Grace and Peace to you from Father, Son, and the Holy Spirit

The Rolling Stones lyrics and song reminds us of what the disciples and even you and I sometimes fail to grasp.

“You can’t always get what you want, but if you try sometime you’ll find you get what you need.”

Can you believe what James and John are asking for?

It sounds like they are putting their wants first, without knowing what they need.

I wonder if you have ever had a moment where you put yourself first?

When you lose sight of the bigger picture and those around you?

Jesus invites us all to answer these questions, with an example of Jesus' life, death, and resurrection.

What does it mean to serve?

In our gospel reading from Mark, verse 45 Jesus says, “For the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve.”

When I was in the Fire Service one of my jobs was the hiring of new candidates.

As a paid-on-call department we had the same responsibilities as a full time department, yet we had a more difficult time hiring people to serve.

Service was not a guaranteed paycheck or retirement plan.

One of the first questions we asked was, “Why do you want to do this?”

The answers we were looking for had to do with how they understood serving the community, and if it aligned with our mission.

Especially since many of our members didn’t actually live in the city we were entrusted to serve, but close enough to respond.

Fortunately, we were able to hire enough people to service our calls in a timely and efficient manner.

Picking the right people was important as many lives depended on it.

Our promise to a candidate was to provide all of the training, equipment, and support to safely serve the community.

A crucial part of our hiring was being available for community events; 4th of July Parades, National Night Out, Back to School Parades, Fire Safety Open House, to name a few.

These events and public interaction were as important as fire response.

Getting to know who you were serving created the relationship that we were really serving one another.

Do you remember your first job?

Wondering why you had to learn specific tasks or procedures?

Even though everyone basically started at the bottom, you could use your training to work as far up the chain of command as you wanted.

Along the way you learn the job and your specific skills that give you a good idea of what and where you want to focus on.

Whether that be search and rescue, fire suppression, training/teaching, or Chief there are many possibilities to share your gifts.

An ideal candidate was a young, healthy person that planned on staying in the community for at least five years.

Previous knowledge was not as important as a desire to serve.

When it's 3 in the morning, five below, and snowing it takes a call to service that gets you out of a warm bed, into your clothes, and off to the station.

Over my fire career of almost 21 years I went from an eager probie to chief. I learned what service meant and I was fortunate to serve with those people.

I also served with some who didn’t quite understand what service meant.

Service is not power and authority to do whatever you want.

There is a lot of power in public service, a sacred power that takes good people to act respectfully and responsibly, at all times.

The power one can feel while sitting in the Captain seat of a Ladder Truck, full lights and sirens, traveling down the road as the cars part like the Red Sea is awesome.

The reality is that you are captaining thousands of pounds at a speed that would easily crush a car and its occupants should they pull out.

The responsibility as the Captain to be forming a plan, instructing your crew, and getting to the scene safely, all while notifying dispatch what is your command requires patience and quick thinking.

Short cuts and favors lead to injuries, mistakes and lack of service.

Getting to the scene safely begins with knowing who you are and what your purpose is.

Confidence in taking command of the fire scene or for the disciples knowing who is in command.

It reminds me of Jesus' reply, “But to sit at my right hand or at my left is not mine to grant.”

The one with the highest authority and often the one with the most experience is the one who is in charge.

One of the most important pieces to safety is following the chain of command and not freelancing.

Freelancing is when a firefighter disregards or goes off and does their own thing.

James and John were doing some freelancing.

Asking and doing what they wanted, forgetting what they needed.

Jesus served us willing through love and asks us to serve each other,

Therefore it is crucial that command is unified and knows what everyone is doing.

But to wander off or do nothing, you may put the whole plan at risk.

Some of my most difficult days on fire calls were dealing with people who thought they knew what they should be doing or felt that they were more important than others.

A chief and firefighter’s worst day is when three blasts of an airhorn and a MAYDAY is announced for a lost or missing firefighter.

Perhaps in the way Jesus looks for his lost sheep.

I knew one very eager firefighter who thought he could do anything just because his dad had been a chief.

I think he felt that he knew more and better than everyone else and somehow the rules didn’t apply to him.

He also couldn’t wait to be the chief, so he could lord it over us.

James and John have a request for Jesus.

You can’t miss their boldness, “Teacher, we want you to do for us whatever we ask of you.”

If you remember this scene from the Chosen, you have a vivid picture that goes with the request.

I find it interesting that Jesus returns the question, “What is it you want me to do for you?”

James and John want a special place at the right and left of Jesus in glory.

Perhaps after hearing the third and final prediction of Jesus’ passion they are looking ahead, looking out for themselves.

Jesus replies, “You do not know what you are asking.”

Like James and John they share the cup and baptism with Jesus, just as we do, because of God.

God is the one in charge.

“But to sit at my right or at my left is not mine to grant, but it is for those for whom it has been prepared.”

There are many rooms in heaven that have been prepared for us.

There is a room for you, and no reservations are needed.

Jesus sits on the seat of glory, an awesome image, that is proof of our gift of salvation.

It is not anyone that sits on either side, but all of us seated together.

Hearing of this the other ten disciples are angry at James and John.

Perhaps asking, “How could they put themselves before us, what makes them so special?”

The disciples are the first responders, a team, we are the witnesses to them working together under God.

Working to serve others, to do what our gifts and talents bless us to help others.

I pray that you can hear the message that it is not being powerful that is the issue, but it is the wish to become great at the expense of another is the risk.

Jesus gave us everything that we may serve.

Service is the gracious gift of love.

Service doesn’t exploit the weak or punish the poor.

Service joins us in a mutual community of care.

God gave us the gift of Jesus so we can continue to give.

For this we can say, “Thanks Be To God!” AMEN