All for Others

Our reading from Isaiah for today is the fourth and last Servant Song in [second] Isaiah. As you may remember these four songs were seen by the early church as prophecies about Jesus. This was not a large leap since Jesus chose to read one of these texts when he was in his home synagogue. This fourth song is also considered by many scholars to be the basis for the Apostle’s creed. That creed was developed very early in the church and might possibly even predate some of the New Testament books. (It also, most likely, was not written by the Apostles.) We do not know who the author of the Servant Songs was and a careful reading of this song will indicate that there are three voices that are speaking in it. The first voice we hear today is that of the people who have been saved by the work of the servant. The second voice is that of a narrator who fills in the details of the sacrifice of the servant. The final voice is that of God. These three voices are woven together so well that it is difficult, if not impossible, to determine where one ends and the other begins. This weaving of the tale was purposeful on Isaiah’s part and is why they are lifted up as special songs in his text. It is as if he was reminding the readers of his words how our lives are interwoven. We find ourselves at the intersection of the narration of our lives – those things that happen to us and we cannot change – our own actions that are not always correct, and God’s action in Jesus. It is in this milieu that we are called to act.

Although often times we do not act as God calls us sometimes by not acting and others by doing the opposite things. Look to our reading from Mark today. James and John approach Jesus with plans of becoming Jesus’ right-hand and left-hand men (second and third in power). It is as if they had not been listening to Jesus at all. They certainly did not understand Jesus’ call to serve. If they had they would never had said they were willing to drink the same cup that Jesus was to drink and be baptized with the same baptism. They were only thinking of their own selves and how great it would be to be in charge. The other disciples were not any better. Their complaint to Jesus was not because they understood Jesus’ call any better. They were upset because James and John were the first to ask for positions of power. Jesus knew that and so gathered the disciples together and tells them greatness does not come from power over others, it comes from serving others.

That is our lives also. We have been called to serve God but want to be in control – to shape our lives by our own desires. But God calls us to a different life. Our salvation does not depend upon what we do are how well we do it. Our salvation depends on what Jesus did. Knowing that our salvation is assured we are able to act boldly as we answer Jesus’ call to serve others as he served us. Remember we do not act alone but together as the body of Christ with Jesus at the head.