Our human pride gets in the way of our worshiping and serving the Lord
Preaching
Lectionary Preaching Workbook
Series V, Cycle B
Theme For The Day: Our human pride gets in the way of our worshiping and serving the Lord.
BRIEF COMMENTARY ON THE LESSONS
Lesson 1: Job 38:1--7 (34--41) (C)
The arguments of Job's four friends come to a conclusion and God himself answers from a whirlwind, a frequent setting for theophanies. God chides Job for his lack of wisdom and addresses him with a series of rhetorical questions. The entire chapter presents an argument from creation. Job was not present at the creation of the world; how can he dare to question the sovereign God?
Lesson 1: Isaiah 53:10--11 (RC); Isaiah 53:4--12 (E)
Lesson 2: Hebrews 5:1--10 (C)
The writer continues to demonstrate how the Christian religion is superior to the Jewish faith from which it sprang. In this lection, he presents Christ as our great high priest but one who is superior to the regularly appointed high priests. Jesus is appointed directly by God. Christ differs from the Jewish high priest who had to offer up sacrifice for his own sins, as well as the sins of others. Jesus was sinless, yet human in all respects, so he is able to empathize fully with us in our weaknesses and struggles. Many interpreters believe that verse 7, which states that Jesus offered up prayers "with loud cries and tears," is a reference to the Garden of Gethsemane experience. The prayers of Jesus were heard but he had to learn obedience through suffering. His obedience unto death made him perfect (telios--complete), so that he could be the source of eternal salvation for all who obey him.
Lesson 2: Hebrews 4:14--16 (RC); Hebrews 4:12--16 (E)
(See Proper 23)
Gospel: Mark 10:35--45 (C, RC, E)
James and John, who with Peter formed a sort of inner circle of disciples, ask Jesus for a favor. They request that, after Jesus wins his victory and is established in his kingdom, they might sit in the places of honor, one at his right hand and one at his left. The concept of a suffering messiah was still foreign to them; what Jesus was trying to communicate about his suffering and death had not sunk in. Though they may have possessed their share of pride, they still had great confidence in Jesus' ultimate victory; this in spite of the fact that the Lord had many enemies in high places. Jesus tells them that they are asking the wrong question. He asks them whether they think they can drink his cup and be baptized with his baptism. Drinking the cup is an expression that indicates the willingness to accept God's will. Being baptized with Jesus' baptism means to be submerged in Jesus' suffering and death. Jesus concludes that it is not his prerogative to grant this honor but that it goes to those for whom it has been prepared.
Psalm Of The Day
Psalm 104:1--9, 24, 35c (C) - "O Lord, how manifold are all your works!" (v. 24).
Psalm 91 (E)
Psalm 32 (RC)
Prayer Of The Day
Humble Lord Jesus, we so often let our pride get in the way of following you. Like James and John, we strive to put ourselves first, and seek the best positions for ourselves. Give us a spirit that strives only to follow you and to serve our neighbor. In your precious name. Amen.
THEOLOGICAL REFLECTION ON THE LESSONS
Lesson 1: Job 38:1--7 (34--41)
God answers Job's arrogance. Job claimed that he wanted to contend with God and put forth arguments against the Almighty. The Lord challenges Job to explain his creative power. He is but an arrogant and foolish man who cannot plumb the depths of God's Spirit.
God the architect and builder. This passage presents creation as God's plan, which was carefully planned and carried out by the architect and builder of the universe. Contrary to some in modern science, this world didn't just happen by chance. There is a grand design.
Lesson 2: Hebrews 5:1--10
Earthly and heavenly high priest. The writer contrasts the role of earthly high priest to that of Christ as the heavenly high priest. He points out that the high priest is not self--appointed. The earthly high priest was appointed by others. Christ was appointed high priest by the election of his Father. The earthly high priest offered sacrifices for his own sin and that of his countryman. Christ offered up not only fervent prayers (loud cries and tears, v. 7) but his whole life as a sacrifice to God. The earthly high priest conducted his sacrifices on earth. Jesus serves out his high priestly role in heaven (v. 10).
A priestly people (v. 5). This verse indirectly links Jesus' high priestly role with his baptism. The writer quotes Psalm 2:7, a coronation Psalm for a Hebrew king. This equates quite closely with the voice of God that was heard at Jesus' baptism. In baptism, Jesus was ordained into his high priestly role. In our baptism, we also are ordained as a priestly people, to offer prayers and supplications on behalf of the world.
Boot camp (v. 8). "Although he was a Son, he learned obedience through what he suffered." When a person enters the military, he must first go to boot camp. The method of teaching the new recruits to obey orders is to inflict on them pain and suffering. If even the Son had to learn obedience to God through such humiliation, why should we expect anything different for ourselves?
Source of salvation (v. 9). Through his suffering and sacrificial death, Jesus became the source of salvation for all time and for all people. His suffering, which he willingly accepted, made him perfect (complete) in his high priestly role.
Gospel: Mark 10:35--45
Political patronage (vv. 35--37). Political patronage has been around for a long time. Certain people help those seeking power and, in return, expect to receive favors. The former major of Chicago, Richard Daley Sr., was extremely deft at the art of political patronage. In our Gospel, James and John seek special favors of the Lord; they want to sit in the places of honor and power when Jesus comes into his kingdom glory. Some might marvel at their gall but when you look at it from their perspective, they were merely seeking payment for having left everything to follow Jesus. They hadn't learned that the kingdom was not a reward for faithful service or support but rather a gift of God.
Wisdom: knowing which questions to ask (v. 38). Jesus answered James and John that they didn't know what they were asking. My wife and I were talking to another pastor, whose son was studying for his doctorate in some aspect of history. My wife said something to the effect that he must have to learn a lot of names and dates. "No," replied the father, "they don't do that any more; they basically learn to raise the proper questions." Wisdom resides in knowing the right questions to ask, whether it's relating to God or to others. Jesus revealed to James and John that it wasn't proper to ask God for ego--enhancing favors.
Servant leadership (vv. 42--45). Jesus laid out for his disciples a new paradigm for leadership. They were not to follow the model imposed by the world, where leaders delighted to subject others to their authority in order to inflate their own ego. Jesus laid out a prototype of leadership in the kingdom that emphasized service rather than position and power. "Whoever would be great among you must be your servant" (v. 43).
SERMON APPROACHES WITH ILLUSTRATIONS
Lesson 1: Job 38:1--7 (34--41)
Sermon Title: Who's Calling The Plays?
Sermon Angle: Before Job's troubles, it seemed that he was calling the plays in the game of life and every play went for big yards. Then the tide suddenly turned and the opposite side ran all over him. He blamed God for his losing ways. The problem was that he didn't understand the game plan and had lost confidence in his coach. In today's lesson, God responds to Job's complaints by challenging Job to explain how the game of life should be played. "I will question you and you shall declare to me" (v. 3). In other words, when he could understand how to create the world, then he could question God.
Outline:
1. Many armchair quarterbacks like to call the coach into question.
2. When life is going well, we don't question God, because it seems like we are in control.
3. When the game of life is going poorly, we blame our losses on God, the coach. That's basically what Job did.
4. When you are doing things right and life still seems to be running over you, keep faith that it is only one part of God's game plan for victory.
Lesson 2: Hebrews 5:1--10
Sermon Title: God's Mercy For The Ignorant And The Weak
Sermon Angle: The sins for which sacrifices were offered were basically sins of ignorance and weakness (v. 2). The sacrifices did not claim to cover those who sinned wantonly or arrogantly, without remorse and repentance. On the cross, Jesus carried out his high priestly role by offering a prayer for mercy on behalf of those who were ignorant. On the other hand, Jesus was hard on those who knew God's law but wantonly disregarded it, such as the scribes and Pharisees. If God has mercy on us in our ignorance and weakness, so too we must have mercy on other ignorant and feeble sinners.
Outline:
1. The high priest only offered sacrifices for sins of ignorance and weakness, not open and flagrant rebellion (v. 2).
2. The rebel cannot receive God's forgiveness until he repents but the fool is already covered by the ministry of our high priest.
3. Christ's life was offered up to God as our source of salvation for all sins (v. 9).
4. As Christ forgives us for our foolish and flagrant sins, so must we forgive others.
Sermon Title: Spare The Rod, Spoil The Child
Sermon Angle: The saying encapsulated in the sermon title was popular many years ago, when children were expected to obey their elders. I am certainly not recommending physical beating but there's a truth here. Pain, symbolized by the rod, is one of the best teachers. If a child puts his hand in an open flame one time, it isn't likely that he will repeat it. Without suffering we would not learn our limits and other crucial lessons in life. Even Jesus learned obedience through his suffering (v. 8). Were God to spare us the rod of affliction, we would be the most weak and spoiled creatures imaginable.
Outline:
1. Pain, both physical and mental, is a tool to learn the important lessons in life.
2. Pain is part of the discipline (learning) process.
3. Jesus learned discipline through suffering (v. 8), like a soldier.
4. We must consider undeserved suffering a means of God's perfecting us.
Gospel: Mark 10:35--45
Sermon Title: How To Secure Your Future
Sermon Angle: Last week, the Gospel featured the rich man who fell at Jesus' feet, begging to know how to inherit eternal life. His earthly future was well feathered but he wanted to nail down eternity. "What must I do to inherit eternal life?" was the right question but the answer was unacceptable. He was unwilling to follow Jesus. In today's Gospel, James and John were looking out for their future. They asked that Jesus would accord them the chief places of honor. They were asking the wrong question but they were willing to follow Jesus. All three men should be commended for trying to plan ahead. We too need to give serious thought to our future. The decisions we make now will determine what that future will be.
Outline:
1. Many Americans do estate and retirement planning to secure their future.
2. Securing our future has more to do with spiritual investments than financial ones.
3. The rich man in last week's Gospel and James and John all wanted to secure their future. The latter two recognized that Jesus was their future.
4. We too need to plan for our future in God's kingdom by being a servant of Christ.
Sermon Title: What Do You Want Jesus To Do For You?
Sermon Angle: James and John asked that Jesus grant their request. "What do you want me to do for you?" he asked. Well, you know what they wanted. What do you want from Jesus? That's the question we need to put to ourselves and to our congregation. Do we want Jesus to make us rich and powerful? Do we want him to humiliate our foes? If so, we're asking the wrong things of Jesus. If, however, we want Jesus to make us more loving and forgiving and if we want him to grant us the strength to surmount our weaknesses, we are indeed making the right requests of Jesus.
Outline:
1. James and John petitioned for Jesus' favor (vv. 35--37).
2. They asked Jesus to do the wrong thing for them.
3. What are you seeking from Jesus? Is your desire purified of selfishness?
4. A sign of spiritual maturity is to make the right request of Jesus.
Sermon Title: How To Keep A Full Cup
Sermon Angle: I'm a coffee drinker; when I go to a restaurant I like a waitress who keeps my cup full. After James and John asked for their favor, Jesus asked them, "Are you able to drink the cup that I drink...?" (v. 38). This meant, are you willing to take whatever God gives you and drink the contents fully? Are you willing to pour your life out for the world, as I am about to do? They answered affirmatively, even though they didn't really know what they were saying. Our lives are like cups. God promises that if we pour them out, God will keep on filling them up. He calls it servant leadership. (This sermon could be illustrated with a large cup as a visual aid. Have a pitcher and a pan also. Pour water into the cup as you explain that we like to have our lives full to overflowing. Then take a baster (siphon) and show how various demands seem to siphon off the contents of our cup (life). Then show how, if we follow Jesus' concept of being a servant, as fast as we pour it out God pours it in. Tip the cup so that it flows into the pan but pour water into the cup from the pitcher at the same time.)
Outline:
1. We all want our lives to be full. (Demonstrate with the cup and pitcher.)
2. Life seems to siphon off the content of our cup. (Demonstrate.)
3. We attempt to keep our cup full by taking it from someone else's cup.
4. Jesus teaches that the more we pour out our lives as servants, the more God pours back in. (Demonstrate by pouring it into a pan containing other cups.)
__________
Brother Lawrence provides a treasured example of humble service, or servant leadership. He was a champion not of the grand way to God but the "little way"! For the last thirty years of his life, with his hands immersed in dishwater, he learned the discipline of prayer. Prayer itself is the link between all of life and the One who is life. And the "little way" is the path of those whose career is but an occupation and whose calling is knowing God.
God disappears when we insist on the limelight. No one is sent away empty from Christ except those who come to him full of themselves.
__________
The arrogant person sees himself better than others while the person with a humble heart sees others as better than herself. James and John were yet to learn the lesson on humility; that exercise Jesus would teach them through his death and resurrection. Humility is often inflicted through defeat but is exceptional when it follows a great triumph.
In 1994, Thurman Thomas, head bowed with his hands covering his face, sat on the Buffalo bench following his team's fourth straight Super Bowl loss. His three fumbles had helped seal the awful fate of his Buffalo Bills.
Suddenly, standing before him was the Dallas Cowboys' star running back, Emmitt Smith. Just named MVP for Super Bowl XXVIII, Smith was carrying his small goddaughter. Smith looked down at her and said, "I want you to meet the greatest running back in the NFL, Mr. Thurman Thomas."
BRIEF COMMENTARY ON THE LESSONS
Lesson 1: Job 38:1--7 (34--41) (C)
The arguments of Job's four friends come to a conclusion and God himself answers from a whirlwind, a frequent setting for theophanies. God chides Job for his lack of wisdom and addresses him with a series of rhetorical questions. The entire chapter presents an argument from creation. Job was not present at the creation of the world; how can he dare to question the sovereign God?
Lesson 1: Isaiah 53:10--11 (RC); Isaiah 53:4--12 (E)
Lesson 2: Hebrews 5:1--10 (C)
The writer continues to demonstrate how the Christian religion is superior to the Jewish faith from which it sprang. In this lection, he presents Christ as our great high priest but one who is superior to the regularly appointed high priests. Jesus is appointed directly by God. Christ differs from the Jewish high priest who had to offer up sacrifice for his own sins, as well as the sins of others. Jesus was sinless, yet human in all respects, so he is able to empathize fully with us in our weaknesses and struggles. Many interpreters believe that verse 7, which states that Jesus offered up prayers "with loud cries and tears," is a reference to the Garden of Gethsemane experience. The prayers of Jesus were heard but he had to learn obedience through suffering. His obedience unto death made him perfect (telios--complete), so that he could be the source of eternal salvation for all who obey him.
Lesson 2: Hebrews 4:14--16 (RC); Hebrews 4:12--16 (E)
(See Proper 23)
Gospel: Mark 10:35--45 (C, RC, E)
James and John, who with Peter formed a sort of inner circle of disciples, ask Jesus for a favor. They request that, after Jesus wins his victory and is established in his kingdom, they might sit in the places of honor, one at his right hand and one at his left. The concept of a suffering messiah was still foreign to them; what Jesus was trying to communicate about his suffering and death had not sunk in. Though they may have possessed their share of pride, they still had great confidence in Jesus' ultimate victory; this in spite of the fact that the Lord had many enemies in high places. Jesus tells them that they are asking the wrong question. He asks them whether they think they can drink his cup and be baptized with his baptism. Drinking the cup is an expression that indicates the willingness to accept God's will. Being baptized with Jesus' baptism means to be submerged in Jesus' suffering and death. Jesus concludes that it is not his prerogative to grant this honor but that it goes to those for whom it has been prepared.
Psalm Of The Day
Psalm 104:1--9, 24, 35c (C) - "O Lord, how manifold are all your works!" (v. 24).
Psalm 91 (E)
Psalm 32 (RC)
Prayer Of The Day
Humble Lord Jesus, we so often let our pride get in the way of following you. Like James and John, we strive to put ourselves first, and seek the best positions for ourselves. Give us a spirit that strives only to follow you and to serve our neighbor. In your precious name. Amen.
THEOLOGICAL REFLECTION ON THE LESSONS
Lesson 1: Job 38:1--7 (34--41)
God answers Job's arrogance. Job claimed that he wanted to contend with God and put forth arguments against the Almighty. The Lord challenges Job to explain his creative power. He is but an arrogant and foolish man who cannot plumb the depths of God's Spirit.
God the architect and builder. This passage presents creation as God's plan, which was carefully planned and carried out by the architect and builder of the universe. Contrary to some in modern science, this world didn't just happen by chance. There is a grand design.
Lesson 2: Hebrews 5:1--10
Earthly and heavenly high priest. The writer contrasts the role of earthly high priest to that of Christ as the heavenly high priest. He points out that the high priest is not self--appointed. The earthly high priest was appointed by others. Christ was appointed high priest by the election of his Father. The earthly high priest offered sacrifices for his own sin and that of his countryman. Christ offered up not only fervent prayers (loud cries and tears, v. 7) but his whole life as a sacrifice to God. The earthly high priest conducted his sacrifices on earth. Jesus serves out his high priestly role in heaven (v. 10).
A priestly people (v. 5). This verse indirectly links Jesus' high priestly role with his baptism. The writer quotes Psalm 2:7, a coronation Psalm for a Hebrew king. This equates quite closely with the voice of God that was heard at Jesus' baptism. In baptism, Jesus was ordained into his high priestly role. In our baptism, we also are ordained as a priestly people, to offer prayers and supplications on behalf of the world.
Boot camp (v. 8). "Although he was a Son, he learned obedience through what he suffered." When a person enters the military, he must first go to boot camp. The method of teaching the new recruits to obey orders is to inflict on them pain and suffering. If even the Son had to learn obedience to God through such humiliation, why should we expect anything different for ourselves?
Source of salvation (v. 9). Through his suffering and sacrificial death, Jesus became the source of salvation for all time and for all people. His suffering, which he willingly accepted, made him perfect (complete) in his high priestly role.
Gospel: Mark 10:35--45
Political patronage (vv. 35--37). Political patronage has been around for a long time. Certain people help those seeking power and, in return, expect to receive favors. The former major of Chicago, Richard Daley Sr., was extremely deft at the art of political patronage. In our Gospel, James and John seek special favors of the Lord; they want to sit in the places of honor and power when Jesus comes into his kingdom glory. Some might marvel at their gall but when you look at it from their perspective, they were merely seeking payment for having left everything to follow Jesus. They hadn't learned that the kingdom was not a reward for faithful service or support but rather a gift of God.
Wisdom: knowing which questions to ask (v. 38). Jesus answered James and John that they didn't know what they were asking. My wife and I were talking to another pastor, whose son was studying for his doctorate in some aspect of history. My wife said something to the effect that he must have to learn a lot of names and dates. "No," replied the father, "they don't do that any more; they basically learn to raise the proper questions." Wisdom resides in knowing the right questions to ask, whether it's relating to God or to others. Jesus revealed to James and John that it wasn't proper to ask God for ego--enhancing favors.
Servant leadership (vv. 42--45). Jesus laid out for his disciples a new paradigm for leadership. They were not to follow the model imposed by the world, where leaders delighted to subject others to their authority in order to inflate their own ego. Jesus laid out a prototype of leadership in the kingdom that emphasized service rather than position and power. "Whoever would be great among you must be your servant" (v. 43).
SERMON APPROACHES WITH ILLUSTRATIONS
Lesson 1: Job 38:1--7 (34--41)
Sermon Title: Who's Calling The Plays?
Sermon Angle: Before Job's troubles, it seemed that he was calling the plays in the game of life and every play went for big yards. Then the tide suddenly turned and the opposite side ran all over him. He blamed God for his losing ways. The problem was that he didn't understand the game plan and had lost confidence in his coach. In today's lesson, God responds to Job's complaints by challenging Job to explain how the game of life should be played. "I will question you and you shall declare to me" (v. 3). In other words, when he could understand how to create the world, then he could question God.
Outline:
1. Many armchair quarterbacks like to call the coach into question.
2. When life is going well, we don't question God, because it seems like we are in control.
3. When the game of life is going poorly, we blame our losses on God, the coach. That's basically what Job did.
4. When you are doing things right and life still seems to be running over you, keep faith that it is only one part of God's game plan for victory.
Lesson 2: Hebrews 5:1--10
Sermon Title: God's Mercy For The Ignorant And The Weak
Sermon Angle: The sins for which sacrifices were offered were basically sins of ignorance and weakness (v. 2). The sacrifices did not claim to cover those who sinned wantonly or arrogantly, without remorse and repentance. On the cross, Jesus carried out his high priestly role by offering a prayer for mercy on behalf of those who were ignorant. On the other hand, Jesus was hard on those who knew God's law but wantonly disregarded it, such as the scribes and Pharisees. If God has mercy on us in our ignorance and weakness, so too we must have mercy on other ignorant and feeble sinners.
Outline:
1. The high priest only offered sacrifices for sins of ignorance and weakness, not open and flagrant rebellion (v. 2).
2. The rebel cannot receive God's forgiveness until he repents but the fool is already covered by the ministry of our high priest.
3. Christ's life was offered up to God as our source of salvation for all sins (v. 9).
4. As Christ forgives us for our foolish and flagrant sins, so must we forgive others.
Sermon Title: Spare The Rod, Spoil The Child
Sermon Angle: The saying encapsulated in the sermon title was popular many years ago, when children were expected to obey their elders. I am certainly not recommending physical beating but there's a truth here. Pain, symbolized by the rod, is one of the best teachers. If a child puts his hand in an open flame one time, it isn't likely that he will repeat it. Without suffering we would not learn our limits and other crucial lessons in life. Even Jesus learned obedience through his suffering (v. 8). Were God to spare us the rod of affliction, we would be the most weak and spoiled creatures imaginable.
Outline:
1. Pain, both physical and mental, is a tool to learn the important lessons in life.
2. Pain is part of the discipline (learning) process.
3. Jesus learned discipline through suffering (v. 8), like a soldier.
4. We must consider undeserved suffering a means of God's perfecting us.
Gospel: Mark 10:35--45
Sermon Title: How To Secure Your Future
Sermon Angle: Last week, the Gospel featured the rich man who fell at Jesus' feet, begging to know how to inherit eternal life. His earthly future was well feathered but he wanted to nail down eternity. "What must I do to inherit eternal life?" was the right question but the answer was unacceptable. He was unwilling to follow Jesus. In today's Gospel, James and John were looking out for their future. They asked that Jesus would accord them the chief places of honor. They were asking the wrong question but they were willing to follow Jesus. All three men should be commended for trying to plan ahead. We too need to give serious thought to our future. The decisions we make now will determine what that future will be.
Outline:
1. Many Americans do estate and retirement planning to secure their future.
2. Securing our future has more to do with spiritual investments than financial ones.
3. The rich man in last week's Gospel and James and John all wanted to secure their future. The latter two recognized that Jesus was their future.
4. We too need to plan for our future in God's kingdom by being a servant of Christ.
Sermon Title: What Do You Want Jesus To Do For You?
Sermon Angle: James and John asked that Jesus grant their request. "What do you want me to do for you?" he asked. Well, you know what they wanted. What do you want from Jesus? That's the question we need to put to ourselves and to our congregation. Do we want Jesus to make us rich and powerful? Do we want him to humiliate our foes? If so, we're asking the wrong things of Jesus. If, however, we want Jesus to make us more loving and forgiving and if we want him to grant us the strength to surmount our weaknesses, we are indeed making the right requests of Jesus.
Outline:
1. James and John petitioned for Jesus' favor (vv. 35--37).
2. They asked Jesus to do the wrong thing for them.
3. What are you seeking from Jesus? Is your desire purified of selfishness?
4. A sign of spiritual maturity is to make the right request of Jesus.
Sermon Title: How To Keep A Full Cup
Sermon Angle: I'm a coffee drinker; when I go to a restaurant I like a waitress who keeps my cup full. After James and John asked for their favor, Jesus asked them, "Are you able to drink the cup that I drink...?" (v. 38). This meant, are you willing to take whatever God gives you and drink the contents fully? Are you willing to pour your life out for the world, as I am about to do? They answered affirmatively, even though they didn't really know what they were saying. Our lives are like cups. God promises that if we pour them out, God will keep on filling them up. He calls it servant leadership. (This sermon could be illustrated with a large cup as a visual aid. Have a pitcher and a pan also. Pour water into the cup as you explain that we like to have our lives full to overflowing. Then take a baster (siphon) and show how various demands seem to siphon off the contents of our cup (life). Then show how, if we follow Jesus' concept of being a servant, as fast as we pour it out God pours it in. Tip the cup so that it flows into the pan but pour water into the cup from the pitcher at the same time.)
Outline:
1. We all want our lives to be full. (Demonstrate with the cup and pitcher.)
2. Life seems to siphon off the content of our cup. (Demonstrate.)
3. We attempt to keep our cup full by taking it from someone else's cup.
4. Jesus teaches that the more we pour out our lives as servants, the more God pours back in. (Demonstrate by pouring it into a pan containing other cups.)
__________
Brother Lawrence provides a treasured example of humble service, or servant leadership. He was a champion not of the grand way to God but the "little way"! For the last thirty years of his life, with his hands immersed in dishwater, he learned the discipline of prayer. Prayer itself is the link between all of life and the One who is life. And the "little way" is the path of those whose career is but an occupation and whose calling is knowing God.
God disappears when we insist on the limelight. No one is sent away empty from Christ except those who come to him full of themselves.
__________
The arrogant person sees himself better than others while the person with a humble heart sees others as better than herself. James and John were yet to learn the lesson on humility; that exercise Jesus would teach them through his death and resurrection. Humility is often inflicted through defeat but is exceptional when it follows a great triumph.
In 1994, Thurman Thomas, head bowed with his hands covering his face, sat on the Buffalo bench following his team's fourth straight Super Bowl loss. His three fumbles had helped seal the awful fate of his Buffalo Bills.
Suddenly, standing before him was the Dallas Cowboys' star running back, Emmitt Smith. Just named MVP for Super Bowl XXVIII, Smith was carrying his small goddaughter. Smith looked down at her and said, "I want you to meet the greatest running back in the NFL, Mr. Thurman Thomas."
