Dumb Disciples Deliver

God’s grace, peace and mercy be with you. … My focus is Mark 9:35, where we read, “He sat down and called the twelve. And he said to them, “If anyone would be first, he must be last of all and servant of all.”

Let us pray. Heavenly Father, the psalmist wrote, “I rejoiced when they said to me, ‘Let us go to the house of the Lord.’”[i] Now that our feet are within your gates, we rejoice to hear your Word. As we listen, may your Spirit enlighten our minds and move our hearts to love deeply as Jesus loved. This we pray to you, Most Holy Trinity. Amen.

Dumb Disciples Deliver. You may never hear another sermon entitled Dumb Disciples Deliver. As I unpack the definition of the words and relate them to the Gospel and our lives, you will agree that dumb disciples deliver.

First, definitions. We define dumb as mute or lacking the power of speech or temporarily unable to speak.[ii] Humans consider animals dumb because they cannot communicate as we do. Gabriel struck dumb Zechariah, John the Baptist’s father, because he doubted.[iii]

In Old German thumb meant both mute and stupid. The latter meaning made its way into Modern German. Subsequently, in Modern English, the German word dumm became synonymous with our word for foolish or ignorant.

Disciples. Disciple comes from the Latin word discipulus, meaning pupil or follower. Its root word, discere, means to learn.[iv] We define disciple as one who accepts and assists in spreading the doctrines of another.[v] We refer to those who belonged to Jesus’ inner circle as disciples.

Early in his public ministry, Jesus called his disciples. In Mark, we read, “Passing alongside the Sea of Galilee, he saw Simon and Andrew … casting a net into the sea. … Jesus said to them, ‘Follow me, and I will make you become fishers of men.’ Immediately they left their nets and followed him.” Later, James and John followed him.[vi] Many people became disciples of Jesus, and many disciples turned away and no longer walked with him.[vii]

After Jesus called his first disciples, he “went up on the mountain and called to him those whom he desired, and they came to him. And he appointed twelve (whom he also named apostles) so that they might be with him and he might send them out to preach and have authority to cast out demons.”[viii]

Jesus’ method of choosing disciples differed from the ways of Jewish rabbis or Greek philosophers. In his day, Jewish students sought rabbis, and Greek teachers enticed students. Jesus alone chose these twelve from among his followers. No patrimony or politics here.

Note that Mark wrote, “that they might be with him.” Jesus primarily chose these Twelve disciples for fellowship, indicating his human need for a support group. Secondly, they witnessed Jesus’ vision of the Kingdom of God through their preaching, teaching, miracles and martyrdom. In short, disciples witnessed to the world Jesus’ vision of the Kingdom.

We move to deliver. Jimmy John’s, Papa John’s, Chen’s, Mo’s, Al’s and Nick’s will deliver food to my door. Fedex delivers our dog food and dietary supplements. Indeed, sending something to a recipient is the primary definition of deliver.

Deliver has other meanings. Doctors and nurses delivered our grandchildren into the world.[ix] We hope our candidate can deliver a speech; our team delivers a championship or our new car delivers on gas mileage.

Deliver comes from the Latin word deliberare, specifically from two words: de meaning away and liberare meaning to free.[x] Christ delivered us from Satan, sin and death. He taught us to pray, “Deliver us from evil.”[xi]

Enough for defining dumb, disciples and deliver. How do these words relate to our Gospel?

Today’s passage opens on Jesus’ turf, Galilee – from which he called disciples to follow him, through which he led them to Jerusalem, and where they returned after he rose. The journey through Galilee was secret. Because Jesus was teaching his disciples, he wanted to escape attention.

This passage was the second of three passion predictions. Each prediction varied slightly. If we examine the differences between the first and second, we notice what’s gone and what’s new.

What’s gone? The emphasis on the necessity of the passion and the resurrection, and references to the suffering of the Son of Man and his rejection by elders, chief priests and the scribes.[xii]

What’s new? Instead of repeating that the Son of Man would suffer, Jesus declared that the Son of Man would be delivered into the hands of men.[xiii] Like his earlier expression of suffering many things, to be delivered alluded to the suffering servant in Isaiah,[xiv] showing that his passion was according to God’s plan and purpose.[xv] Because “delivered” was commonly used to describe the fate of the prophets, Mark employed it not only to describe Jesus’ suffering and death, but also the arrest of John the Baptist and the betrayal of Judas.[xvi]

Early Christians understood delivered as an expression of the divine necessity of Jesus’ death,[xvii] and of their own inevitable experience in the service of the gospel.[xviii] Paul wrote in Romans that God did not spare His own Son, but delivered Him over for us all.[xix] Acts recorded Paul’s words to his brothers in Rome, “I was delivered as a prisoner from Jerusalem into the hands of the Romans.”[xx] In short, we understand that God delivered Jesus into the hands of men.

We understand that God delivered Jesus into the hands of men, but the disciples failed to understand. The phrase – “they did not understand” – normally meant ignorant, but here it meant incomprehension and fear. Frightened by Jesus’ remarks, the disciples did not even ask him what he meant.

The irony is clear in the next segment, when Jesus caught his disciples jockeying for position in God’s kingdom by debating who was the greatest. The Great One said that the route of self-sacrifice, not self-aggrandizement, is the way to go, but the disciples headed full speed in the other direction.[xxi] Jesus spoke of passion; they discussed leadership succession.

When asked to explain their discussion, the disciples were struck dumb with embarrassment. They were not only dumb, but also blind. Jesus fixed his eyes on his rejection and martyrdom, while the disciples cast theirs on status and leadership. Failing to understand Jesus’ vocation as Son of Man and how this involved them,[xxii] they continued their discussion down the road when James and John boldly asked what each disciple desired – to sit at Jesus’ left and right in his glory.[xxiii] In today’s passage, Jesus challenged the point of their discussion – the true nature of Christian greatness.

Jesus did not despise the desire to be first, but in God’s kingdom, his definition of greatness stood the world’s ordering of it on its head and radically challenged a fundamental assumption about achievement.[xxiv]

Because it was vital for the Twelve and Mark’s fellow Christians in Rome to understand Jesus’ teaching, he recalled all the important details.[xxv] The setting was Capernaum, Jesus’ adopted home. The house – where teaching in intimate privacy between Jesus and the Twelve could occur – conveyed that Jesus directed his words primarily to committed disciples.

Finally, as he pulled close the Twelve, Jesus sat down. Sitting indicated important teaching. In Matthew, we read, “Jesus said to the crowds and his disciples, ‘The scribes and Pharisees sit on Moses’ seat, so do whatever they tell you.”[xxvi] Jews understood that sitting while teaching meant one was making a serious point.

His teaching was so radical that it needed constant repetition to the Twelve and early Christians. Jesus characterized greatness in God’s Kingdom through lowliness and service, like that of a domestic servant.[xxvii]

Jesus identified himself with the child – the lowliest, least and servant of all. A child ranked lowest on the social scale. A child had no self-determination and was not concerned with greatness; nor was Jesus. On the other hand, his disciples were preoccupied with greatness.

Here, Jesus did not instruct the Twelve to become like the child, but to welcome the child as they welcomed a friend or guest. His teaching reversed the ancient protocol where slaves and children, indeed all subordinate members of the household, were to serve the male head of the family. Jesus not only identified with the helpless and most vulnerable family members so that they may be helped, but also taught his closest disciples, the Twelve, to rid themselves of the usual hubris and power struggles for dominant positions, and serve even a child, a humiliating task in the minds of some.”[xxviii]

So, how do the words relate to today’s Gospel? … Eventually, Jesus’ dumb disciples delivered. They delivered the Good News of salvation by preaching Christ crucified and practicing his teachings. Like Jesus, they were delivered up for the sake of the Gospel. Although it took the Resurrection and Pentecost, the disciples delivered the Gospel and were delivered up because they followed the Risen Lord. Called out of Galilee into Jerusalem to witness his suffering, death and resurrection, on Pentecost the Holy Spirit impelled them to deliver the Good News of salvation.

Now that we unpacked each word’s definition and related them to the Gospel, we ask how my phrase relates to life today.

A few weeks ago, I attended the Global Leadership Summit. Apart from the barrage promoting speakers’ books and the Summit’s app, I took away one concept – Pastor Albert Tate’s dumb ideas.

Tate said you never know when God is going to put His hand on a dumb idea. For example: Before Pharaoh, Moses insisted upon freedom for his people. It’s a dumb idea for a fugitive to stand before the nation’s leader and insist upon freedom, but God put his hand on this dumb idea. Against Goliath, the shepherd boy David felled him with a slingshot. It’s a dumb idea to face a giant outfitted in armor and battle gear with only a strap of leather and a few smooth stones, but God put his hand on this dumb idea. Tate then reminded us that Jesus specialized in using dumb ideas.

Jesus' problem was disciples who tried to show him how to do things correctly. In Mark 6, we read that after Jesus taught the 5,000, his disciples said, “Send them away to go into the surrounding countryside and villages and buy themselves something to eat.” Then Jesus said something very dumb. “You give them something to eat.” They had five loaves and two fish. Then, without consulting his staff, Jesus commanded everyone to sit, took the loaves and fish, looked to heaven, said a blessing, and gave them to the disciples who set them before the people. All ate and were satisfied.

Like the disciples, we, with our worldly wisdom and street smarts, would have suggested a better plan. … So, how do I take Jesus’ command to welcome a child in his name? How do I fulfill his lesson to be last and servant of all? How do I apply his teaching regarding greatness in God’s kingdom? How do I dedicate myself as a dumb disciple and deliver the Good News of Christ crucified?

Folks, maybe you are a leader in your community, maybe you sway opinions or execute authority, maybe people count your vote and consult your voice. Maybe not. Being Christian is not so much about leadership, but discipleship. Be a dumb disciple of Christ Jesus and you will deliver the Good News through the actions you speak. Those actions feed the hungry, welcome the stranger, visit the sick and imprisoned. Welcome the unwelcome and unnoticed in Jesus’ name, and you welcome the one who sent Christ.

When you do, do not think highly about yourself, but pray Martin Luther’s prayer posted in many churches. Lord God, You have appointed me as a Bishop and Pastor in Your Church, but you see how unsuited I am to meet so great and difficult a task. If I had lacked Your help, I would have ruined everything long ago. Therefore, I call upon You: I wish to devote my mouth and my heart to you; I shall teach the people. I myself will learn and ponder diligently upon Your Word. Use me as Your instrument - but do not forsake me, for if ever I should be on my own, I would easily wreck it all. Amen.

Brothers and sisters, imitate Luther’s humility. Devote your heart to our Triune God so that he can use you as his instrument. In Jesus’ Holy Name, we pray. Amen.

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[i] Psalm 122

[ii] http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/dumb

[iii] Luke 1:8-23

[iv] http://www.etymonline.com/index.php?term=disciple

[v] http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/disciple

[vi] Mark 1:16-20

[vii] John 6:66-71

[viii] Mark 3:13-15

[ix] http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/deliver

[x] http://www.etymonline.com/index.php?term=deliver

[xi] Matthew 6:13

[xii] Eugene LaVerdiere, The Beginning of the Gospel: Introducing the Gospel According to Mark, Volume 2. Collegeville, MN: The Liturgical Press (1999), 54.

[xiii] Ben Witherington III, The Gospel of Mark: A Social-Rhetorical Commentary. Grand Rapids: William B. Eerdmans Publishing Company (2001), 268.

[xiv] Isaiah 52:13-53:12

[xv] LaVerdiere, 54.

[xvi] See Berean Literal Bible, Aramaic Bible in Plain English or American Standard Version for John’s arrest in Mark 1:14; and the Darby Bible Translation or Young’s Literal Translation regarding Judas Iscariot in Mark 3:19; 14:10-11.

[xvii] Rom 4:25; 8:32; Gal 1:14; 2:20; Eph 5:2, 25; 1 Tim 2:6; Tit 2:14

[xviii] Mk 13:9-13; Acts 8:3; 15:26; 21:11; 28:17; 2 Cor 4:11

[xix] Romans 8:32. See New American Standard Bible.

[xx] Acts 28:17

[xxi] Witherington, 269 (fn 39 Rightly Myers, Binding the Strong Man, p. 260).

[xxii] Witherington, 269. (fn 40. Painter, p. 137).

[xxiii] Mark 10:35-45

[xxiv] Lamar Williamson, Mark: Interpretation: A Bible Commentary for Teaching and Preaching. Atlanta: John Knox Press (1983), 170.

[xxv] LaVerdiere, 56.

[xxvi] Matthew 23:1-2

[xxvii] R. T. France, The Gospel of Mark: A Commentary on the Greek Text. Grand Rapids: William B. Eerdmans Publishing Company (2002), 374.

[xxviii] Witherington, 270.