Sunday 19th April 2015

Today, our Vicar, Cameron Barker, preaches. We look at Mark's Gospel.

“The Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many”.

It is quite a way to begin any new series, I realise; but this time it’s the only way to do it, I think. And, if you learn nothing else about Mark’s Gospel – though I very much hope that you will do, of course – make this it. Here is the truth that was central to what Mark lived, taught, and wanted all people to come to believe, as he had done: that “The Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many”. And then prepare for your life never to be same ever again; as it wasn’t for these 2 pairs of brothers!

Actually there’s one other key thing to learn about Mark at the start. So, rather than having any lighter interlude next, we’re going to do that learning; in a very Mark-like way: by taking action! Mark was a man of action; who told an action-filled story; in action-packed ways; and he expected his readers to take action as a result of what they read. So our action now is to learn his central statement as a memory verse for this whole series. Learn it well, because we will say it several more times along the way today; and likely often in weeks ahead too. So: “The Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve and to give his life as a ransom for many” (Mark 10:45).

Now in some ways it’s entirely ‘coincidental’ that this should be how we begin a new series just 2 weeks after Easter. It has rightly been said (of all 4 Gospels, in fact) that, if boiled down they are essentially the Passion story with an introduction. The books that we call Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John were written above all to tell the story of who Jesus is; and what he did. And at the very heart, of all of them, were the events of that last week of Jesus’ ‘normal’ life. Nothing of what Jesus said or did in the 3 years before that makes sense – unless we understand what happened in Jerusalem, and why it did in that Passion week. You see: “The Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many’. And it’s that fact which is the eternal game-changer that each Christian must then work, and live, out.

The story of Jesus is told in its rawest, and most urgent, form by Mark. Since the early 19^th Century scholars have believed that’s because Mark was the first Gospel written. In terms of New Testament writings, some of Paul’s letters pre-date it, very likely; but by the mid-60’s AD the story of what Jesus himself said and did was itself written down; and this is it. Nowhere in this book do we read who did that actual writing, though. From before the end of the 1^st Century AD, though, tradition said that it was John Mark, who appears in Acts. Tradition also said right from the start that Mark was writing down the eye-witness account of Simon-Peter; the 1^st fisherman in today’s encounter. And to round off that tradition, Mark was said to have written this in Rome; primarily with a Roman (i.e. a non-Jewish) audience in mind.

That’s all important information to keep at the back of our minds between now and the Summer. As with any Bible book, our learning of how to follow Jesus today must be shaped by the message that was intended for its original readers. We might be tempted to think that doesn’t apply so much to stories about what Jesus did and said, but it still does. The gospel writers very much had a purpose in mind when they chose what to put in, or leave out of their accounts; and that impacts our learning. So we do need to know from the outset that Mark was a man of action; who wanted people to take action as they follow Jesus: because that now means us!

Again it’s ‘coincidental’ that we should be studying Mark this time round. As we’ve said before, the Anglican Lectionary runs in a 3-year cycle; and this just ‘happens’ to be the Year of Mark. (Matthew and Luke also get their own year, while John’s Gospel is spread across all three). However the preachers’ group was very clear that what we need at this stage of our parish life is to go back – yes, again! – to the story of Jesus. As our parish Aim says, he must always be at the centre of all that we learn and do here. Unless Jesus is at the centre of our own lives we can’t hope to bring him to the heart of this community (or of anything else, for that matter). And the only way to keep Jesus at the centre is to come back time and again to what he said and did; and to ask ourselves as we do so what action that demands we take in the present.

Action is very much order of the Parish of Herne Hill day at the moment too. The key outcome of the Discovery programme that we worked through over the course of 2 years or so was the setting up of a community action steering group. Those who have been around through the last year in particular have already seen a full range of practical outputs from that group. Its next exciting venture is being officially launched today; and, once again it includes a call to action, for people to be part of it. In common with all the other ventures, it depends on participation – at whatever level you’re able to do that. So listen out for what our own Mark (Hughes) has to say about that later in the service; and do choose to do so in the context of this series’ call to take action.

Now this particular community action may not be the right one for you to be involved with, of course. There have been, there are, and there will be, many more, though. So, we are now in the process of reviewing the youth and children programmes that we helped put on in Milkwood Community Park during the Easter holiday. The plan is to run a much bigger programme this Summer. That may be where you want to focus your own action (if so, contact Sharon Crooks). And there’s more: there are conversations going on about how best to contribute to the future of Carnegie Library too, to name but one other. (Andrew Makower is taking the lead on that). And the aim of all of these ventures is to take action to be God’s blessing to this community – because we are people who have this Jesus at the centre of our lives.

There is so much about Jesus that we can learn, or maybe even re-learn, as we follow him through Mark’s story for the next 3 months. I won’t try and preview that today, then – other than to say that we won’t even get through the pre-Passion introduction. That’s partly why I began as I did; because unless we go into this series remembering the direction and purpose of Mark’s whole book, then we might go astray. “The Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many”, remember. Jesus never lost sight of that purpose; from start to finish. Everything that he did and said was working it out in practical ways in the lives of real people. If we want to take the right, Godly action then we will also need to base it on the same Godly purpose that Jesus did.

So, then – briefly – to the start of the story that we’ve heard today. I’m sure that you’ll have worked out how Mark didn’t bother with any extras as all. There is no birth story; just straight in there: “This is about Jesus, the Son of God”! In a mere 13 verses Mark then covered: the Old Testament prophecy; the life and ministry of John the Baptist; Jesus’ baptism and temptation; and then it’s here we go, with the main event. Note how there was a trigger for that, though. It was when John was arrested that Jesus moved. And the lesson, for all of us, here is that we need to look out for God’s trigger. It will likely be something different for each of us; but it will be real; and it will demand that we take Godly action; so look out for it: today; and throughout this series; and do respond to it.

“The time has come,” (Jesus) said. “The kingdom of God has come near. Repent and believe the good news!” It may only be a summary of his message; but note how right away Jesus demanded action from his hearers in Mark. We’ve frequently explained here before what repentance is, and how it works. The headline summary then is that it’s both a turning away from, and a turning to. Today’s story at least hints that sometimes repentance may even be turning to something better, more Godly than we are currently doing. There isn’t time to explore that now, much less the exact nature of the good news that Jesus declared. That will become very clear in the weeks to come, though; and so will the disciples’ part in living and sharing it – but here’s where it all starts.

It’s so action-packed that it’s easy to miss the implications of this. Jesus said “Come”, to each pair of fishermen brothers – and they did; without hesitation or question, it appears. But let’s push the pause button briefly now; and resolve to think it through more fully later. What did they have to leave behind, to follow Jesus? Their homes; their families; their communities; their jobs; and what did that leave? Nothing other than him, pretty much. These first disciples followed Jesus into an uncertain, undefined future – because they believed this amazing good news about the arrival of Kingdom of God in the person of Jesus. How challenging is that for us to hear – let alone even to consider doing the same ourselves today?

In his “For Everyone” series commentary, Tom Wright says that Mark is written: “In a way that is meant to grab you by the collar; and make you face the truth about Jesus, about God, and about yourself”. Consider yourself grabbed by the collar today, then; and do be bold enough to come back next week for the next instalment of this necessary truth-facing venture. But don’t be under any illusion as to what’s involved in doing so. We are to be ready for God’s trigger to action; and to obey it when we recognise it. That action is following Jesus though serving God’s world for the sake of his kingdom. It may well be costly for us, as it was for the disciples. It was so much more for Jesus, remember – but: “The Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many”. So now let’s pray for the grace, strength and courage to follow him – wherever he may lead us …