Reflection: Bold Requests, Audacious Reponse (March 25, 2012)

The Fifth Sunday in Lent
Jeremiah 31:31-34; Hebrews 5:1-10; Mark 10:35-45

We might be taken aback by how bold James and John were when they approached Jesus with a request (Mark 10:35). They came to Him with a rather pointed — and very open-ended — petition. "We want You to do for us whatever we ask," they said. In so many words, they were saying, "There's something that we want for ourselves. We know that You can give it to us. We want You to give it to us." They didn't tell Jesus what they wanted. They weren't asking as much as they were demanding. They were very bold.

How differently we approach our Savior with our prayers and petitions. Our requests are more likely to be marked by reluctance and reservation than by such boldness. Why are we so slow to bring our concerns, dreams, and desires to Jesus? Would we dare come to Him insisting that He do for us whatever we ask? Perhaps we recognize that much of what we really want in this life is outside of His will for us. We don't ask Jesus for our hearts' desires because we know that what we want is wrong — and wrong for us. This was certainly the case for James and John, but it didn't stop them from asking Jesus. We can find encouragement in their boldness and assurance in how Jesus responded to them.

Because Jesus loved James and John, He did not write them the blank check that they wanted from Him. Instead, He insisted that they plainly state what it was that they were hoping to gain. In doing so, Jesus exposed the selfishness in what they were asking for. But rather than rebuking them for flagrantly positioning themselves for their own honor and glory, Jesus redeemed their bold request. Jesus' answer was even more bold than their petition. His answer went beyond being bold to being audacious. He granted them more than they had asked for — more than they could have imagined. He showed them the way that He would bring Himself glory and gave them a role in that glory that far exceeded the fleeting, worldly glory that they were seeking. They were bold. Jesus was even bolder.

We are much like James and John, except for their boldness. Jesus would have us be just as bold as they were — even if we are just as misguided as they were. He invites us to bring our prayers and petitions to Him, and be bold when we do, so that He might answer our bold requests with His audacious response.

Audio file of the sermon based on this reflection