Gifts and Humility and Forgiveness

The Readings

The Epistle

Hebrews 5:1-10


Every high priest chosen from among mortals is put in charge of things pertaining to God on their behalf, to offer gifts and sacrifices for sins. He is able to deal gently with the ignorant and wayward, since he himself is subject to weakness; and because of this he must offer sacrifice for his own sins as well as for those of the people. And one does not presume to take this honor, but takes it only when called by God, just as Aaron was.

So also Christ did not glorify himself in becoming a high priest, but was appointed by the one who said to him,

“You are my Son,
today I have begotten you”;

as he says also in another place,

“You are a priest forever,
according to the order of Melchizedek.”

In the days of his flesh, Jesus offered up prayers and supplications, with loud cries and tears, to the one who was able to save him from death, and he was heard because of his reverent submission. Although he was a Son, he learned obedience through what he suffered; and having been made perfect, he became the source of eternal salvation for all who obey him, having been designated by God a high priest according to the order of Melchizedek.

The Gospel

Mark 10:35-45


James and John, the sons of Zebedee, came forward to Jesus and said to him, “Teacher, we want you to do for us whatever we ask of you.” And he said to them, “What is it you want me to do for you?” And they said to him, “Grant us to sit, one at your right hand and one at your left, in your glory.” But Jesus said to them, “You do not know what you are asking. Are you able to drink the cup that I drink, or be baptized with the baptism that I am baptized with?” They replied, “We are able.” Then Jesus said to them, “The cup that I drink you will drink; and with the baptism with which I am baptized, you will be baptized; but to sit at my right hand or at my left is not mine to grant, but it is for those for whom it has been prepared.”

When the ten heard this, they began to be angry with James and John. So Jesus called them and said to them, “You know that among the Gentiles those whom they recognize as their rulers lord it over them, and their great ones are tyrants over them. But it is not so among you; but whoever wishes to become great among you must be your servant, and whoever wishes to be first among you must be slave of all. For the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life a ransom for many.”

The Sermon

Lets look briefly at this reading from Hebrew's. The writer of Hebrews refers to Jesus as a high priest and he is the source of eternal salvation. What is also mentioned is that Jesus is a high priest according to the order of Melchizedek. So, who was Melchizedek? He was the king of Salem (Jerusalem). Salem also means righteousness or peace. So Melchizedek is the king of peace. After a battle Abram is ministered to by Melchizedek and Abram is so grateful that he gives Melchizedek a tenth of what he owns.

In the gospel reading James and John the sons of Zebedee are looking for a reward as well. After all, they have been followers of Jesus from the beginning. So, they came before Jesus and said 'pick me...pick me' even though n last weeks reading Jesus told his disciples “many who are first will be last, and the last will be first.” All through his ministry Jesus had preached the importance of humility. He talked about people who do religious acts so that they may be seen. He reminded his followers that those types of people have already received their reward.

But, lets not talk about rewards. That is not the purpose of Christianity. We should do acts of kindness out of our love for each other and not because we expect something in return. I was watching the news the other night and there was a segment on hurricane Florence. The camera showed a scene of a man wading through water carrying an elderly lady, someone he didn't know. He was not doing it because he was about to be on the nightly news and become famous. I doubt he was doing it because it would allow him to climb one rung higher on the ladder to heaven. No, he was doing it because this person needed him and he could help. It was a simple act of kindness that came from his heart. Jesus spent most of his ministry preaching about the importance of loving each other and doing acts of mercy for the right reasons. He took this belief to the cross. As he was hanging there suffering on the cross, nearing death, he did not curse those who were responsible for putting him there. He said these dying words, “Forgive them Father for they know not what they do.”

All through Jesus' ministry he talked about forgiveness of sin. Not once in the gospel do we hear about Jesus requiring his followers to sacrifice a cow, a sheep or anything else for their sins. He simply told people their sins were forgiven and to sin no more.

God's forgiveness is still there for us today. We all have sinned. We all have done things in our lives that we deeply regretted. God loves us just the same and he shows us that love by forgiving us when we are contrite and ask his forgiveness.