16th Sunday after Pentecost (Mark 8: 27-38)  09/16/2012

Listen to an audio recording <select here>

Earlier this week I received my monthly college alumni magazine. I always enjoy getting caught up on the latest news about my classmates and this month I was also reminded that this year will be the 25^th reunion of my college graduation; a time to remember and celebrate a milestone of hard work, an accomplishment of four years of learning. I remember four years of college was followed by another year of specialized training and then I finally arrived at my first ship. As I walked aboard the submarine I was welcomed by one of the ship’s Chief Petty Officers; he said, “Welcome to the real Navy, Mr. Perkins.” The “real” Navy, what was that supposed to mean? I replied, “I have been in the Navy for more than five years, Chief.” Unimpressed, this experienced sailor told me to keep my eyes and ears open, listen to the Chief Petty Officers and I would eventually learn about being a Navy sailor. A few years later, as I was preparing to leave the Navy and join the business world, I thought business school would be a wise decision, a way to better understand the new world I was about to enter. Business classes were very helpful in my preparation to embark on my new career, but remembering the experienced sailor’s advice, I wondered if the information I learned in the classroom would be enough? In a recent news article written by a business leader and author, that same question is considered: can the classroom provide students everything they need to know about the world of business? The author presents the advantages of classroom instruction combined with practical training in the field and asks the reader to consider this thought: “Whatever led us to imagine that classroom teaching alone was a smart way to teach anything practical, like law or business?”[i] The article holds up the medical teaching hospital as the ideal and praises the model of teaching students “where their subject is taking place in front of their eyes.”[ii] An interesting question: “Whatever led us to imagine that classroom teaching alone was a smart way to teach anything practical, like law or business”…or being a follower of Jesus?

As we hear in the Gospel this morning, Jesus appears to be in agreement with the hands-on approach to learning. Our Gospel lesson is nearly the midpoint of Mark’s Gospel account. The first half of the Gospel has been dominated by miraculous acts and teachings of Jesus. The twelve disciples were called by Jesus early in the Gospel story and have had a front row seat in watching all that Jesus has done. However, their active participation has been limited (sent out in twos on one brief mission of healing and teaching in Chapter 6 of Mark’s Gospel account). Jesus has faithfully taught his followers, increasing their understanding of God’s love for them and the meaning of Jesus’ ministry among them. Our lesson this morning is a significant turning point; the story is the point where the student’s knowledge is put to the test. Jesus asked his disciples, “Who do people say that I am?”…and more importantly, “But who do you say that I am?” (Mark 8:27, 29) Peter, the student always prepared with an answer, responded by saying, “You are the Messiah.” (Mark 8:29) The Messiah, meaning the Anointed One, the one who was to restore God’s people, but Peter did not really understand…and Jesus set the record straight. Restoration of God’s people will not be done without resistance. Restoration of God’s people will not be done without personal involvement and sacrifice. Restoration of God’s people will not be done without the followers of Jesus experiencing the same joys and challenges that Jesus has experienced. “But who do you say that I am?” is a question that changes everything: the question points to the truth that following Jesus must go beyond an intellectual yearning and become a living reality of intimate and personal witness to the work of Christ in the world.

Last Sunday we heard a story of a desperate woman (a Gentile woman, an outsider); this woman asked Jesus to heal her daughter. In the story the disciples watched Jesus as the desperate woman pleaded with him for the sake of her daughter. Now, Jesus is asking his followers to stand in his place and look into her desperate eyes for themselves. Throughout the first half of the Gospel story, Jesus has given knowledge to his disciples through miraculous acts of mercy and insightful lessons of God’s love for his children, but now is the time for their transformation. As the second half of the Gospel story begins, Jesus challenges his disciples to walk with him in a different way; to follow him and experience the deep needs of this woman and others who cry out in need. The disciples have seen and heard many, many miraculous and wonderful things, but now Jesus is preparing them for something more, and that something more is their participation in the love and restoration of God’s children. Walk with me and I will teach you, says Jesus. Follow me in to the world, experience all that I have given and all that I have suffered, and I will call you my own, says Jesus. “Welcome to the real heavenly kingdom of God.”

“Welcome to the real Navy, Mr. Perkins.” I listened to that experienced Chief Petty Officer and he was right; more than five years of education had prepared me to join the Fleet, but my transformation to an experienced Navy sailor happened at sea. This morning we begin our new program year of Christian education for people of all ages. And every time we gather in this worship space, we hear Holy Scripture and we learn of the wonders and love of God. But knowledge alone is not enough. “Whatever led us to imagine that classroom teaching alone was a smart way to teach anything practical, like law or business”…or being a follower of Jesus? If we do not leave this place and take up Jesus’ challenge to follow him, we live a life that wrongly assumes that knowledge of God is enough for us. Knowledge will prepare us for the things that God calls us to do, but only participation will move us from preparation to practitioner; from student to disciple; from casual observer to committed follower of Christ. I pray that you will consider one of the many wonderful opportunities to become involved here at St. John’s Church or please consider something that nourishes your soul and brings you close to others in need. We are called to follow Christ beyond the classroom because that is where we will find the greatest needs of this world and that is where we will be transformed as Christ’s own forever.

AMEN.