Attitude, Ambition, and a Hill Called Calvary
Whether it was through the hit song by Aretha Franklin or the goofy comedy routines of Rodney Dangerfield, those old enough to remember them learned something about the strong desire we have to be respected. We find a similar theme in more contemporary illustrations like superhero movies that often include characters who become bitter and dangerous when they don’t get the respect that they think they deserve. (If you want examples, just ask Adrian H. or Andrew Sz.—our resident Marvel experts.)
But you don’t have to go to the movies to see how these kinds of rivalries play out. We too often find ourselves in the middle of them. It might be a power struggle at home or cutthroat politics at the office. Maybe you experience it in the locker room or in your drama club. Anywhere you find people ambitious for advancement and personal fulfilment you’ll find rivalry. Rivalries are like slow poison in the life of the church—the body of Christ, the collective family that Jesus died to save.
In today’s text (Mark 9:30-50), we’re going to read pieces of three or four episodes that Mark has joined together, and I won’t try to explain every verse. Instead, I want us to try and see not only the trees but the forest, because the main point Jesus seems to be teaching—and that Mark seems to be emphasizing—is a point that is really relevant for us today. Are we dedicated to peace or satisfied with division? Are we focused on “we” or on “me”? Do we understand where the road to self-glorification ends up taking us? If we’ll listen, Jesus has something to teach us. May God continue to give us ears to hear.
Attitude, Ambition, and a Hill Called Calvary
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