Amen.
It is known as the Socratic method of teaching--the asking of
questions of students in the attempt to help them discover logically
what they already know or can come to know. The Socratic method--Its
name comes from the ancient Greek philosopher and teacher Socrates
who used questions and answers to guide students to the conclusion
that was most logical and thus true and correct. It is a method
that Pastor Chris and I often use with the confirmation students
and our questioning usually ends with the student either saying
something like,
"Oh, I get it"
-or "Why don't you just tell me the answer so we both know
what we're looking for?"
The first response is a clear epiphany-"I get it"--that
aha moment that makes teaching-and learning-all worth while.
Most of us have memories of at least one teacher
that provided for us
some such moments of insight into a certain subject or maybe something
about ourselves. Maybe it was a teacher who suggested we explore
a certain career--or encouraged us to try something we had never
considered before. Somewhere in the past there was a person who
gave us the confidence to pursue the course that has brought us
to this place in our lives--and while there may yet be much that
we would like to do with our lives we must also admit that being
in this place this morning is not so bad--most of the world would
consider it down right good.
All three of our lessons for this morning explore--in one form or another--the role of teaching. From a prophet (Isaiah) learning the power of God's presence to an apostle (James) warning of the great power in teaching and human speech to Jesus trying to help his disciples understand a central teaching of the faith.
In this election year we are hearing a lot about education--we are being bombarded with proposal after proposal of what needs to be done to improve the education system in our great country. The suggestions are many and varied but the success of teaching centers ultimately in those who teach--how they are trained--what resources and facilities they have to support their teaching endeavor.
This past week I, like many of you have done, attended an open house at one of our community schools. I followed my son's class schedule and met his teachers. I had been forewarned a little about each teacher--one was described as very serious--another really funny (in a subtle way)--another was referred to as "really good looking"--and still another was, well, just amazing. The "amazing" teacher was a calculus teacher--an "amazing" calculus teacher. She came into the classroom filled with energy--she explained to us parents that she thought of herself as a coach--a calculus coach--preparing her class-she called them her team for the big AP Game--she meant the College Advance Placement Test--and then she had us all give each other high fives and she told us to keep giving high fives to our children--her students because five was the score each of her team members were striving for--a five-the top score on the AP Exams.
Her style is a bit unorthodox but so far my son-who has never been stellar in math seems very focused and doing well in Calculus. To prepare your students properly, to get them ready for the challenges that lay ahead, that is one goal that most every teacher would affirm.
So we find in our Gospel lesson for today Jesus trying to teach his disciples some information that Jesus knows will be part of the final exam. He begins with a couple questions to clarify what they know, moving them along a logical path with the ultimate goal--being an affirmation of a world transcending truth.
"Who do people say that I am?"
Jesus asks.
The disciples answer him by saying some see in him John the Baptist
who was beheaded by Herod for preaching the truth about people,
while others say he sounds like they suspect the ancient prophet
Elijah did before he was taken up to heaven by a fiery chariot--or
maybe Jeremiah or one of the other old prophets whose words called
Israel back to God.
"But who do you say that I am?" Jesus asked.
"You are the Messiah" Peter proclaims.
Jesus quickly cautions the disciples that such a public declaration
about him might be seen as heresy in some circles, even politically
subversive to the Roman authorities and he quiets such talk for
now.
But then he begins to teach them what such an affirmation will
mean to him and them.
Here in the middle verses of the Gospel of
Mark we have a midterm exam which at first appears to be passed
with flying colors.
You are the Messiah, the long awaited truth proclaimed. The disciples
have learned their basics well--well enough to get more details
of what such a declaration will mean to the Son of Man.
Jesus begins to describe the whole truth--all the possibilities
of the world that has now been revealed
by this great affirmation of faith--except that then we discover
that while the answers are all correct
the disciples simply don't get it.
One of our sons complained recently that he
has one teacher who doesn't seem to care if they learn anything
as long as they pass the tests. It is true that you can teach
some subjects for the test.
Anyone who has ever attended college knows that there are always
a couple of classes that you are required to take to complete
the graduation requirements. You don't care what you learn in
them, just so you pass them and move on to the subjects you really
care about.
Jesus taught them that the Son of Man must
undergo great suffering and be rejected--killed--and after three
days rise again. Peter just didn't get it. In fact, Peter basically
asserted that Jesus was wrong, and Jesus has to respond by dismissing
Peter.
"You are setting your mind not on divine things but on human
things."
To teach is to open possibilities--to change the way someone sees or orders the world. Sometimes the things we teach are essential to living, like teaching a child how to cross a street or how to handle electrical appliances--human things. Sometimes the things we learn are pieces of a much greater wholeness we call life--things like civility-morality-compassion and grace.
Here in the middle verses of Mark's gospel Jesus begins to shift the focus of his teaching from miracles and healings to preparing his disciples. He turns the attention from his story to their stories. What will it mean to be a disciple of this Jesus in the days to come. To not just witness the cross but to begin to bear that cross. To not just know about the pains and struggles of others, but to enter into those moments in life that cry out for God's grace. The confusion about who he was-John the Baptist, Elijah, etc. signaled the challenge to his teaching. A new way of seeing the world was being proclaimed--a world that was not the end of all being and existence but rather a place to find our true identity as Children of God. A place to discover the promise of a life lived in the fullness of God's grace.
To those who heard these words their world was suddenly turned upside down. They could think of nothing else but testing this call to discipleship, of exploring for themselves the truth that was being proclaimed. It is difficult to think of anything that would so fascinate or astound, so capture our imagination
-but then I remembered a simple fact mentioned
by Gary Kinnaman in his book, Dumb Things Smart Christians
Believe.
"Did you know that the size of a regulation basketball hoop
is approximately twice the diameter of a regulation basketball?
That you can put two basketballs side by side into the hoop, and
with only a little nudge they will drop through?"
We all know that the basketball hoop appears much smaller when
viewed ten feet up in the air, and we also know how difficult
it is to put a basketball through that hoop--twice the diameter
of a basketball! I am willing to bet that this afternoon there
will be several members of this congregation
dragging out their step ladders and climbing to rim level with
two basketballs to see if I'm right.
(Or after services we can all go to the south parking lot and
check that basketball hoop.) If talk about
basketball can stir people to action--what about discipleship--the
cross?
The Summer Olympics began this weekend. All eyes are focused on the gold--who will be the greatest in each event. Yet as I watched the opening ceremonies and the parade of teams I was struck again and again by the look of confidence and hope on the faces of athletes from countries that had only 2 or 3 or 4 participants. I thought of the thousands of athletes who may dream of the gold but live their lives to simply be in the games, to be able to say I ran or swam or paddled in the Summer Olympics. To triumph is wonderful but the journey is the true measure, a journey filled with moments of insight and learning. What I enjoy most about the Olympics are the stories of self discovery and fulfillment--the athlete who triumphs over untold obstacles to be a part of the games--it's not the gold or the silver or the bronze.
And Jesus said, "For what will it profit them to gain the whole world and forfeit their life?"
Discipleship is not winning anything--it is a way of living--it is a life defined not by our expectations (which confused people about Jesus) but a life open to God's presence and grace. To follow Jesus is to bear the marks of discipleship--some of them may weigh heavy on us like the cross placed on Christ's shoulders. Some of the marks of discipleship may cut through the structures and priorities we have created for our lives like the nails that pierced Christ's hands. To follow Jesus as a disciple of his teachings and Word will also bring us into the wholeness of being that transcends the brokenness, pain, and trials of this life.
Jesus taught his disciples that they might
also teach others-witness to others. To be known to another as
one who can help-guide-teach. With the beginning of our Sunday
school season I am reminded of another Sunday school year--one
of the high school youth who I had taught in confirmation volunteered
to teach a preschool class. He had never taught before and was
very nervous. I stopped by the classroom just as class was beginning.
I watched as the preschoolers all took their seats in the little
chairs around the table. I watched a few eyes grow wide as the
tall young high schooler moved around the room handing out name
tags. He turned to me to say something just as one little student
said,
"Teacher, can you help me with this?" The teen looked
at me--I said, "What?"
The teen said, "Aren't you going to help her?"
"She's not talking to me," I replied as the teen look
down at 3 preschoolers all looking up at him the voice repeated,
"Teacher, can you help me?"
"Time to teach" I said and walked out of the room.
"Who do people say that I am?"
Jesus asked.
"Who do you say that I am?" Jesus asks.
There come those moments in our lives when
the answer is so clear
As we answer-so shall we live.
We have been gifted with wonderful teachers--we
are privileged at times to be teachers--but whether we are teacher
or student we are always disciples. Blessed by God to share our
gifts and bear the marks of discipleship.
Amen.