Sermon on Growing in Faith Mark 10:35-45 How do we grow in faith? We have that as the second phrase in our congregation’s mission statement; “Following Christ, Growing in Faith, Sharing God’s Love.” Today we are focused on “Growing in Faith”. I wonder if growing in faith may have something to do with asking questions, seeking answers, listening to other people and to God as we want to develop this relationship with Jesus Christ, a relationship called “faith”. James and John come to Jesus with a request right after Jesus tells them that he is going to be mocked, whipped and killed and then rise from the dead. James and John say, “Teacher, we want you to do for us whatever we ask of you.” Jesus responds, “What do you want me to do for you?” They want to sit on Jesus’ right and left hand when he enters his glory. We may find their request offensive. I know that that is how I often think of these two presumptuous brothers making this outlandish request of Jesus. They just want power, prestige, and glory themselves. But haven’t we ever come to Jesus with the same request that he do for us whatever we ask of him. We want Jesus to do things our way because we want power, prestige and glory too. Or we may be coming to Jesus in behalf of a loved one who is sick and we want Jesus to heal this person in our time and in our way. At times we may come to Jesus because we are wrestling with what to believe and we don’t know which way to turn. We may come to Jesus when we think our faith is very weak and we feel very empty and alone. “Growing in faith” may not be easy. I recognize that I don’t want to hear about drinking the cup of suffering that Jesus is going to have to drink. I want to get something more out of following Jesus than taking up a cross and giving my life for the sake of others. I want to be comfortable and consider the joys of greatness. We want to be able to have life work out well for us and have our questions answered. What are the benefits for us who believe in Jesus? If we only want the glory and not the cross and faith in Jesus Christ, then we are dead in our sin and there is no hope for us. A farmer quickly opens the door to the house to get out of a terrific snow storm. A flock of birds is caught in the sudden blizzard and a few of them fly into the farmhouse window, hoping to get inside and be safe. The farmer feels sorry for the birds, goes out to the barn to open the large barn door in order to save the birds. Maybe they can stay inside the barn for a while. But the birds refuse to go into the barn. He tries to shoo them in into the barn but still they resist. He thinks, “If only I could become a bird for a while so I could save these birds trapped in the storm.” Jesus Christ becomes one of us, sent by god to save us from the storms of sin and death that overwhelm us. He is despised and rejected, a man of sorrows. Jesus is the one who bears our sins and our life storms. He was wounded for our sins, crushed for our iniquities and the Lord laid on Jesus the punishment that makes us whole. Through faith in Jesus Christ we are healed. We are invited into the barn of God’s eternal love for Christ has ransomed us and set us free. Growing in faith has something to do with growing more deeply into the relationship we have with Jesus Christ. It means dwelling in the Word, an important part of our life together as followers of Christ. Like James and John we don’t want to hear about the cross. Jesus Christ is calling us and inviting us to be uncomfortable, anxious, conflicted so that we may grow in faith. Maybe James and John are the ones who are growing in faith as a result of listening to Jesus’ answer. They are struggling to understand what life with Jesus Christ really means for them. What does it mean that we will drink the cup of suffering that Jesus drinks, and be baptized with his baptism? What does it mean that to be great includes being a servant to others and being a slave to all? I don’t want to do that but Jesus is calling me, us, to enter with him into the uncomfortable places of life. Can we really trust God to be there for us in the midst of our storms? Growing in faith must have something to do with honoring Jesus Christ in our lives. How do we do that? Maybe we need to take time to listen to God in the midst of our busy and over-scheduled lives, to read God’s Word and to wonder with other people what God is saying or doing in our lives. Maybe in this way we develop our relationship with God more deeply, and we also deepen our relationships with one another as we care for and love those whom God has put into our lives. That is a big part of being a steward of God’s gifts. It seems to me that growing in faith is a life-long journey. But we are not alone on the journey. There are times when we feel closer to God than at other times in our lives, but we never stop needing to listen and to see what God is doing, and where God is leading us. Where is God calling you and me to be servants and slaves for others? Jesus did not fire James and John and tell them to leave the circle of disciples because they made this demand upon him. They were still included as followers of Christ, those for whom Christ died and whom Jesus loves. We are also included in God’s kingdom simply because God loves us so much. Can we imagine that God is there for us in the midst of the joys and sorrows of this conflicted and scary world, and that Jesus Christ suffers with us and for us as we face the hardships and the storms that we do in life? Maybe that’s what it means to keep on growing in faith as we follow Christ and share God’s love. Amen.