Journal: Faith and Mission
Volume: FM 05:1 (Fall 1987)
Article: Choices: To Exercise Or Surrender Pastoral Authority— A Theological Reflection
Author: Neal Jones

FM 5:1 (Fall 1987) p. 37

Choices: To Exercise Or Surrender Pastoral Authority—
A Theological Reflection

Neal Jones

Resident Chaplain,
N.C. Baptist Hospital

Then the mother of the sons of Zebedee came up to him with her sons, and kneeling before him she asked him for something. And he said to her, “What do you want?” She said to him, “Command that these two sons of mine may sit, one at your right hand and one at your left, in your kingdom. But Jesus answered, “You do not know what you are asking. Are you able to drink the cup that I am to drink?” They said to him, “We are able.” He said to them, “You will drink my cup, but to sit at my right hand and at my left is not mine to grant, but it is for those for whom it has been prepared by my Father.”

And when the ten heard it, they were indignant at the two brothers. But Jesus called them to him and said, “You know that the rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and their great men exercise authority over them. It shall not be so among you: but whoever would be great among you must be your servant, and whoever would be first among you must be your slave; even as the Son of man came not to be served but to serve and to give his life as a ransom for many” (Mt. 20:20–28).

The anxious mother had an urgent need to see him. She had come to trust him, and now she had come for his help.

Jesus and Chaplain Baroody found themselves in similar situations, yet their responses to a cry for help were very dissimilar. This difference is worth noting, for it sheds valuable light on the meaning and exercise of pastoral authority.

I think it is significant that Jesus asks the mother of James and John to define what she wants. All of us know from experience that what we want does not always correspond to what we need. Desire grows out of need but may be misdirected in its quest to fulfil need. This seems to be the case in both the above biblical narrative and the case study. Each woman makes an inappropriate request pursuant to her respective need. In accordance with her role as mother, Salome wants the best for her two sons. She wants them to enjoy positions of power and prestige in what she expects to be Jesus’ political kingdom. Yet Jesus knows that the nature of the spirit of domination is not the best for James and John, or anyone else for that matter. He consequently judges her request in light of its misdirection: “You do not know what you are asking.”

FM 5:1 (Fall 1987) p. 38

Ann, too, has needs, though the needs which precipitate her visit to Chaplain Baroody’s office and her talk of suicide are not clearly apparent. Perhaps her desperation i...