First Presbyterian Church Carson City

Pastor Bruce Kochsmeier

Purpose: For people to realize that telling the truth is more important than winning and that real winning is growing in being like Jesus.

It wasn’t any different then than today on the dusty Galilean road. Mark lets us know from the outset, that once more the disciples don’t understand Jesus because he is telling them that the Messiah will have to lose. He doesn’t even talk of victory. It is sad that they like ourselves, were afraid to ask Jesus what he meant. I need to ask him, but too often today I’m still like I was in school, afraid of sounding dumb or finding out that it means I have to do something I don’t want to do.

We know how the disciples don’t get it because tells us the next thing they do is start talking about who got the best grade on the last test rather than the fact they don’t understand the next assignment! We can see this as so ironic, but we do it too! We talk of it without words, but in actions that speak far louder – in how we spend money, in how much influence we have, in what we count important, in how we put OUR interpretative spins on the Bible.

In politics and marriage and friendship and war, we have a deep need to win – maybe not by a lot and maybe with an attempt to be civil in our winning, but we need to win and win in ways that we can measure; in ways that keep us comfortable and in control.

Everything Jesus said and did ran completely contrary to this. One of the few times he SEEMS to be different is when we see him turning the tables in the Temple, but WE characterize him as extracting revenge when in fact he was simply being consistent with his Gospel message. After all, what was re really doing? He was simply doing what we now call “turning the tables” and saying; “You’ve got it all backward.” He said, “Come to me and learn…take my yoke…for I am gentle and humble…and you will find rest…” But do we take his yoke? Do we want to learn about being gentle and humble?

“Finishing last” – among themes that could be associated with Jesus’ earthly ministry this would be one. It’s not very catchy. It is counter-intuitive. And it certainly isn’t practical. But it is what Jesus did and told us to do if we want to win.

Jesus really cared about his friends. He called us friends. He listened to them with passion far better than they listened to them. He does the same with us. When the disciples were arguing over who was the most significant among them Jesus very sincerely said, “If this is really what you want you’ve got to finish last.” He said, “Whoever wants to be first must be last of all and servant of all.” He very intentionally included the word all to speak of all we are and all who surround us starting with the very least.

I don’t like finishing last or even close to last, but I have plenty of times, but not by choice. I was the slowest runner on the playground, the slowest player on my high school baseball team, had the slowest fast ball among our six pitchers, (but the best knuckle ball), was last to pass my driver’s test, came in last in too many motorcycle races, and have lost plenty of arguments, the most important being the ones I have with God about what I need in life. God always wins those and he is always right. Have you noticed this yet?

When I will swallow my pride and spend a shred of the time listening to Jesus as he listens to me I learn again and again that only when I am willing to lose on his terms will I begin to win.

I’ve been taking a class on this business of finishing last for over thirty years now from my wife Nancy. I’ve never lost an argument with her. She won’t let me lose and it’s not because she is a doormat. It’s just that any time anything comes up, she is so committed to being a servant that it is infectiously disarming and clarifying of what is really going on. Who would argue with someone who understands and serves you so well that you truest need is anticipated before you yourself consider it?

God in human form came to us in Jesus Christ to show us how to finish last and love it because he knew that this is where we would be most at peace. The only reason we aren’t at peace is because there is still a powerful chunk of sin at work within us that tells us servanthood isn’t true victory.

Like I said, being a servant as Jesus describes isn’t weakness or being a doormat. It is just the opposite. It is the greatest power in and beyond this world. Look at Jesus’ servant model in the last hours. It totally disarmed Pontius Pilate such that he asked Jesus, “What is truth?” and then to the world, “I find nothing wrong with this man. If he is to die, you do it.” It was a huge risk on Jesus’ part because he knew it would cost him his life emotionally and physically. He knew his own people would reject him for not winning on their terms. But he did it anyway because he knew spiritually it was the only way the victory that really mattered could be attained for us; it was the only way we would know how to finish last and win.

Ironically as Christians we still don’t know very well how to finish last. I see it in my own life and in the many situations I observe. What would happen if in the times I need to win I instead asked, “How can I serve you?” Now this doesn’t mean giving in to evil or things that are wrong or untrue, but it seeks what Jesus sought. It seeks to get to the heart of the matter. It seeks to love and to serve because that is what is really needed.

The Gospel, servanthood, what Jesus showed us doesn’t make sense in our sinful and broken world that counts winning as more important than loving, but it is what we need to give and receive more than winning. Here is what Jesus meant in very practical terms. Instead of jockeying for power what if Peter and the boys that day had said to one another, “What Jesus is talking about is really hard. How can I help you in the journey?” What if when a contention began we said to one another, “How can I serve you? It’s clear to me that you are really anxious about this. What if anything, can I do to make this situation better?” What if when we started to get steamed up about not getting our way; when something made us want to lash out or get revenge or hurt someone with words or actions we instead realized the only victory we will ever really need was won for us when Jesus gave himself up for us, and we said, “This seems like it is really important to you, (or really difficult). I want to serve you. I want to understand. I want to support or encourage you in the way that is best. Is there anything I can do for you?”

Now think back to the last time this didn’t happen. You may not have to go very far, and imagine what would life have been like if you or the other had tried this? Oh I know, you’re thinking, “You don’t know the other person. He/she would have crucified me.” Seems to me that Jesus said that would happen and said we needed to choose to finish last anyway. He said this so that we would find out what the power of the cross really is. He said this because he knew this was the only way human pride could be truly defeated and because he knew it was our greatest enemy.

Do you really want to win; really win? Do you? I think we all do. Then start finishing last. Don’t spend another second trying to defeat anyone; particularly those who are on your side and start thinking of the literally thousands of ways you get to be like Jesus before you ever even walk out this door. Look around this room; maybe to the person next to you and tell them how you want to finish last. Start with one person and tell them, “I want to serve you. I haven’t served you, but I want to start today. I want to learn to be like Jesus to you. I want us cross HIS finish line together.”

You see, this is the only finishing line that matters. We can win every human victory and be miserable or we can finish last with Jesus and with one another and never be defeated. Jesus said it; “Only as we make what is least in the world’s eyes the most significant will we really be welcoming God into our lives.” That’s how this sanctuary is going to get built. This is how God is going to fill it. It how all our relationships are going to be healed. It is how that line we pray, “Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven” is going to start to be a reality.

Is this some naïve fantasy? Only to the cynic in us. For the part of us bold enough to take hold of the reality of the cross it is LIFE; the only life there is. So, how about YOU? Are you ready to finish last? Are you ready to live the life Jesus died to give you by finding that one person who needs to cross the finish line last with you? I hope so and I hope you’ll do it today. Amen.