Are You Able? Are Any Of Us Able?

​Last Friday, I started a new project based on my sermon series, “Shit Jesus Says.”

​As I was doing research on it, I stumbled upon another group of sermons I did a few years ago called, “Questioning Jesus.” Each one focuses on a question Jesus asks in the gospels.

Since the two seem to complement each other, I am going to revisit some of those questions over the next few weeks as we make our way towards Advent. 

But before I get into the first question, I want to tell you a quick story.

​A story about a young man named Jay who, after a night of hard partying, his heart gave out. Given his toxic lifestyle, his death wasn’t exactly surprising to anyone—except maybe to Jay.

When his brother, Jack came into my office to ask if I’d officiate Jay’s funeral, I was hesitant. You see, the two were known to have their dirty hands in all sorts of unscrupulous businesses. Sensing my hesitation, Jack offered to pay me a little extra to do the service as long as I would say some nice things about his brother.
 
Again, knowing the kind of lifestyles these brothers led, I apologized and said, “I wouldn’t be able to honor such a request.” After some back and forth, Jack reached into his pocket and pulled out a giant wad of cash. He pushed the money towards me and said, “All I’m asking is you say my brother was a saint.”
 
Needless to say, I was offended. But in order to make a long story short, I stood at the pulpit on the day of the funeral and said, “Jay wasn’t a Christian man. He and his family are not God-fearing people. In fact, calling them moral and upright would be an insult to the words.”
 
At this point, I could see Jack’s face turning red and his jaw clinching as tight as his fist. I continued, “I don’t know if Jay even owned a Bible or was ever baptized. And I’m pretty sure he did not understand what it meant to love your neighbor. But I can say this... Jay was a saint compared to his brother Jack.”
 
As you can see, I survived… so we could gather today and talk about two other brothers by the name of James and John, who worked up a scheme to get something from Jesus which seemed a bit unscrupulous to the other disciples.

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.”      Mark 10:35-40

You got to love their hutzpah. I mean, to ask the Son of God to “do whatever they asked of him” is pretty ballsy. Of course, Jesus loves their shamelessness and replies, “What exactly do you want me to do for you?”
 
Now take second to think about how you would answer. This is a golden opportunity to get whatever you wanted from Jesus. What would you ask for?
 
Security? Healing from an ailment? Maybe more faith. Or to turn the water into wine, or rocks into sandwiches. But that’s not what the brothers want. They ask to sit next to Jesus in Heaven – the seat of power in any kingdom. This makes the other disciples mad at their audacity.
 
Not Jesus. He loves them and tolerates their foolishness. And entertains their desire with a follow up question. “Are you able?” 
 
This is a question I think Jesus could ask anyone of us. To be willing is one thing. But to be able is a whole other level of commitment.
 
Most of us might be willing to call ourselves Christians. But are we able to actually live like Christ?

​We might be willing to love God, love others, and serve both. But are we able to love everyone, including those who are hard to love? Are we able to serve them when it’s inconvenient or when it costs us something?
 
We might be willing. But are we able? I don’t think we are. And that’s okay.

​According to the story, Jesus is willing to grant them their request. But even he’s unable to do it. It’s not his choice to make. It’s God’s. This had me thinking, perhaps Jesus is not asking about their ability. Maybe he wants to find out if they’re committed to continuing his work.
 
After all, he asks it on the heels of revealing to them what’s about to happen once they reach Jerusalem. He said, “the Son of Man will be handed over and condemned to death; they will mock him, and spit upon him, and flog him, and kill him; and after three days he will rise again” (Mark 10:33-34).
 
We know how the story unfolds, and the good news it brings, but are any one of us able to drink from that cup that Jesus will have to drink from?
 
James and John are probably too quick to answer. They don’t hesitate. Or take time to blink. They just shout out, “We are able.” Which makes me wonder if they understood what Jesus was asking.  Did they know the risk involved? The cost of their discipleship? I think they did.

 
You see, James and John - along with the others - had been following Jesus for a while. They’d already spent time in the mission field - faced adversity, and threats. They knew what people were capable of doing to one another. Perhaps that’s why they made the request in the first place.
 
If I were in their shoes, I’d want to sit next to Jesus too. Not for power or prestige, but because being close to Jesus is the safest place to be when the world attacks. If they’re going to do what he does, then they need to be as close to God as possible. And so do we. Because Jesus is inviting us to be part of something bigger—the Kingdom of God where love is the only weapon we are called to carry.

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 10:40-45

Who among us is able to do this? Before we are quick to answer like James and John, let’s not forget Jesus says, “Whoever wants to be first in this kingdom, must become a servant.”

He reminds them that real power in God’s kingdom doesn’t come from what you get, but from what you give.
 
To truly follow Jesus is to be like Jesus, who came to serve and not be served, gave his entire life for God and for us.

The brothers believed they are able to do that. But I don’t think they are. Because none of us are. Only God is truly able to go distance. All we can do is hold on.

With that said, I do believe that if we’re willing God is more than able to grant us what we need to get the job done.
 
So, let me ask you:
 
Are you willing to do the work of Christ today?
 
Are you willing to help someone who's been hurt?
 
Are you willing to stay up all night to comfort a friend going through a tough time?
 
Are you willing to be the voice of reason, justice, and equality for all?
 
Are you willing to be the presence of Christ in the world, even if it goes against your best interest or political point of view?
 
God knows our abilities. But who among us is willing to trust like Jesus, who emptied himself, taking on the form of a servant, and humbled himself to the point of death - even death on a cross (Phil. 2:7-8)
 
Jesus calls us to let go of our fears, to pick up our cross, and follow him to be his heart and hands everywhere we go. I believe we can do it, not because we are able but because God is. I believe we can face whatever comes, knowing that Jesus walks before us, and God’s Spirit empowers us. Like Paul wrote, “I can do all this through him who gives me strength” (Phil. 4:13).
 
We can put our faith on the line and live a kingdom life, because we don’t rely on our ability but God’s. With Jesus leading the way, we can build bridges instead of walls. And with God’s Spirit in us, can be the antidote to a system of division and injustice.

We can love our neighbors, forgive each other, and give our time and resources for the sake of community. We can let go of our fears, set aside our ego and be faithful to Jesus’ mission.
 
If we are willing, we will be able because God is more than willing and able to work through us.
 
Jesus asks a simple question, one that is difficult to answer honestly. And yet, he calls us all to respond. What will be your answer?
 
Will you come to his table?
 
Will you eat of his bread?
 
And drink from his cup?
 
If you are willing. Then you will be able.
 

 
 
 
Works Cited
Adapted from a previous sermon Are You Able (August 25, 2019).
Bartlett, David. L., Barbara Brown Taylor, eds. Feasting on the Word: Year B. Vol. 4. Louisville: Westminster John Knox Press, 2009. p. 189-91.