A Child Shall Lead Them- Inspired by Cohen and the Boy in the Red Sweater; Sermon on Mark 10:32-45

Rev. George Miller
March 1, 2020
Mark 10:32-45

The other day while leaving the hospital there was a young child walking with his grandmother.

He was the cutest little pumpkin head you could imagine. Wearing neatly cuffed blue jeans, a smart red sweater over a blue and white gingham shirt.

One hand held onto his grandmother; the other held a toy that was ½ his size.

As they slowly walked outside his head turned to a nearby van where there were sounds of a crying child.

The entire time his legs stepped forward, his eyes stayed focused on the source of the crying.

“Baby” he said.

“Yes,” said grandma, patiently beside him. “Looks like she’s just a few months younger than you.”

Sneakers still moving forward, head still turned right, eyes still laser focused, he said “Crying.”

Grandma said “I don’t know why she’s crying.”

Not once did that precious child take his eyes off that baby and its tears.

I felt I had just witnessed something I’d never seen before-

Human empathy in its purest form.

This child was so aware, so in tune with the pain and cries of another, so aware that he was hearing another child’s emotional expression, that it was as if they were 1 being in 2 bodies.

It was…a miracle.

To witness what true empathy looks like- a face that does not look away.

To witness what true empathy sounds like; an innocent statement in 2 powerful words- Baby. Crying.

So pure. So unaltered.

A look at what love and empathy looks like before the world takes hold and tells you how to think, what to say.

If grandma was not holding onto his hand he would’ve run over to that baby to do what he could to address her tears.

I hope that for the rest of my life, when someone asks me what empathy looks like, I will remember that boy in the red sweater, allowing his image to shape how to interact with others.

“…and a little child shall lead them…”

The last time we celebrated a child was 11 weeks ago when we welcomed the birth of Jesus, Emmanuel, God With Us.

For 2 months we’ve witnessed what it’s like when God slipped into our flesh to walk amongst us, to share in our sufferings and to experience our joys.

What we witnessed in Jesus was great empathy; proof that we are descendants of a God who cares.

Jesus displayed this great empathy in nearly everything he did.

Like that boy in the red sweater, Jesus did not ignore the cries of God’s children.

Jesus met a man living with leprosy and was moved with pity.

Jesus saw a roof raised and a body lowered, and responded with words of forgiveness and restoration.

Jesus sat and ate with the unpopular kids, no matter what the cool kids said.

When Jesus found out folk were hungry, he fed them.

When he saw someone bound in chains, he freed him.

When a father begged for help, he responded. When a desperate woman interrupted, he listened.

When Jesus looked upon a man possessed by possessions, he loved him.

Again and again we see the empathy that Jesus possessed and shared.

So much empathy that the world did not know what to do with him…

…so they humiliated him in his hometown. Big city folk came down to the farms just to judge his actions.

Eventually after all his talk of God’s Kingdom, and last will be first, it seemed the only solution was to punish him, that innocent Christmas baby who grew into an adult with empathy.

At Tuesday’s Bible Study, we had a lively discussion about the crucifixion- why did it happen, what does it mean?

There are many theories and theologies about the crucifixion.

His death was sacrifice.
His death was a ransom for our lives.
He died for our sins.
He died to buy us back from Satan.
He died to appease an angry God.

We’re not going to explore those options today, but here’s what I believe-

Jesus lived during a time in which the Romans persecuted those who were seen as a threat to the system.

I believe Jesus knew that one couldn’t be empathic, prophetic, and articulate without being punished in some way or form.

I’d argue that Jesus knew reaching out, speaking up, caring for the least of these could lead him to the cross-

…and still he chose to press on.

The Greeks would say that Jesus was willing to endure suffering for honor and obedience to a more noble cause.

Sadly, for some reason the ones who show empathy seems to be the ones punished by a jaded, wearied world.

Allow me to share a recent community experience.

A month ago a mother in the community reached out to our church.

Her 5th grade son named Cohen was preparing an anti-bullying presentation for his class to encourage kindness and to prevent suicide.

Cohen was told his presentation was too controversial to give.

Why? Because he was encouraging folks not to bully people who identify as LGBTQ.

His mother felt this was unjust and reached out the school board.

1st she was told Cohen could give his presentation to just the teachers, but after pressing on, they said Cohen could present to his classmates…

…if his manuscript was approved and after a notice was sent out to parents giving them the opportunity to opt their child out.

I was invited to proof-read Cohen’s speech, and he was such a polite, endearing child with big eyes and a mind that took everything in.

Fortunately, Cohen’s manuscript was approved, and he was granted permission to present it to his class.

Only half the students were present; the other half pulled out by their parents…

We’re going to stop right here for a moment.

What we just heard was an experience of the cross.

Cohen had been made to feel rejected and “inappropriate.”

The pain. The shame. The heartbreak one endures on behalf of a world that is not ready to move from condemnation.

…but as Christians, the story does not end there. Why?

Because WE PRESS ON.

Jesus’ story may have led to the cross, but it did not end there.

His story went beyond pain and shame into something much greater and everlasting.

Jesus’ story moved from the cross into the resurrection and Good News.

The Good News that when the world says “no”, God says “YES!”

When the world says “be quiet”, God says “SPEAK UP!”

When the world says “dull your light”, God says “LET IT SHINE, LET IT SHINE, LET IT SHINE!”

Rome tried to instill fear and shame into Jesus and to shut him up with the cross, but God said-

“Oh no honey, not a chance! Justice, Kindness, and Humility cannot be contained!”

…And Cohen? Well here is his good news- Wednesday morning he got to give his speech, and in the words of Cohen, he “Killed it.”

When his speech was over the applause was louder, longer than for anyone else, even with the room half empty.

The entire class clapped. His teacher said his speech will not be graded on attendance but the same rubric she used for everyone else.

He left class that day feeling happy and proud and looking forward to possibly engaging in further competition.

His Mom has used this experience to help start a gay/straight alliance at Florida State College where she works.

That’s resurrection.

…and a little child shall lead them…

As we continue with Jesus along the way to Jerusalem, on his way to the cross, we will continue to wonder what this all means, and why did he die.

But let us also ask yourself- why do we, and the rest of the world, continue to persecute and punish those who have empathy, those who do good, and those who ask for fairness and compassion for all?

As we continue to journey with Jesus, think of Cohen creating a speech that says “stop bullying and save lives.”

Think of that little boy in the red sweater who could not ignore the sound of another child crying.

Think of that baby born in the manger.

Think of how each of us have a child inside of us, holding onto the hand of our heavenly ancestor, hearing what’s around, and inspired to speak out.

Amen and amen.