Mark 10:32-45
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Read Mark 10:32-45
32 And they were on the road, going up to Jerusalem, and Jesus was walking ahead of them. And they were amazed, and those who followed were afraid. And taking the twelve again, he began to tell them what was to happen to him, 33 saying, “See, we are going up to Jerusalem, and the Son of Man will be delivered over to the chief priests and the scribes, and they will condemn him to death and deliver him over to the Gentiles. 34 And they will mock him and spit on him, and flog him and kill him. And after three days he will rise.” 35 And James and John, the sons of Zebedee, came up to him and said to him, “Teacher, we want you to do for us whatever we ask of you.” 36 And he said to them, “What do you want me to do for you?” 37 And they said to him, “Grant us to sit, one at your right hand and one at your left, in your glory.” 38 Jesus said to them, “You do not know what you are asking. Are you able to drink the cup that I drink, or to be baptized with the baptism with which I am baptized?” 39 And they said to him, “We are able.” And Jesus said to them, “The cup that I drink you will drink, and with the baptism with which I am baptized, you will be baptized, 40 but to sit at my right hand or at my left is not mine to grant, but it is for those for whom it has been prepared.” 41 And when the ten heard it, they began to be indignant at James and John. 42 And Jesus called them to him and said to them, “You know that those who are considered rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and their great ones exercise authority over them. 43 But it shall not be so among you. But whoever would be great among you must be your servant, 44 and whoever would be first among you must be slave of all. 45 For even the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.”
PRAY
Vv. 32-34
Vv. 32-34
It’s so good but gut wrenching at the same time to read in Verse 32 that they were still on their way to Jerusalem, and that Jesus was walking ahead of them…
Mark must have been meditating on the great “Servant Songs” in Isaiah 42-53.
1 Behold my servant, whom I uphold, my chosen, in whom my soul delights; I have put my Spirit upon him; he will bring forth justice to the nations. 2 He will not cry aloud or lift up his voice, or make it heard in the street; 3 a bruised reed he will not break, and a faintly burning wick he will not quench; he will faithfully bring forth justice. 4 He will not grow faint or be discouraged till he has established justice in the earth; and the coastlands wait for his law.
16 And I will lead the blind in a way that they do not know, in paths that they have not known I will guide them. I will turn the darkness before them into light, the rough places into level ground. These are the things I do, and I do not forsake them.
25 “I, I am he who blots out your transgressions for my own sake, and I will not remember your sins.
7 But the Lord God helps me; therefore I have not been disgraced; therefore I have set my face like a flint, and I know that I shall not be put to shame.
2 For he grew up before him like a young plant, and like a root out of dry ground; he had no form or majesty that we should look at him, and no beauty that we should desire him. 3 He was despised and rejected by men, a man of sorrows and acquainted with grief; and as one from whom men hide their faces he was despised, and we esteemed him not. 4 Surely he has borne our griefs and carried our sorrows; yet we esteemed him stricken, smitten by God, and afflicted. 5 But he was pierced for our transgressions; he was crushed for our iniquities; upon him was the chastisement that brought us peace, and with his wounds we are healed. 6 All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned—every one—to his own way; and the Lord has laid on him the iniquity of us all. 7 He was oppressed, and he was afflicted, yet he opened not his mouth; like a lamb that is led to the slaughter, and like a sheep that before its shearers is silent, so he opened not his mouth.
We cannot but admire the courage of God’s Servant as He made His way to Calvary, and we should adore Him all the more because He did it for us.
Vv. 35-45
Vv. 35-45
In light of His announcement, you’re almost embarrassed for James and John, and Mother (Matt. 20), for asking for thrones at His right and left. How could they? So selfish.
- Peter responded to the first announcement by arguing with Jesus.
- The disciples responded to the second announcement by arguing with each other about who would be the greatest.
And now this! These men seemed blind to the meaning of the cross.
But in all actuality. They are claiming a promised given by Jesus in Matthew 19:28.
28 Jesus said to them, “Truly I tell you, in the renewal of all things, when the Son of Man sits on his glorious throne, you who have followed me will also sit on twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel.
This took a great deal of faith on their part to claim! Especially considering that Jesus had announced His death.
There was only one problem with this, they were asking selfishly. James, John and their mother did not realize that prayers and request usually come with a cost. A cost that Jesus will have to pay and even the disciples will have to pay even though they do not yet fully understand.
Jesus compares His impending suffering to the drinking of a cup.
James and John say they are able to drink of this cup when they know nothing of what that means!!
In later years they would indeed drink of the same cup. James would be the fist of the disciples to be martyred by King Herod, and John would suffer great persecution.
THIS SELFISH REQUEST BRINGS DISUNITY TO THE GROUP AS A WHOLE.
THE DISCIPLES WERE CONFUSED AS TO WHAT IT MEANS AND LOOKS LIKE TO BE AN “IMPORTANT PERSON”.
42 And Jesus called them to him and said to them, “You know that those who are considered rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and their great ones exercise authority over them.
The disciples were making the mistake of following the wrong examples. Instead of modeling themselves after Jesus, they were admiring the glory and authority of the Roman rulers, men who loved position and authority.
While there is nothing wrong with aspiring to greatness, we must be careful how we define greatness and why we want to achieve it.
Jesus says...
43 But it shall not be so among you. But whoever would be great among you must be your servant, 44 and whoever would be first among you must be slave of all.
One of the stories that have really impacted my life after hearing it is the story of John Wooden.
John Wooden was a coach in college basketball at UCLA and one of the greatest at that.
Among Wooden's most notable accomplishments at UCLA are
two record-winning streaks: 88 consecutive games (over the course of four seasons) and 38 consecutive NCAA tournament games.
He was named the NCAA's College Basketball Coach of the Year on six occasions (1964, 1967, 1969–70, and 1972–73).
10 National Championships in 12 seasons.
In the middle of this… guess what he was found doing in the middle of the week?
Going into the closet, grabbing a broom and sweeping his own gym floor!
You want to make an impact? Find your broom. Everyday of your life, find your broom. In this way you grow your influence, so that you can impact them for the kingdom of God.
Something I heard yesterday actually that really stuck with me…
Power X Humility = True Influence
One of the most influential, greatest and first place people I know is a MS drop out. My father in law Tony Norway.
I have learned the most from him about being a leader in life than any of the most educated, influential people I know.
He leads not from position, not from education, not from earthly authority; he leads from picking up his broom every day and serving those around him. He still has power about him. But no ego.
One quote I heard from Rick Rigsby says,
“Make sure your servants towel is bigger than your ego.”
You’ll never be great at anything if it’s all about you!
God’s pattern in scripture is that a person must first be a servant before God promotes them to be a ruler. This was true of Joseph, Moses, Joshua, David, Timothy, and even our Lord Himself. (Phil. 2:1-11)