Then He said to them in His teaching, ‘Beware of the scribes, who desire to go around in long robes, love greetings in the marketplaces, the best seats in the synagogues, and the best places at feasts, who devour widows’ houses, and for a pretense make long prayers. These will receive greater condemnation.’ Now Jesus sat opposite the treasury and saw how the people put money into the treasury. And many who were rich put in much. Then one poor widow came and threw in two mites, which make a quadrans. So He called His disciples to Himself and said to them, ‘Assuredly, I say to you that this poor widow has put in more than all those who have given to the treasury; for they all put in out of their abundance, but she out of her poverty put in all that she had, her whole livelihood.’

God doesn’t need us to be God’s venture capitalist. Maybe that’s so obvious as to be comical. On the other hand, some may see their acts of charity as crucial in the grand scheme of things. The rich might go so far as to publicly deride the generosity of the poor for their inability to do much financial good with their meager donations. That contrast is the point of this lesson.

More than just a philosophical mind-game, this story reminds me of an experience I had in seminary. In 2015, one of my required classes was an immersion trip and I chose to go to Mexico. We didn’t go to “luxury vacation” Mexico. We went to very poor cities, that had a mixture of dirt roads and paved. There were modest, but nice, houses not far from houses cobbled together with plywood. This trip changed my outlook on many things. I also met some of the most gracious, and generous people along the way. I received the kind of generosity that Jesus is talking about in this text.

Poverty and Faith

With each person we visited, I heard about the work my hosts did, or used to do. We shared many meals, and we heard many stories of hardship. Some themes came up over and over. Embedded in the stories of hardship were the proclamations of their faith. Many of those in poverty were doing something to help those poorer than themselves. The sharing of the meal itself was an experience of receiving abundant generosity.

We were told by our tour leaders that most people we would visit can’t afford to buy meat regularly. This would be something they would only do for a special occasion. Our visit was a special occasion. We ate knowing this meal was a luxury. I’ve eaten much fancier meals that didn’t fill me with as much gratitude. Meals were a gift and they were given with a kind of welcome and hospitality that I found everywhere in Mexico.

Stories of Hardship

We heard stories. We heard from farmers who can’t compete with American corporations. These corporations create a monopoly by flooding the market with low-priced produce. As it turns out, our anti-monopoly laws don’t apply in Mexico. Then farmers are offered pennies on the dollar to sell their coffee beans to American distributors. We heard stories of farmers who can’t feed their children.

We heard stories from people who worked in local non-profits. They were teaching people marketable skills. Some of these were displaced people, some were former farmers, some were women, all were unable to make a living wage. These stories impacted me. I started to buy direct-trade coffee through a Mexican farmer’s co-op.

We heard stories of people who were “getting in line” to immigrate to America the way immigrants from other countries do. After paying hundreds of dollars they find there is no line for Mexicans who don’t have money, or a job already lined up. Instead of finding this out in a straightforward way, they pay money every year to not lose their place in a line where they will likely never advance.

We worked alongside the non-profit that received people who were newly deported. Some of these recently deported people had their belongings stolen by the private prison or the border agents. There were people who had been intentionally separated from their family, who were simultaneously being deported miles away. Some of these people weren’t Mexican, didn’t speak Spanish, had no money and no way to contact their family. This non-profit worked daily to help people reconnect with family, translate when necessary, and advise people on how to get home.

Beyond Partisan Politics

This was in 2015. To me, these stories aren’t about partisan politics, they’re about people. Yet, our politics, our monopolizing capitalism in their country, our criminalization of a people group who are trying to survive, are oppressive. Their poverty is in part due to our trade practices. They’re not taking our jobs as much as our corporations are taking their jobs.

The most memorable part of this trip was the hospitality, the laughter, the tears, and sharing meals with people. These meals were delicious, but they were expensive to those who provided them. Yet, the meals were offered generously without any hesitation.

Generosity of the Widow

Bringing this back to our text, the widows of that day were also in poverty. They should have been cared for, instead they were left to beg or fend for themselves. They were probably economic victims of the money lenders that Jesus so memorably drove out of the temple. Once again we see that God is a defender of the poor.

Jesus is pointing out that although this widow has nothing, she’s still giving, and it’s a more meaningful sacrifice. He’s lifting up this act, but it’s also an indictment on a society that doesn’t care for those in need.

We should care for everyone without regard for race, social status, or imaginary lines drawn in the dirt. This woman represents one of the “least” of their society. The people of Central America represent one of the “least” from the perspective of our society. Jesus tells us that whatever we do for the “least” of his brothers, we’ve done it to him.

How will you respond?

One of the scribes came near and heard them disputing with one another, and seeing that he answered them well he asked him, “Which commandment is the first of all?” Jesus answered, “The first is, ‘Hear, O Israel: the Lord our God, the Lord is one; you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.’ The second is this, ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ There is no other commandment greater than these.” Then the scribe said to him, “You are right, Teacher; you have truly said that ‘he is one, and besides him there is no other’; and ‘to love him with all the heart and with all the understanding and with all the strength’ and ‘to love one’s neighbor as oneself’—this is much more important than all whole burnt offerings and sacrifices.” When Jesus saw that he answered wisely, he said to him, “You are not far from the kingdom of God.” After that no one dared to ask him any question.

The Gospel of Mark shows us the perspective of the teachers and religious leaders through this interaction. We can see some of what they thought about Jesus. They’re vetting this grass-roots teacher. Jesus didn’t have the lifelong education and training they had. He didn’t go to seminary, he wasn’t affiliated with a mega-church, and the fringe people in society were drawn to his teaching. The religious leaders needed to check out his theology because their people were listening to Jesus.

Not only was Jesus teaching without their permission, but he often added another layer of thought that implicated the religious leaders somehow. Sometimes he broke the laws found in the Scriptures—evidence for them that something was amiss. Some of the people were supporting him financially. That’s money that should have been given in support of the temple. This blue-collar teacher was only of concern because the crowds loved him. How would the religious leaders get anyone to follow all of the carefully taught laws if this cultural icon was breaking them?

Some of the religious leaders who challenged Jesus were trying to stop him at all costs, but some were sincere. Some were doing their due diligence. As people responsible for the spiritual care of the masses, they wanted to make sure the people weren’t being duped by a false teacher. This interaction is one of those sincere conversations.

A Sincere Vetting

This scribe is testing Jesus on his understanding of the law and is pleased with his answer. The scribe understands the heart of the law, and affirms Jesus. This scribe adds on to the answer Jesus gave, to explain why it was correct. This could easily look like hubris–this scribe is explaining to God why he answered correctly about his own law. If we look at it through the lens of the scribe, he just sees a man teaching crowds, who answered an important question correctly. The scribe wants to make sure Jesus understands his answer.

Here’s where I want to pull on the brakes before we get to the punchline. Let’s flip the conversation around and look at it through the lens of Jesus. You might think you were already doing that if you’re a Christian, but rooting for Jesus is different than being Jesus. We can’t know his lens, but let’s guess at it.

Jesus, as God, is walking among his creation. He’s God incarnate as a human, but still sees everyone he meets as a beloved child, an image bearer of God. The scribes, lawyers, and Pharisees see him as an anomaly or a threat and often oppose him. Like any group, they are made up of individuals who have their own opinion about Jesus. When they question him they have different motives, which Jesus perceived. When this particular scribe questions Jesus, he humbly answers him. Jesus loved him, perceived his sincerity, and gave him a straightforward answer. We see the scribe’s sincerity after he responded.

Don’t Interact on Auto-Pilot

Pause right there. One takeaway from this story is that each interaction you have with people should be a fresh interaction. Certainly, societal groups have similarities among their members, which is why they gravitate towards each other. Some groups should be avoided if they pose a danger. Jesus certainly avoided danger at times. However, once we’re conversing with a single person, we need to remind ourselves to stop thinking in categories and soundbites. We need to listen and engage in the nuances of that conversation. Especially when the person is part of a group in which we don’t belong.

Listen Closely, Respond Honestly

Jesus listened with humility and gave a forthright answer. Even in his corrective at the end where he tells the scribe he’s not far from the kingdom of God, I hear Jesus saying this gently. He’s trying to reach this man within his context. Another example of this is Nicodemus, who was sincere in his questions. After an honest conversation with Jesus, he went from questioning Jesus to questioning his fellow Pharisees.

Unlike Jesus, we can’t clearly see another person’s motives. We need to use wisdom and intuition when we interact with people, especially if they’re a part of a group that’s dangerous to us. As we interact, let’s not be satisfied with lumping people into categories, but instead listen closely and interact with humble honesty.

Photo credit: LinkedIn Sales Navigator on Unsplash

James and John, the sons of Zebedee, came forward to him and said to him, “Teacher, we want you to do for us whatever we ask of you.” And he said to them, “What is it you want me to do for you?” And they said to him, “Appoint us to sit, one at your right hand and one at your left, in your glory.” But Jesus said to them, “You do not know what you are asking. Are you able to drink the cup that I drink or be baptized with the baptism that I am baptized with?” They replied, “We are able.” Then Jesus said to them, “The cup that I drink you will drink, and with the baptism with which I am baptized you will be baptized, but to sit at my right hand or at my left is not mine to appoint, but it is for those for whom it has been prepared.” When the ten heard this, they began to be angry with James and John. So Jesus called them and said to them, “You know that among the gentiles those whom they recognize as their rulers lord it over them, and their great ones are tyrants over them. But it is not so among you; instead, whoever wishes to become great among you must be your servant, and whoever wishes to be first among you must be slave of all. For the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve and to give his life a ransom for many.

Mark 10:35-45

Not long before this, Mark 9  describes a conversation where Jesus is telling the disciples about the persecution he will face and at that time the disciples were arguing about who would be the greatest. Right before this interaction, Jesus tells them he will be handed over to be killed. This request is their response.

What is it about Jesus talking about his impending death that causes the disciples to argue about who’s the greatest? Could it be the very obvious, if not crass, reason that they want to figure out who will be the next leader after Jesus is gone? We don’t know if there’s a direct connection. We do know that James and John are simply doing what many successful people do–they were seizing the day.

This conversation also follows the interaction between Jesus and the rich young ruler. In this conversation, Jesus challenges a rich man to give all he has to the poor. The man couldn’t do it and walked away sad. Jesus tells his followers that it’s hard for the rich to enter heaven. He then tells them the first shall be last and the last shall be first.

As fishermen James and John were probably poor and not influential in society. So they may have been mulling that interaction over. They might have concluded they’d be good candidates to rule since they were already poor.

The First Will Be Last

After Jesus addresses their request, he gives a bit of wisdom similar to what he said about the rich young ruler. He tells them:

…whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant, 44 and whoever wants to be first must be slave of all.45 For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve…

Mark 10:43-45 NIV

This is unmistakably similar to “the first must be last”, but it’s more specific. This is a variation and it’s tailored to James and John—whoever wants to be great must serve. It’s not just the rich who have to evaluate themselves, everyone, even the disciples had to check their motivations.

We all want to matter, we want our lives to have purpose. Were the other disciples angry because James and John wanted to be great? Or were they angry because they didn’t get to ask first? We can’t strive to get ahead in God’s kingdom, we have to surrender. Simply managing or reducing our sin doesn’t get us closer to God. We need to admit that we can’t make ourselves perfect, we need Jesus to transform our lives.

Jesus Leads With Humility

Even Jesus didn’t attempt to be great, as we think of greatness. Jesus came to do what we couldn’t do for ourselves. In the letter to the Philippians, Paul quotes one of the earliest songs about Jesus, the Christ hymn:

In your relationships with one another, have the same mindset as Christ Jesus:
Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be used to his own advantage;
rather, he made himself nothing by taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness.
And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to death—even death on a cross!

Philippians 2:5-8 NIV

Jesus already had stature and power. He willingly gave up his position. That was the only way we could be reconciled to God. He wasn’t resentful that this was his path. The gospels tell us Jesus looked at the crowds with compassion and loved them. Jesus forgave those who mocked and killed him, knowing they couldn’t possibly understand their own deep need for God.

Whether you’re looking for national recognition, or just taking people down a peg, choosing a path of greatness looks like walking to the back of the line. Jesus identified with the “least of these”. Following Jesus means to love and forgive, even your enemies. Leadership in the kingdom of God looks like service, especially service to the powerless.

Photo credit: by Leio McLaren (@leiomclaren) on Unsplash