Lord and servants

It was just before the Passover Feast. Jesus knew that the time had come for him to leave this world and go to the Father. Having loved his own who were in the world, he now showed them the full extent of his love.
The evening meal was being served, and the devil had already prompted Judas Iscariot, son of Simon, to betray Jesus. Jesus knew that the Father had put all things under his power, and that he had come from God and was returning to God; so he got up from the meal, took off his outer clothing, and wrapped a towel around his waist. After that, he poured water into a basin and began to wash his disciples' feet, drying them with the towel that was wrapped around him.

...

When he had finished washing their feet, he put on his clothes and returned to his place. "Do you understand what I have done for you?" he asked them. "You call me 'Teacher' and 'Lord,' and rightly so, for that is what I am. Now that I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also should wash one another's feet. I have set you an example that you should do as I have done for you. I tell you the truth, no servant is greater than his master, nor is a messenger greater than the one who sent him. Now that you know these things, you will be blessed if you do them.
John 13:1-17

How great a part of all human social interactions really boil down to one great pyramid game? We accept subjection in one sphere of our lives in order to get that feeling of collective identity we seemingly can´t live without; in another sphere we put ourselves in a position to subdue others so we maintain a feeling of control of our existence, also something that seems like a primal human need. When it comes to friends, we allow ourselves to be dominated by the rich and beautiful so some of the glamour rubs off on our own not-so-humble selves. When no one else watches we have relationships with the local geeks and nerds who willingly accept to be dominated.

Am I being cynic? Well, anyway, Jesus calls us away from this great pyramid game, basically puts it on it´s tip, and lo and behold, it stands up and won´t fall over anytime soon (though the church often makes it wobble quite a bit). We´re called upon to serve the down-and-out, and let the great of this world be. They don´t need us, they need God, and us admiring them deceives them into thinking they´re really their own gods, because really, admiration should be reserved for gods and other deitys. (One in number...) And this is not just a moral command from our leader, He did it, worthy of all praise and admiration he came to serve all with his own life and death, sparing nothing for himself, subjected under not just those who loved him, but his enemies as well. For the cool and un-cool.

But why does the church have hierarchy? Because it has, and according to the Bible what´s the way it should be. That doesn´t seem very democratic or egalitarian or twentyfirst century? In fact, the very word “hierarchy” means priestly rule and is derived from Christianity. Just as God is lord, brother and friend, so the church both demands obedience and offers obedience. It´s a fellowship of brothers and sisters, but also the body of Christ and Jesus is the head of that body. What he says goes.

That obedience of the believer is not restricted to the direct words of Christ, but also those who in his likeness are shepherds to the flock (that´s us and me!) For instance, we in the diocese of Växjö this very week welcome a new bishop, Sven Thidevall. So we in this little part of the world are actually obliged to pray for him and be obedient and support his leadership, no matter what feelings contemporary society have about authority.

In general though, the church have greater need of friends and companions than leaders, and that´s quite comforting. We´re doing an Alpha course in our church where I help out a bit. If I had any images of this making me some kind of guru, those where quickly dispelled. Thank God, I can say in retrospect (it might have felt a wee bit attractive before the course started). It´s so much greater to walk together and share a journey and experiences, than walking in front and hoping your ass will lead the way for those behind you. And a lot funnier...

Then James and John, the sons of Zebedee, came to him. "Teacher," they said, "we want you to do for us whatever we ask."
"What do you want me to do for you?" he asked.
They replied, "Let one of us sit at your right and the other at your left in your glory."
"You don't know what you are asking," Jesus said. "Can you drink the cup I drink or be baptized with the baptism I am baptized with?"
"We can," they answered. Jesus said to them, "You will drink the cup I drink and be baptized with the baptism I am baptized with, but to sit at my right or left is not for me to grant. These places belong to those for whom they have been prepared."
When the ten heard about this, they became indignant with James and John. Jesus called them together and said, "You know that those who are regarded as rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and their high officials exercise authority over them. Not so with you. Instead, whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant, and whoever wants to be first must be slave of all. For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many."
Mark 10:35-45