“Most favoured…”

By Rev. Michael Stonhouse

Meditation – Monday, March 18, 2024

Mark 9:30-41 (Forward, p. 49) CEV p. 1039

Many nations of the world adopt trading agreements with other countries and often a ‘most favoured nation’ status is part of them. It is almost inevitable that Jesus’ disciples would have seen themselves in a first century group equivalent of that. After all, just look at who they were disciples of!

Here however, they were in for some surprises. In terms of having much of Jesus’ teaching explained to them privately (see Mark 4:10-12 and parallels), they were indeed privileged. But in today’s passage we hear of them getting the sort of individualized instruction that they probably preferred not to get. Our account says, “Jesus left with his disciples and started through Galilee. He did not want anyone to know about it, because he was teaching the disciples that the Son of Man would be handed over to people who would kill him. But three days later he would rise to life” (verses 30-31). Yes, this meant that they were special, but probably they would have preferred not to be let in on this secret.

This sense of being special, privileged, also showed itself in a kind of in-group, out-group dynamic, a sense that only certain people were ‘one of us’, that is, belonging to Jesus. Here Jesus explodes that balloon as well. Anyone who was willing to work with Him and help them is to be encouraged and will be blessed and rewarded.

And not only did they figure that they, as a group, had privileged, favoured status, they were also inclined to take this personally. We find that they were continually jockeying for position—and conversations about who was greatest seemed to erupt frequently. But who was great? The ones who were willing to become a slave and serve others. And a relative ‘nobody’, a child, was important, valued and welcomed!

So, what does this say to us today? Sadly, unfortunately, this in-group, out-group can exist within churches, especially between old timers and newcomers. It can certainly exist overtly in terms of who is included, informed, and invited to take part in things. But then, unconsciously, it can show forth itself in terms of not knowing one’s way through the service, or not knowing what is expected in terms of everyday church practices (giving,

for instance, or taking part in potluck suppers or fund-raising events). There can be a wide in-out dynamic here.

And quite unconsciously, unintentionally, we can create other in-out dynamics by choosing only to associate with a similar approach to life or similar political or cultural or social values. And, we can even have a kind of inflated pride in ‘knowing’ that we have this superior way of behaving or looking at things. We too can see ourselves as ‘most favoured.’

But the true favour has nothing to do with our beliefs or behaviour. We are favoured in that we are valued, loved, and cared for by God. And in ‘this boat’, we are all alike. God has bestowed this favour upon all humankind. The only trick is to accept it and make it an integral and essential part of our lives! So be it. Amen.

Forward notes: “For he was teaching his disciples, saying to them, ‘The Son of Man is to be betrayed into human hands, and they will kill him, and three days after being killed, he will rise again’” (verse 31).

Commemoration: Cyril of Jerusalem

“Cyril of Jerusalem has a great interest in forming catechumens in the Christian faith. In a four-century world hostile to Christianity, committing to Jesus required a lifelong commitment.

“Nowadays, many congregations prepare adults for baptism during the Easter Vigil service, held on Saturday before Easter Day. I once sponsored a baptismal candidate and attended weekly classes with him. Besides learning the basics of the Christian faith, we talked openly about being a Christian in the modern world.

“Our leader told us, ‘Being baptized will change everything for you. Even if you don’t believe this right now, when you look back ten years from now, you’ll see clearly how much you have been changed by Jesus. Nothing will ever be the same.’ Our hope in Christ does not end with death and destruction. Something far more glorious is ahead, and nothing will ever be the same again.”

Moving Forward: “How are you preparing for Easter?”