Might Makes Right
Gospel of Mark 1:1-13
Sermon #1 of “Ten Cultural Myths that Drive America”
We are beginning a new and lengthy study of the Gospel of Mark this morning. Our walk through this Gospel is not designed to be a sprint from start to finish, or even a marathon that has a final destination and an estimate time of arrival. Rather it is more like a adventure that is open-ended and designed towards discovery not completion. We may be here for weeks, months, or even years, only Heaven knows at this point.
As with any adventure there are smaller, bite-sized opportunities, destinations if you please, that give the event meaning and flavor. So as we begin Mark’s Gospel, we will make our way through the first six chapters looking at it from a very selective vantage point. For some, including myself, this can be a bit frustrating because we are compelled to choose NOT to see as much of the landscape as we do see.
Not to worry, there is no law that says we cannot back up and peruse the chapters again, discovering truths and applications we missed the first time through … in fact, I suspect we WILL return to these chapters again before we move on.
In you are a prime timer (senior adult) you will get to visit some other select places along the journey from a teaching vantage point with me. We will finish Daniel this month and, my recommendation is that we begin a more in-depth study of Mark afterwards.
The Gospel of Mark moves very very quickly; little detail is given about the events in Jesus life that are recorded. The word “straightway”, “immediately”, or “at this point” are all the same Greek word in Mark and it is used 42 times. This breathless pace is by design; it is part of Mark’s purpose. If it is detail you want then I would suggest you read Matthew and Luke along with this first-ever-written Gospel. But Mark’s Gospel moves … and we will too.
John the Baptist Prepares the Way
Mk 1:1 The beginning of the gospel about Jesus Christ, the Son of God.
Mk 1:2 It is written in Isaiah the prophet: “I will send my messenger ahead of you, who will prepare your way”
Mk 1:3 “a voice of one calling in the desert, ‘Prepare the way for the Lord, make straight paths for him.’ ”
Mk 1:4 And so John came, baptizing in the desert region and preaching a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins.
Mk 1:5 The whole Judean countryside and all the people of Jerusalem went out to him. Confessing their sins, they were baptized by him in the Jordan River.
Mk 1:6 John wore clothing made of camel’s hair, with a leather belt around his waist, and he ate locusts and wild honey.
Mk 1:7 And this was his message: “After me will come one more powerful than I, the thongs of whose sandals I am not worthy to stoop down and untie.
Mk 1:8 I baptize you with water, but he will baptize you with the Holy Spirit.”
The Baptism and Temptation of Jesus
Mk 1:9 At that time Jesus came from Nazareth in Galilee and was baptized by John in the Jordan.
Mk 1:10 As Jesus was coming up out of the water, he saw heaven being torn open and the Spirit descending on him like a dove.
Mk 1:11 And a voice came from heaven: “You are my Son, whom I love; with you I am well pleased.”
Mk 1:12 At once the Spirit sent him out into the desert,
Mk 1:13 and he was in the desert forty days, being tempted by Satan. He was with the wild animals, and angels attended him.
A month or so ago I ran across a small book in the fellowship hall; it was on a table set up for our international students. It is a book designed to introduce them to American culture – it is designed to help them grasp how we Americans think. The name of the book is Why Are Americans Like That? and it is a marvelous tool to assist our guests in understanding the complex, shape-shifting that is America. The book helps our guests understand us is by illustrating our culture through our use of slogans, mottoes, aphorisms, and clichés. They give insight into the American psyche.
Well it set off a firestorm within me. I began to list many different aphorisms and idioms that govern us … sometimes unconsciously, but always with clear expressions. I have begun to catalog quite a few of these.
Take today’s saying for example. It influences America (us) in ways we are not even aware of. It is ingrained into us.
• It has been the fodder for many American films and books
• Some would day it is an underpinning of capitalism
• Others suggest it is an element of Darwinian theory
• It has dominated the curriculum of many an ethics class
• It plays a significant role in any philosophy class
• It influences how we have traditionally used the earth and it’s resources
• It is a key component of American foreign policy
o Most recently we have discovered that “we” told Pakistan that if they did not help us in the fight against terror. Former Deputy Secretary of State Richard Armitage told President Musharraf to "Be prepared to be bombed. Be prepared to go back to the Stone Age," Our government is unapologetic about that position.
• It has been utilized by the American government in domestic policy too
o Andrew Jackson employed it when he relocated the Cherokee Indians to Oklahoma in 1837-1838 … it is known as “The Trail of Tears.”
• It is an ever present element in many less-than-healthy home environments.
o If the stronger person is not appeased then the weaker residents will be hurt in one way or another.
• It can often be found in office politics too.
o If a subordinate does not choose to bend the rules or cheat to advance the company then reasons will be found for the employee to be fired.
• My dad is a good man; he is a marvelous mechanic and never ceases to amaze me with his skill at carpentry too. But my dad, on occasion, also utilizes this idiom. He says in jest (and yet some times acts on it ) that if something won’t work you should just … “Get a bigger hammer.”
The slogan I am describing is familiar to you if you are from America and it is obvious to you if you are a guest here … it is … “Might Makes Right” and it gets to the heart of America’s relativism. It is, without debate, part of American culture … but this is one of those cases where Christianity and culture clash … it is not a Biblical principle for community.
Mark was writing to a Roman culture … a gentile audience. “Might Makes Right” was certainly part of their psyche too. Take a quick read of the book sometime and look for the contrasts between those who function by this philosophy and the book’s main character, Jesus. Herod, the Jewish leaders, the crowds, and even the disciples all employ “Might Makes Right” at one time or another but Jesus deliberately (and sometimes illogically) steps away from the tactic.
His tactic; Jesus’ counter-cultural tactic, is introduced in 1:1-13 and it is unpacked throughout the book. In fact, the key / core verses of the entire book are directly linked to Jesus’ corrective of “Might Makes Right” In Mark 10:42-45 Jesus says “You know that those who are regarded as rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and their high officials exercise authority over them. Not so with you. Instead, whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant, and whoever wants to be first must be slave of all. For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.”
Chapter 1 verse 1 does something that is not done anywhere else in the New Testament. When Mark says Jesus Christ, the Son of God he describes Jesus to the world in clear, vivid, and yet radical terms. The cat is let out … we know the punch line well in advance … the very nature of the main character of the book is disclosed. Many in the book must discover this (even the disciples don’t get it until the very end at the resurrection) but WE KNOW … we know Jesus is the Savior and GOD right from the “git go.”!
A Roman reader (the original audience) would expect certain things from this Christ. He has the “power” (might) to set the world straight once and for all! The reader would expect Jesus to come out with both guns blazing. Incidentally that is exactly what the Jews expected the Messiah to do too … that is one reason they rejected Jesus.
But this Jesus doesn’t. What does he do? He does the unconscionable … he submits to a lesser … to a subordinate! He submits to a humiliating act that identifies him with sin … the very problem Jesus is supposed to solve. And this was his message: “After me will come one more powerful than I, the thongs of whose sandals I am not worthy to stoop down and untie. I baptize you with water, but he will baptize you with the Holy Spirit.” At that time Jesus came from Nazareth in Galilee and was baptized by John in the Jordan.
We know from other Gospels that even John the Baptizer was blown away by this gesture … but it is at the core of Jesus’ mission. It is at the core of Jesus philosophy; and it flies in the face of “Might Makes Right.”
What’s even more astounding yet is that God in heaven applauds and approves this … this servile move by the main character … the one who was sent here to make all things right. In fact, this whole event becomes the “center of gravity” for the book. It is through Jesus’ choice to serve combined with the Father’s approval and the Spirit’s anointing that all Christ’s work is accomplished.
This main character additionally assaults the sensibilities of the reader when he further submits … he goes into the desert to be tested and tempted by Satan.
Satan. That’s an interesting choice by Mark. Mathew and Luke refer to the enemy as the Devil (accuser); Mark calls him Satan, which means “adversary.” I notice something subtle here in this very quick mentioning of the desert trials … Mark never says the encounter / competition with the adversary ceases. In fact it doesn’t … it only intensifies as the book progresses.
This seems like a strange way to save the world doesn’t it? The God of Heaven comes and rather that blowing the opposition away he submits to his ongoing guerilla tactics. We know Jesus could have cast Satan out. In fact, it becomes clear in the first 5 chapters that Jesus could have … but Jesus wanted to do more than cast evil into the abyss. He wanted to purge human hearts of that evil … that could only be done through … LOVE.
Mark is not an ivory towered theologian. Neither is he a historian. Some of the stories in this book are out of sequence from how Matthew and Luke say they happened. Mark’s book is compiled around themes not chronology … it is about how Jesus saved the world.
From the wilderness on Jesus’ life is uncomfortable and servile in nature. Might doesn’t make things right … loving people does. Serving people does. There are jaw-dropping stories of Jesus’ compassion waiting for us to view them on our journey … but the crux of the matter, the center of gravity, is found in this corrective to the Roman (and American) idiom that “Might Makes Right.”
Might doesn’t make things right … loving people does. Serving people does.
Every once in a while people get it right. I recently read some speeches by Abraham Lincoln and one in particular stuck out. It was one he gave in New York (February 27, 1860) before being elected to his first term as President. He could see the writing on the wall regarding the impending Civil War which began months after he took office. In his speech he said the following: “Let us have faith that right makes might and in that faith, let us, dare to do our duty …” {emphasis added}.
Lincoln understood it … Might does not make right … but right makes might! Righteousness gives Divine power for transformation.
Never once does Jesus resort to coercion, manipulation, or force. He never makes anyone follow him … others in the Gospel story manipulate and oppress the people for their own purposes … but Jesus Christ, the Son of God never uses might to make things right.
May I make an assumption here? I suspect Mark thought this was how the Church of Jesus was supposed to operate too.
• By placing itself in uncomfortable situations
• By adapting to inconveniences
• By choosing to keep the guns holstered
• By choosing to love
We too can cooperate with God and save the world.
That’s part of what is meant when we take up our cross and follow him.
He who has ears to hear
Let him hear.
