“FAME OR BLAME”

MARK 6: 30-34, 53-56 (NRSV)   

A once-popular singer goes to a retirement home to give a concert for the residents. When he enters he expects applause and requests for his autograph, but no one seems to remember him.

Finally, the old singer asks one of the women, "Don't you know who I am?""No," the woman answers, "but if you can't remember your name, ask the nurse, she'll tell you."

Fame is the feeling that you think you are the constant subject of admiration on the part of people who are actually not thinking of you. Many people think they have become famous when he or she has merely happened to meet a reporter or editor who was hard up for material.

There is a quote that says, “Were not this desire of fame very strong, the difficulty of obtaining it, and the danger of losing it when obtained, would be sufficient to deter a man from so vain a pursuit.”

This is best emphasized by the opening lyrics to the song “Fleeting Fame” by the Rock Band Barcelona:“You look so familiar I could almost place you, I don't expect you to remember you'll forget me.”

The apostles gathered around Jesus, and told him all that they had done and taught. He said to them, “Come away to a deserted place all by yourselves and rest a while.”  For many were coming and going, and they had no leisure even to eat. And they went away in the boat to a deserted place by themselves.

Now many saw them going and recognized them, and they hurried there on foot from all the towns and arrived ahead of them. As he went ashore, he saw a great crowd; and he had compassion for them, because they were like sheep without a shepherd; and he began to teach them many things.

When they had crossed over, they came to land at Gennesaret and moored the boat.  When they got out of the boat, people at once recognized him, and rushed about that whole region and began to bring the sick on mats to wherever they heard he was.

And wherever he went, into villages or cities or farms, they laid the sick in the marketplaces, and begged him that they might touch even the fringe of his cloak; and all who touched it were healed.

Recognize any of these names: Owen D. Young, Pierre Laval, Hugh S. Johnson, James F. Byrnes, or Harlow Curtis? You should; according to Time magazine, these are all people who have been designated as "Man of the Year" by Time, supposedly suggesting they had the greatest impact in that year of all persons living on Earth.

The celebrity of today is all but forgotten tomorrow.

Fame is fleeting, and the works we do with our hands don’t last.

As I read our scripture lesson for today the entire 6^th chapter of Mark’s gospel is testimony to the high-water mark for Jesus’ ministry. The last verse tells us that Jesus has become so potent in His ministry that even the hem of His cloak had healing properties.

Jesus and His disciples are being stalked by everybody – they can’t find a bit of peace, eat, or even steal away for a quick staff meeting and a day off!

We are told that Jesus sees the need all around him and it moved Him to compassion. Just when Jesus had finally earned some respect and attention for His hard work – the public demands even more.

Even so, Jesus had compassion and ministered to them. But He cannot reach everyone, cannot feed everyone, cannot calm every storm, Jesus needs to do something more than just be the most famous teacher and healer of His day.

This chapter represents the change that begins in Jesus’ ministry; the focus shifts from teaching and healing to becoming a more effective and final solution to human problems. Jesus knows that fame fails, so He begins to show others how he will take on the blame of sin and the world’s problems.

The rest of Mark’s gospel is a march to the cross. From Fame to blame. From blame to shame. .

The Greek philosopher, Cato the Elder, on seeing statues being set up in honor of others, said, "I would rather have people ask 'Why isn't there a statue to Cato than 'Why is there one?'"  We Christians know why there are statues to Jesus!

As humans we spend a lot of time figuring out who’s to blame for our failures and shortcomings. The very root of sin is linked to the feeling that we have to be something more then who we are. We couldn’t accept God’s limits rather than thinking we should have none. We all want to be somebody.

A lot of our current thinking and social issues are linked to how we have come to deal with blame in our modern world. We have cast off the shame of blame for failing to reach fame– it’s not my fault because:

- my parents didn’t love me   - my parents weren’t rich      

- my schools were bad           - my genetics were faulty
- I am being discriminated against                - I was bullied
- nobody gave me a chance                            - I never had the right clothes/friends

 You get the idea – we alibi and undercut ourselves.

Yet we fail to see that casting blame on others is a waste of time. No matter how much fault you find with others, regardless of how much you blame them, it will not change you.

The only thing blame does is to keep the focus off you (and any potential shame) when you are looking for external reasons to explain your unhappiness or frustration. It may actually hinder your seek for resolution as it becomes a barrier to your own responsibility to deal with it.

You may succeed in making others guilty by blaming them, but you won't succeed in changing whatever it is about you that is making you unhappy. It’s hard to confess sin or admit shortcomings if you’re pointing at others.

Our society used to be hinged, not on blame, but to an understanding of avoiding shame. We didn’t do certain things because we were worried about being caught and suffering the shame of our community. People didn’t do things for fear of being found out. We especially don’t fear or are shameful in  the presence of God anymore either. We’ve lost that.

That’s what is so great about Jesus’ death on the cross for our sins. He takes away the blame and shame of our sins and promises us the fame of heaven.

When we repent, are shamed for our sins, we then become ready to be new creatures in Jesus Christ. We must first acknowledge that it we who are to blame for our sins, and we, I, that must make amends.

We are told that heaven rejoices when even just one sinner is restored to God’s family and kingdom.

That’s why He came, that’s why He died, that’s why He rose from the grave, and that’s why He wants a relationship with you.

He doesn’t care if you are famous.

He doesn’t care if you’ve ever done anything noteworthy.

He doesn’t care if you dig ditches.

He doesn’t care if you sell a million records or star in 50 movies.

You must do one thing: Repent and believe in God’s only Son, Jesus Christ; that His death on the cross took the blame for our sins for all eternity.

Not because of what you have done or who you are, but because of what He has done. Amen.

Rubbernecking through Life

“Rubbernecking”  Mark 6: 14-29

One night on a lonely country road a Flying Saucer landed at a gas station. The two aliens inside seemed completely unconcerned about possible detection. In fact, the letters 'UFO' were boldly emblazoned on one side of their space craft. As the station owner stood gawking in amazement and nearly paralyzed by the shock, his young  attendant routinely filled up the tank, received payment and waved as the aliens left.

"Do you realize what just happened?" the station owner finally said. "Yeah," said the young man. "So?" "Didn't you see space aliens in that vehicle?!" "Yeah, So?"

"And didn't you see those letters 'UFO' on the side of that vehicle?!" "Yeah, So?"

"Are you telling me you don't know what 'UFO' means?!" The young attendant rolled his eyes. "Good grief, boss! I've been working here for five years. Of course I know what 'UFO' means - it means 'Unleaded Fuel Only'"

How many of you have heard the term “rubbernecking?” Do you know where it came from? Rubbernecking means to look about or stare with curiosity, as by craning the neck or turning the head. It can also be used as noun to indicate a curious onlooker, sightseer, or tourist. Rubbernecking can be extremely dangerous to others as it disrupts the flow of traffic and blocks the brain’s information processing.

There are many occupations that claim the usage of the word as a derogatory term and inside joke, The term may have first originated with those people who would listen, uninvited, to other people using the telephone on a party line.

(For you younger folks – think of a party line as a cell you have to share with your sister or brother with no privacy.) It was later applied to tourists riding around in tour buses or those people stopping to gawk at accidents and the like.

King Herod heard of it, for Jesus’ name had become known. Some were saying, “John the baptizer has been raised from the dead: and for this reason these powers are at work in him. But others said, “It is Elijah,” And others said, “It is a prophet, like one of the prophets of old.” But when Herod heard of it, he said, “John, whom I beheaded, has been raised.”

For Herod himself had sent men who arrested John, bound him, and put him in prison on account of Herodias, his brother Philip’s wife, because Herod had married her.

For John had been telling Herod, “It is not lawful for you to have your brother’s wife.”

And Herodias had a grudge against him and wanted to kill him. But she could not, for Herod feared John, knowing that he was a righteous and holy man, and he protected him.

When he heard him, he was greatly perplexed; and yet he liked to listen to him.

But an opportunity came when Herod on his birthday gave a banquet for his courtiers and officers and for the leaders of Galilee.

When his daughter Herodias came in and danced, she pleased Herod and his guests; and the king said to the girl, “Ask me for whatever you wish, and I will give it.”And he solemnly swore to her, “Whatever you ask me, I will give you, even half of my kingdom.”

She went out and said to her mother, “What should I ask for?” She replied, “The head of John the baptizer.” Immediately she rushed back to the king and requested, “I want you to give me at once the head of John the Baptist on a platter.”

The king was deeply grieved; yet out of regard for his oaths and for the guests, he did not want to refuse her. Immediately the king sent a soldier of the guard with orders to bring John’s head.

He went and beheaded him in the prison, brought his head on a platter, and gave it to the girl. Then the girl gave it to her mother. When his disciples heard about it, they came and took his body, and laid it in a tomb. (NRSV)

These verses provide us with rich historical detail about central figures in the life and times of Jesus. They give us information that helps us learn about the character and personality of John the Baptist, Jesus, King Herod, Herodias, and Salome.

In the NRSV translation you have to follow the text closely so as to not be confused with the names of Herod’s wife and daughter, as they are two separate people.

The story of John the Baptist’s death is a gruesome one and certainly serves as a warning to Jesus as to the utter ruthlessness of the ruling class of his day.

This passage starts out with King Herod beginning to become aware of Jesus’ increasing reputation in the community and what people are saying about him.

The clear context of the verse suggests Herod knows nothing about Jesus until after John is long dead, and fears that his hand in killing John has come back to haunt him.

There is a verse that jumps out of this text during our reading – the second part of verse 20 that says, “When he heard him, he was greatly perplexed; and yet he liked to listen to him.” We could say that Herod may have acted like a deer caught in the headlights when John was around.

Is Herod rubbernecking during his interactions with John? There are other times when this behavior is readily apparent during Jesus’ ministry in Jerusalem.

Rubbernecking may have been what happened when his step-daughter danced as well. Because of his reaction to her Herod was willing to give anything he had to her. Either way Herod was distracted and dazed and agreed to something he didn’t realize would have serious consequences.

Many people, including Christians, are willing to give up everything for worldly things even if they find Jesus and God interesting but perplexing.

Rubbernecking has been described as a human trait that is associated with morbid curiosity. It can be the cause of traffic jams as drivers slow down to see what happened in a crash. It also causes accidents as drivers become distracted and change their speed while other drivers are also distracted. Rubbernecking has also come to be used more generally to describe voyeuristic interest in someone else's "business" or difficulties.

We’ve all been there – think of the 21^st century term “viral video” and you capture the sense of rubbernecking and gawking. Think “reality TV” and you are there.

How else do you explain the Kardasians, Snooki, Mob wives, Big Ang, and all of the pawn shops and auction programs on TV?

H.L. Mencken once said the word “rubberneck” is "almost a complete expose of American psychology" and "one of the best words ever invented." Was he a prophet?

The lesson here for us is an important one: Do we have a “rubberneck” faith which deserts us when our curiosity and attention to our secular and humanistic culture calls, or are we like the gas station attendant who does his job, keeps the faith, and doesn’t buy into the sensation of the moment, even while others are losing theirs?

Are we caught up in moment or do we maintain an external perspective?

Do you wonder more about how your friends, celebrities, or the fads of the day say about religion and faith than Jesus does in scripture?

Who has the authority over your life – emotions or faith and trust in God?

I personally will try to only rubberneck when I worship God and read scripture.

Will you join me? Amen.