Diametric Life: Mark 9:19-20
Community is a pull between opposite dynamics. It is a double-edged sword. There is joy in togetherness, but also clashes between differences. There is celebration in community, but also loss. There is joy in growth, but also frustration in failure. One of the hardest parts of community is holding polar ideas in tension and struggling for balance.
Jesus responds to the report from the son’s father with two questions. Jesus first asks, “How long will I be with you all?” Jesus knows the crucifixion is rapidly approaching. After the crucifixion will come the resurrection, the post-resurrection appearances, and finally the ascension. Then Jesus is gone. It is great putting God’s power on display with the people. It is great watching His disciples grow in their ability to think and help others find God. But time is limited. The community He’s spent blood, sweat, and tears creating is going to change. He is not always going to be physically present to lay a hand on someone to heal them.
His question is also a warning. While Jesus knows how short the time is, the disciples don’t. The crowd doesn’t. Jesus does a great job as a mentor in asking a poignant question to prompt thought in His disciples. Mentors can see the bigger picture; questions are a phenomenal tool for mentors to use to open thoughts in the minds of others.
Jesus’ follow-up question is counterpoint to the first. Jesus asks, “How long am I to bear with you all?” Here the emphasis is not on the time together; rather, the emphasis is upon how the people are not growing like they should. The crowds are still pursuing the moment rather than the deeper truth that comes with relationship with God. The disciples clearly have lessons to learn because this spirit had beaten the collective strength of the disciples. The religious elite are still looking to battle Jesus instead of listen to Him. When it comes to living in truth, human progress is deceptively slow.
In asking this question, Jesus gives insight into the struggle in being a mentor. Mentors teach the same lessons over and over. Sometimes this is because someone new comes and the process begins afresh. Sometimes this is because the mentee doesn’t catch on and needs multiple opportunities to learn. Whatever the reason, as Jesus shows in this second question, mentoring can be exasperating. That isn’t a reason to quit or judge others. Jesus acknowledges the moment of annoyance and promptly continues with the Lord’s work. Working with people can be exasperating, but it is what God has called us to do.
Jesus holds these two qualities together in one moment. He wants to be in the community, yet He is exasperated by the community. He is joyful and sorrowful at the same time. He is satisfied in His calling yet annoyed at how slow humans are to learn. Community is a pull between opposite dynamics.
