But being a bit cheap – the one thing that bothers me is the fact that the Vida e Café where they sell Vida e Coffee don't display their prices.
You feel a bit like – if you asked them to tell you the price, they would say:
"Well if you had to ask, you probably couldn't afford it."
Like when you see houses and cars advertised in the paper with the letters POA underneath.
Price
On
Application
In other words: "If you have to ask, you probably can't afford it."
Price On Application
In the passage from Mark just before the one we read today Jesus says to his disciples:
"If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross…"
Jesus clearly advertises the cost of following him.
And Mark writes a gospel for the church at a time when people are asking, "Is following Jesus really worth what it is costing us?"
In Corinthians Paul and Timothy say about their ministry:
"We are afflicted in every way, but not crushed; perplexed, but not driven to despair; persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed."
Why do Christians continue – even though the cost of following Jesus is so high? Why can Paul and Timothy say ther are afflicted, but not crushed, perplexed, but not depressed, persecuted, but not forsaken, struck down – but not destroyed.
Feeling the Cost
When Mark wrote his gospel the church was beginning understand what it meant when Jesus said 'take up your cross.'
Most citizens of Rome had to participate in the religions of the Roman Empire but Jews were exempted from these practices as long as they prayed for and made offerings on behalf of the emperor at the temple in Jerusalem.
At first, Christians were able to share in the same privileges.
But soon the Christian and Jewish movements became clearly separated, Christians rejected some of the details of Mosaic Law. Jews grew more horrified at what they saw as Christianity's blasphemous claims about Jesus being the Messiah – the Son of God.
Christians fell outside of Jewish protection and began to be regarded as a threat by the authorities…
In Acts 17:7 we read that in Thessalonica people stir up trouble for Paul and Silas by saying that they "say that there is another king, one called Jesus."
Romans wanted people to say: "Caesar is Lord!" but Christians said Jesus was.
Being a Christian became a bit like being a Sharks supporter in a Stormer's crowd, wearing a Freedom Front T-shirt at an ANC rally.
It marked you as an outsider.
The cost of following Jesus was becoming clear – and people began to ask: "Is it worth it?"
I am sure that many fell away.
* * *
What emerged was the need for a robust faith – they needed to know that Jesus was worth following.
Costly decisions have to be carefully thought through.
Mark's Argument
I think Mark writes down his gospel in answer to the question: Is Jesus worth following?
In his answer he includes three important strands of who Jesus is and plaits them together…
One strand: Jesus' wise teaching.
Another: Jesus' miraculous power.
Third: The witness of God to his authority. On two occasions God's voice proclaims: "This is my son."
Another: Jesus' miraculous power.
Third: The witness of God to his authority. On two occasions God's voice proclaims: "This is my son."
Wise teaching without the other two – power and authority – would make Jesus just another philosopher.
Miraculous power without the other two – wisdom and authority – would make Jesus just another fancy magician – just a great physician.
Authority – without the other two, power and wisdom – a lot of people claim to have a lot of authority.
* * *
But even with these three chords to his argument the picture remains incomplete…
The question: "Is he worth following?" remains unanswered.
* * *
Following him would be quite convenient – he has the power to heal and restore – he does stuff for us.
Following him would be enlightening; he has a philosophy of life that, as difficult as it is to follow, loving your neighbour is hard work, could change the world.
On top of that, following him would be the right thing to do – God's voice from heaven says: "This is my Son, whom I love. Listen to him!" – God commands it.
* * *
It would be right, enlightening and convenient (in some ways), but our humanity demands something more; especially when following is costly to us.
By grace, God gives us freedom – we were created with an independent spirit, an eagerness to test and evaluate, to decide for ourselves. God, in God's mercy opens himself to our judgment and speculation.
We are not forced to say "you are worthy to be followed."
But we are asked to decide if he is worth following.
And even with these three very convincing arguments, power, wisdom and authority the disciples will still only follow Jesus so far and no further.
Judas will betray.
Peter will deny.
The disciples will flee.
And we – well we will not really allow our religion to inconvenience us too much. We'll love the neighbours that we enjoy loving – pray when the mood takes us – and give away what we can really do without, but we'll never give away anything we think we need.
Transfiguration
So we read in Mark 9:2-7 an account of the transfiguration of Jesus.
Mark inserts the story of transfiguration here – at this point in his gospel as a climax.
On a mountain top, the appearance of Jesus is transformed before Peter, James and John. Hi clothes become dazzling white and with him appear Moses and Elijah.
Moses – leader and liberator – the name behind the first five books of the Bible. Israel's most influential leader ever. Powerful and wise and backed by God's authority.
Elijah the prophet – miracle worker – a symbol of God's voice speaking to humanity.
Jesus is at his most obviously powerful – he has the authority of the Law and the Prophets…
His clothes – whiter than any bleach could bleach them – his true identity as the Son of Man shining through.
* * *
No wonder Peter wants to set up some shelters.
I think he imagines this place as a new throne room for the Kingdom of God – the nations streaming in to hear the wise Judgment of Jesus, Elijah and Moses…
Wisdom, power and authority like no other. There would be no question…
* * *
But coming down the mountain, Jesus orders his disciples –
tell no one, until the Son of Man has risen from the dead.
And just before this passage:
"The Son of Man must undergo great suffering and be rejected… and killed, and after three days rise again."
The Cross
This climax of power, wisdom and authority are bracketed by news of the cross.
Jesus' wisdom, power and authority will only make sense once he has gone to the cross.
A fourth strand to Mark's witness to Jesus – a strand that ties wisdom, power and authority together. Only after the cross are we able to say in response to the question:
"Is he worth following?"
"Yes he is worthy."
Only after the cross are the disciples able to exercise their faith with integrity – even to death. Because Jesus is worth following.
To power, authority and wisdom Jesus has added love.
"No one has greater love than this, to lay down one's life for one's friends."
- John 15:13
Love that lays down it's life.
And we, with Timothy and Paul, who's decision to follow Jesus is costing them – they are afflicted, perplexed, depressed, persecuted, struck down…are able to say: "Yes – he is worthy."
He, Jesus is worth following.
And they will keep on following without being defeated.
* * *
The answer is not in Jesus' power, not his wisdom nor his authority – but in his love made real on the cross.
Lent
This is the last Sunday before the beginning of lent.
A time when Christians traditionally prepare themselves for Easter.
A chance to meditate on Jesus' road to the cross, his death – and finally - on Easter Sunday, his resurrection.
The early church would baptise new disciples on Easter Sunday and use the period of lent as preparation for their baptism.
* * *
I invite us to think about how we should renew our commitment to following Jesus this Lent and Easter.
Has our faith become too convenient?
Being a church goer is nice. We meet nice people, we hear interesting words preached, we sing and dance and its fun.
But are we willing to stretch ourselves a bit further.
To let our faith cost us something.
To take up a new challenge.
To follow Jesus when it is difficult.
To follow Jesus in a way that causes us to stop and say: "Is this really worth while?"
* * *
Perhaps that challenge is quite simple:
The challenge to pray more, to give more – to love more.
To be more helpful at home.
To read scripture.
To move out of our comfort zones.
To be sexually disciplined.
To learn to love people who are different to us.
All of these things.
Costly to us.
Maybe that would be the beginning.
The end might be a total change in direction an upset of our priorities as we give all of ourselves, our lives and our possessions over to God to serve him.
Has our faith become too difficult?
On the other hand – we might be at the point of giving up. Tired of the inconvenience of trying to follow Jesus. Tired of loving people with nothing in return. Tired of investing our lives into the work of the Kingdom with no visible return. Tired of saying no to people who ask us to do things that we know we shouldn't.
Then – at this time of Lent, as we reflect on Jesus road to the cross.
I pray that we will know his companionship – and though we are pressed, perplexed, persecuted, and struck down – we will know the joy – with Paul and Timothy of not being:
Crushed, depressed, abandoned or destroyed.
And always carry in our body, the death of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus may be revealed.
Then, I believe we will begin to see the Kingdom of God here in this place.
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