Who do you think is great? If I was to ask this question of each of you there would be a completely different answer depending on what you think greatness actually means. If I was to ask it of a younger generation than would normally read this I would suggest that the answer I receive would be even more divergent and surprising than those of you who regularly read this blog. The reading from Mark's gospel is mirrored in other passages that refer to this same incident or a similar one in the life of the disciples and Christ (Mk. 10:35-45). For many the disciples requests would appear to be reasonable for the day and age as surely that is what greatness is about; being in positions of power and authority. But just as we spoke last week Christ reverses everything seeing it from a completely different perspective and suggests that greatness is not found in power and authority but in its reversal i.e. the poor and the lowly.
Over many years humanity in all its gloriousness has invested power and authority in those who are presumed to be great. Whether they be prime ministers, kings and queens or even bishops of the church and of course nowadays we presume to add to that power brokers who are rich and famous in some capacity or another. This is because we make an assumption that the best person to lead us are those who have what we imbue them with but more often than not those that we invest with power and authority. These are possibly the worst ones that we could ever place into such positions. We are taken in by their own hype and portrayal of who they are rather than listening to quieter voices that tell us other things. Most of those who we revere as having some form of authority, reminding ourselves that authority is only legitimate power, have either put themselves forward or been put forward by others with their own agendas. Just think here in terms of the premier or the prime minister or even the lowly parliamentarian. Even the bishop is there at the behest of an appointment process that more often then not is fraught with political ramifications and debate to get the "right" person. What we look for is not what God looks for because we are too often beguiled by the political communication of those who desperately want their candidate or their person in a place wielding authority so that their ends are met.
So what should we be looking for if not the political communications of those who seek power and authority to wield? Christ's condemnation of those who seek power and authority should make us stop and think about who we place in such positions. A discerning read of the passage would suggest that it is the total opposite of our expectations that we should look for. We normally appoint the person that wants the position and in any appointment process we undertake this is what we look for. For us it stands to reason that those that want the position must be the ones we select from just like any other job interview, simple really. What would happen if we actually select a person who does not put their hand up for the position? In other words we deliberately seek for someone who would not want the position and seek is the word as they would not really be on our radar for the position we want them to fill. Like taking the cleaner or clown and asking him to lead the local Council. To our minds this is ludicrous and not something we really want, a clown as the leader of a nation or company (sorry that has been done to death with Trump).
This is not quite the conception we want but rather to seek out the person who is conceivably the better person for the position. Have you ever been in a position when you know of someone who is right for the position but has not been shortlisted or offered the position? If you were to ask them if they wanted the job they probably would say no but circumstances dictate that they are the correct people. What is not required is someone who believes they know it all especially when it comes to ministry in the church. That is when God comes in the night and asks them the questions that Job got (Job 38:1-7) and like Job's friends they are unable to give a good answer unlike Job who knows his limits. I always have an issue when people categorically state they have a ministry especially when it is one that appears to suit their temperament because more often then not that is when you will have a failure. I am particularly reminded here of those videos you find that show a CEO dressed as a beggar to see the reaction of the applicant or employees. It shows the truth of a person rather than their portrayal at a rehearsed interview. This is what God wants, the true person who actuates God's love and humility and not the rehearsed behaviours that we think are appropriate but just lead to our own wants being fulfilled.
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