This story works rather like a modern parable based on the principle which comes at the end of our Bible reading today: "…many that are first will be last, and the last first."
That saying, about who will be first and last, is a very Jesus-sounding statement. So many of his memorable sayings remain memorable because they contain a puzzle, or a paradox, or a contradiction. And because they were memorable, they naturally became quotable; and because they were quoted repeatedly by Jesus's followers, they found their way into the speeches set down in writing by the gospel-writers.
Wouldn't you want
to know more about someone who taught in this radically unusual language:
-
love your enemies
- turn the other cheek when someone strikes you
- I came
not to call the righteous, but sinners
- The widow who put the smallest coin
into the Temple treasury actually gave the most
- And - the first shall be
last and the last first.
Thought-provoking, memorable, and perhaps dangerous.
Sayings like this turned the system of moral values of Jesus's time on its head. Some clearly felt it threatened the social fabric of their world. Indeed it was considered sufficiently dangerous to those with vested interests in the status quo - those who considered themselves as among the 'first' in the land - that he needed to be silenced.
Some biblical scholars think that the saying about the first and the last was actually a common saying in wide use among the communities of the time. They argue that Jesus probably did use the phrase, but didn't invent it: in effect, he was using a local, widely-understood piece of daily speech to add weight to the point of his story.
But if we accept that the authentic voice of Jesus is heard most clearly in the gospels when he challenges us to turn the world on its head, and to look at our everyday lives from a whole new perspective, then we need to hear this challenge about role reversal.
And the gospel writers give it plenty of prominence - after all, it's such a memorable turn of phrase.
Our reading came from Mark, chapter 10 where it is attached to a series of stories about the rich entering the Kingdom of Heaven. Matthew in chapter 19 tells the same story, virtually word for word. But then he adds a parable about a householder who hired labourers at various times throughout the day, and chose to pay those who had only worked for him for the last few hours the same amount as he paid to his first recruits of the day, the full, fair agreed daily rate. The story ends with the words:
'"Take what belongs to you and go; I choose to give to this last as I give to you. Am I not allowed to do what I choose with what belongs to me? Or do you begrudge my generosity?" So the last will be first, and the first last.'
In Luke, the saying is attached to another speech in which Jesus says that many will seek to enter salvation through the narrow door and will not be able to do so. And many of the first will be last, and many of the last first.
Perhaps the most complete working out of this revolution in social status comes just a little later in chapter 10 of the Gospel of Mark. Two disciples come forward to Jesus and ask to sit beside him in glory, one on his right and one on his left. Jesus explains that such things are not for him to grant, and the other disciples become indignant with the first two for asking for such personal privileges. And Jesus says to them:
'You know that those who are supposed to rule over the Gentiles lord it over them, and their great men exercise authority over them. But it shall not be so among you; whoever would be great among you must be your servant, and whoever would be first among you must be slave of all. For the Son of Humanity came not to be served, but to serve…'
So, how do we prepare ourselves for the great revolutions and role reversals of our own lives?
Well, the gospels offer only 'tough love' and give challenging answers. If, as Christians, we seek to live by the values of the Kingdom of Heaven rather than by the values of this world, then we must be prepared to serve, rather than expecting to be served; we should be doing unto others as we would have them do unto us; and we must recognise that our status among the first in the line can place us as the last in the line when the focus shifts towards those who have the least or have struggled the most - as it does repeatedly throughout Jesus's teaching .
Gabrielle found that a revolution in her lifestyle awaited her in this world. In a true morality tale, we might wonder whether that role reversal between herself and her servant did anything to change the values by which she approached the rest of her life. And we, the audience at this morality play, should probably be asking ourselves whether our own pursuit of status and power in this world might be laying up some surprising role reversals for us when we finally enter the Kingdom of Heaven; because, whether we hear Jesus say 'The first shall be last and the last first' or whether we hear Yao Lin say to herself with satisfaction, 'What goes around comes around', the principle remains the same.
Amen.
(Philip Jones)
This sermon was first preached in the Metropolitan Community Church
of Manchester. Click here for further information.