prove that he was the best of the group and deserved the highest position of honor.
“Then (Jesus) sat down, called the Twelve and said to them, ‘If anyone wishes to be first, he shall be last of all, and the servant of all.’ Taking a child, he placed it in their midst and putting his arms around it, he said to them, ‘Whoever receives one child such as this in my name, receives me…”
If they insisted on fighting, let them compete for the last place in line rather than the first. Let them seek to make others look good and to help others feel good about themselves, instead of aspiring to be the greatest. Let them go for the assist instead of the points.
We wonder how our own personal goals line up with those of Jesus. Are we out to make ourselves look good or out to bring glory to Jesus? Are we happy to be last in line, if that means Jesus gets first place?
