Do you remember in high school
the jock or the cheerleader that was just super talented, super good-looking,
and super popular? Maybe you were that
person, I don’t know. I certainly
wasn’t. But they often get to be pretty
cocky about themselves. They’re good…
and they know it, and they lord it over everyone else making them feel bad and
stupid.
Many a person at the bottom of
the totem pole has daydreamed about the downfall of such a person – seeing them
fail, seeing them mess-up, seeing them get caught in something bad and then
getting to reverse the tables; where the mocking jeer can be returned. Often such people get their comeuppance when
they get to college and discover their talents and looks and popularity are
just average.
Still though, it seems to be
human nature that where we can find an advantage we’re going to exploit
it. We compete all the time, even adults
do. You’re in competition with everyone
else at work for a promotion. You’re
competing with every other job applicant.
In school you are competing for the best grades, the best internships,
and the best connections at social events or job fairs.
We compete for the best houses –
those with more money win. I’ve seen
senior citizens compete over who’s going on the best cruises and who can afford
the best travel. Of course we compete
for relationships – trying to find the best person for a spouse.
This wasn’t funny at all and I
shouldn’t laugh, but I could barely contain myself when I visited Elm Manor
years ago and saw two men ramming each other with their wheelchairs and yelling
over who got the right to go down the hall first.
Our way of life is that if you
have the advantage take it.
But what if we used the
advantage in a different way? What if we
lived by the rule that those who have the upper hand are held more accountable
to use their powers for those in need?
It’ll never fly, but our Lord
Jesus embodied it.
Biblical scholars point out that
the walking on water miracle, or “sign” as John’s gospel calls them, should be
linked to the Feeding of the 5000 which we read last week. Matthew’s gospel, Mark’s gospel, and John’s
gospel all place the miracles side by side.
Jesus feeds the crowd and dismisses them. It is evening and Jesus withdraws by
himself. The disciples head out across
the Sea of Galilee. The sea becomes
rough and Jesus meets them walking on the water.
And the two miracles show two
sides of the same coin. In the Feeding
of the 5000 Jesus’ uses his power to feed them; supply their daily human
needs. The crowd wants to take him and
make him king right then and there. In
our normal routine of life this makes sense – if you have the advantage, use it. If any of us had the ability to be a
pro-sports player or movie star or top level musician, or anything to make us
famous we’d be tempted to use it that way.
Yet Jesus doesn’t do that.
The crowd sees his potential for glory and wants to thrust it upon
him. He refuses because Jesus embodies
that the purpose of power and glory is different. Jesus’ glory is not about being the top
dog. Jesus’ glory is about revealing
God’s grace. He wanted the crowd who
experienced the feeding miracle to see it as God’s gracious gift, not a means
to political power. Grace reveals glory.
Now notice how in walking on water the opposite happens. Glory reveals grace. In walking on water Jesus doesn’t act like a
cocky high school jock saying, “Hey losers.
If your faith was worth anything at all you’d be able to walk on water
with me.” No, he says, “It is I,” Or more properly translated, “I AM. Do not be terrified.” It is a moment of glory that reveals God’s
grace. Commentator Gail O’Day notes,
“Jesus reveals himself to his disciples in order to allay their fears, to
ensure their safe passage, to remind them that God has been, is, and will be
their rescue. Jesus’ glory is not
revealed for power, but for grace-filled pastoral care.” (New Interpreter’s Bible, Volume 9, Pg. 597)
And indeed the text tells us they immediately reached the land toward
which they were going.
Gail O’Day continues, “Jesus will not allow his grace to be
controlled by the crowd’s desire for glory, and so he hides himself. But he will not hold back his glory from
those in need, because this is his mission: to make God known (1:18). How believers hold the grace and glory of
Jesus in balance is critical to the life of faith. The grace is destroyed if one tries to
harness it for false power and authority, and the glory is lost if one does not
recognize its presence in the quiet places of Jesus’ grace. Both the grace and the glory are essential to
God’s revelation in Jesus.” (Ibid.)
Earthly glory can lead to grace.
It shouldn’t be shunned necessarily.
And when power leads to glory that glory should be directed in a way
that shows God’s grace.
Famous author J.K. Rowling said, “You have a moral responsibility
when you have been given far more than you need, to do wise things with it and
give intelligently.” She certainly
embodies that. As the author of the
Harry Potter series she’d made lots of money.
I’m not sure the total now, but a few years ago she was netting $1.6
million a day! Yet in 2012 Forbes
dropped her from their billionaires list because she gives so much away.
And she works hard using her talents for others. She’s written numerous books whose proceeds
go to charities she’s selected. Her
glory is used in service to others.
You’re heard me say my one cousin’s theology before, “Jonathan,
when are you going to learn that God put stupid people on the earth for the
rest of us to take advantage of?” That
is certainly power being used for the sake of glory.
Jesus shows that power, privilege, status, and anything like that
come with responsibility. When you have
the advantage how are you going to use it?
Are you going to hide from it?
You’d better not. Jesus could
have left the disciples to struggle on the lake. But he knew it was time when his glory was
needed for help.
Are you going to use your advantage to get yourself glory? You’d better not. Jesus didn’t accept glory for feeding a crowd
of thousands with a little boy’s lunch.
Advantage, superior skills, talents… they all come with
responsibility.
I wish the jocks in high school wouldn’t have acted so cocky when
they helped us win a game. I wish they
could have said, “I’m glad I could help our school pull out a win.” because we didn’t win much!” That’s neither arrogance, nor false
humility. It is meaningful
acknowledgement of your gifts and a sharing of them for the betterment of all.
Whether you feel like you’re the greatest thing since sliced
bread, or you feel as worthless as the crumbs that get scattered from a
sandwich when a little kid eats, God has given you gifts. You owe God the glory for those gifts. You owe it to what God has done in you to
work to improve and enhance those gifts.
And you owe it to the people around you to share in them.
May the same mind be in you that was in Christ Jesus, who did not
use his power for his own glory, but used it to bring others to glory and to
reveal God’s gracious nature.
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