32 Now they were on the road, going up to Jerusalem, and Jesus was going before them; and they were amazed. And as they followed they were afraid. Then He took the twelve aside again and began to tell them the things that would happen to Him: 33 “Behold, we are going up to Jerusalem, and the Son of Man will be betrayed to the chief priests and to the scribes; and they will condemn Him to death and deliver Him to the Gentiles; 34 “and they will mock Him, and scourge Him, and spit on Him, and kill Him. And the third day He will rise again.” 35 Then James and John, the sons of Zebedee, came to Him, saying, “Teacher, we want You to do for us whatever we ask.” 36 And He said to them, “What do you want Me to do for you?” 37 They said to Him, “Grant us that we may sit, one on Your right hand and the other on Your left, in Your glory.” 38 But Jesus said to them, “You do not know what you ask. Are you able to drink the cup that I drink, and be baptized with the baptism that I am baptized with?” 39 They said to Him, “We are able.” So Jesus said to them, “You will indeed drink the cup that I drink, and with the baptism I am baptized with you will be baptized; 40 “but to sit on My right hand and on My left is not Mine to give, but it is for those for whom it is prepared.” 41 And when the ten heard it, they began to be greatly displeased with James and John. 42 But Jesus called them to Himself and said to them, “You know that those who are considered rulers over the Gentiles lord it over them, and their great ones exercise authority over them. 43 “Yet it shall not be so among you; but whoever desires to become great among you shall be your servant. 44 “And whoever of you desires to be first shall be slave of all. 45 “For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life a ransom for many.”
Devotional
Now as Jesus leads the disciples it says that He was going before them, not just physically but spiritually, for He was fully aware what lay ahead of Him at Jerusalem. And yet with boldness and conviction He moves courageously towards His destiny. Now the passage says that as Jesus was going before them that the disciples were amazed, and as they followed Him they were also afraid (vs. 32). Likely being amazed with the purpose and conviction Jesus was going forward, but likely also afraid (phobeo) because they as yet did not understand all that it would entail for Him or likely themselves.
So Jesus knowing their trepidation takes the twelve aside and begins to tell them again all that will happen to Him and says: “Behold, we are going up to Jerusalem, and the Son of Man will be betrayed to the chief priests and to the scribes; and they will condemn Him to death and deliver Him to the Gentiles; 34 “and they will mock Him, and scourge Him, and spit on Him, and kill Him. And the third day He will rise again.” Vs. 33-34
Jesus had already spoken about this to the disciples, (Mark 8:31-9:1) but now with a greater urgency Jesus again tells the disciples again what is about to happen to Him. Now within Jesus’ graphic Words of His humiliation and death is His declaration of the eternal victory He will achieve with His death, then His resurrection on the third day for us all who believe. For through Jesus Christ’s crucifixion death, then His resurrection from the dead, God will accomplish victory over sin and death, and strip Satan of his power over death, which came to him because of mankind’s fall into sin and thus death when Adam and Eve transgressed against Him. Therefore Jesus Christ’s resurrection must proceed everyone else’s who believes in Him, so that we too can likewise rise from the dead to new everlasting life with Him. A resurrection life that began to be poured out into believer’s lives after Jesus’ own resurrection, then His ascension back to the God the Father, forty days after He rose from the dead on the third day. At which time He sent the Holy Spirit into the believer lives at Pentecost, which He continues to send into everyone who believes in Him, until His triumphant return for His own. Therefore Jesus Christ’s disciples will find that Jesus’ sufferings (to lesser or greater degrees) will likewise become their own. For as with the Lord Jesus Christ who first endured suffering and humiliation at the hands of sinful and wicked men before His own resurrection glory, so too must those who believe in Him. Therefore Jesus Words here are for the disciple’s encouragement, as these words are. That their faith might not fail when they encounter these things (Rom. 8:17), for truly Jesus Christ had to suffer many things and be crucified, then rise from the dead, so that He might bring many sons and daughters through faith in His Person into God’s eternal glory (Rom. 10:9-10, 13).
Now that’s the first part of the passage. And so with Jesus’ declaration of His humiliation and death, then His resurrection from the dead, He seems to have quelled the disciple’s fears. Yet in receiving the Word of God about Christ’s glory (and our living hope) through Jesus’ own resurrection from the dead (1 Peter 1:3), the brothers James and John only show (at that time) their carnal nature as Peter did when Jesus previously foretold these things to the twelve (See Mark 8:31-9:1). In that they only seek for themselves places of privileges with the Lord Jesus, saying: “Grant us that we may sit, one on Your right hand and the other on Your left, in Your glory.” Vs. 37
Now Jesus’ response is interesting in that He first seeks to quell their selfish ambitions by saying “You do not know what you ask. Are you able to drink the cup that I drink, and be baptized with the baptism that I am baptized with?” vs. 38 To which they respond rather unabashedly, saying: “We are able” vs. 39 A rather audacious assertion given what Jesus just foretold. That it is only He who can suffer and die, and rise again for the sin of the world. Nonetheless Jesus graciously responds to them again by saying: …“You will indeed drink the cup that I drink, and with the baptism I am baptized with you will be baptized; 40 “but to sit on My right hand and on My left is not Mine to give, but it is for those for whom it is prepared.” Vs. 39-40 Now in Jesus’ response first there is His foretelling of every believer’s co-death (i.e. “drink the cup”) and baptism with Himself. After He first attains to it for us all, then as people come to believe in Him, crucified and risen from the dead, they will share in it (See John 15:19-21; Rom. 6:1-11; Gal. 2:20). Now Jesus concludes His response to John and James request to sit at His right and His left in glory by indicating that it is not in the Will of God for Him to dish out places of privilege according to their (or any other) disciples desires, but rather “…it is for those for whom it is prepared.” For Jesus already promised the twelve disciples, “Assuredly I say to you, that in the regeneration, when the Son of Man sits on the throne of His glory, you who have followed Me will also sit on twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel.” Matt. 19:28 James and John’s request then was simply pure selfishness, at a time when Jesus was trying to prepare them (and Himself) for what lay ahead of them.
Now when the ten heard it the Scripture says that they began to be greatly displeased with James and John (vs. 41.). Notice that they began to be greatly displeased, but Jesus interceded before their displeasure could arise further. Instead Jesus calls all the disciples to Himself and says to us all: …“You know that those who are considered rulers over the Gentiles lord it over them, and their great ones exercise authority over them. 43 “Yet it shall not be so among you; but whoever desires to become great among you shall be your servant. 44 “And whoever of you desires to be first shall be slave of all. 45 “For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life a ransom for many.” Vs. 42-45
Notice, Jesus says those who are considered rulers, lit. “rule” (i.e. are first in political rank or power, Strong’s) amongst the Gentiles lord it over them. For that that is what the Gentiles, and thus Jesus means unbelievers do; both in politics and in business, or wherever power is wielded and coveted. Therefore in contrast to how the world generally operates and defines a person’s significance; by what men and women attain for themselves, Jesus says: 43 “Yet it shall not be so among you; but whoever desires to become great among you shall be your servant. 44 “And whoever of you desires to be first shall be slave of all. 45 “For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life a ransom for many.” Vs. 43-45
Notice that Jesus says if one desire to become great, they must be your servant and whoever desires to be first must be a slave of all. Now Jesus Words are not just an antidote to selfish ambition, though they certainly will quell that. But rather they are a command by which His leadership is to be defined and enacted. For Jesus concludes His mandate by saying: “For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life a ransom for many.” Therefore Jesus Words are not an injunction against structures of leadership in the church, or anywhere else. For Jesus had already commissioned the twelve as His Apostles who would go on and lead and guide the early church. But for now they needed to learn what Kingdom leadership is to be like, for Jesus is not calling His disciples; and that means all of us who believe in Him; to worldly ambition, but rather servant hood with Him, and thus if someone desires to become great, than they shall be a servant of all. Not a lord, not a worldly ruler, but a servant of all of God’s people. For that is how the Lord Jesus Christ Himself lived. “For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life a ransom for many.” Mark 10:45
Therefore greatness in the Kingdom of heaven is not, nor will it be measured by the positions of privilege one attains to, or by the power one yields, rather how they follow Christ in caring for and serving His people. Therefore the Biblical motif of the shepherd leading, seeking and caring for his flock in both Testaments, is the only model on how God’s people are to be shepherded (Num. 27:16-20; Isaiah 40:10-11; Luke 15:1-7: Ezekiel 34:1-16; John 10:11-18; 21:15-19; Acts 20:28-38; Heb. 13:20-21; 1 Peter 5:1-5 etc.).
Scripture Quotations:
The Holy Bible, New King James Version, (Nashville, Tennessee: Thomas Nelson, Inc.) 1982.
Additional Resources:
New Strong’s dictionary of Hebrew and Greek words, James Strong editor, (Nashville: Thomas Nelson) 1997, c1996.
Also consulted the King James Bible Commentary on verses Mark 10:38-40: Jerry Falwell, executive editor; Edward E. Hinson and Michael Kroll Woodrow, general editors.
Devotional
Now as Jesus leads the disciples it says that He was going before them, not just physically but spiritually, for He was fully aware what lay ahead of Him at Jerusalem. And yet with boldness and conviction He moves courageously towards His destiny. Now the passage says that as Jesus was going before them that the disciples were amazed, and as they followed Him they were also afraid (vs. 32). Likely being amazed with the purpose and conviction Jesus was going forward, but likely also afraid (phobeo) because they as yet did not understand all that it would entail for Him or likely themselves.
So Jesus knowing their trepidation takes the twelve aside and begins to tell them again all that will happen to Him and says: “Behold, we are going up to Jerusalem, and the Son of Man will be betrayed to the chief priests and to the scribes; and they will condemn Him to death and deliver Him to the Gentiles; 34 “and they will mock Him, and scourge Him, and spit on Him, and kill Him. And the third day He will rise again.” Vs. 33-34
Jesus had already spoken about this to the disciples, (Mark 8:31-9:1) but now with a greater urgency Jesus again tells the disciples again what is about to happen to Him. Now within Jesus’ graphic Words of His humiliation and death is His declaration of the eternal victory He will achieve with His death, then His resurrection on the third day for us all who believe. For through Jesus Christ’s crucifixion death, then His resurrection from the dead, God will accomplish victory over sin and death, and strip Satan of his power over death, which came to him because of mankind’s fall into sin and thus death when Adam and Eve transgressed against Him. Therefore Jesus Christ’s resurrection must proceed everyone else’s who believes in Him, so that we too can likewise rise from the dead to new everlasting life with Him. A resurrection life that began to be poured out into believer’s lives after Jesus’ own resurrection, then His ascension back to the God the Father, forty days after He rose from the dead on the third day. At which time He sent the Holy Spirit into the believer lives at Pentecost, which He continues to send into everyone who believes in Him, until His triumphant return for His own. Therefore Jesus Christ’s disciples will find that Jesus’ sufferings (to lesser or greater degrees) will likewise become their own. For as with the Lord Jesus Christ who first endured suffering and humiliation at the hands of sinful and wicked men before His own resurrection glory, so too must those who believe in Him. Therefore Jesus Words here are for the disciple’s encouragement, as these words are. That their faith might not fail when they encounter these things (Rom. 8:17), for truly Jesus Christ had to suffer many things and be crucified, then rise from the dead, so that He might bring many sons and daughters through faith in His Person into God’s eternal glory (Rom. 10:9-10, 13).
Now that’s the first part of the passage. And so with Jesus’ declaration of His humiliation and death, then His resurrection from the dead, He seems to have quelled the disciple’s fears. Yet in receiving the Word of God about Christ’s glory (and our living hope) through Jesus’ own resurrection from the dead (1 Peter 1:3), the brothers James and John only show (at that time) their carnal nature as Peter did when Jesus previously foretold these things to the twelve (See Mark 8:31-9:1). In that they only seek for themselves places of privileges with the Lord Jesus, saying: “Grant us that we may sit, one on Your right hand and the other on Your left, in Your glory.” Vs. 37
Now Jesus’ response is interesting in that He first seeks to quell their selfish ambitions by saying “You do not know what you ask. Are you able to drink the cup that I drink, and be baptized with the baptism that I am baptized with?” vs. 38 To which they respond rather unabashedly, saying: “We are able” vs. 39 A rather audacious assertion given what Jesus just foretold. That it is only He who can suffer and die, and rise again for the sin of the world. Nonetheless Jesus graciously responds to them again by saying: …“You will indeed drink the cup that I drink, and with the baptism I am baptized with you will be baptized; 40 “but to sit on My right hand and on My left is not Mine to give, but it is for those for whom it is prepared.” Vs. 39-40 Now in Jesus’ response first there is His foretelling of every believer’s co-death (i.e. “drink the cup”) and baptism with Himself. After He first attains to it for us all, then as people come to believe in Him, crucified and risen from the dead, they will share in it (See John 15:19-21; Rom. 6:1-11; Gal. 2:20). Now Jesus concludes His response to John and James request to sit at His right and His left in glory by indicating that it is not in the Will of God for Him to dish out places of privilege according to their (or any other) disciples desires, but rather “…it is for those for whom it is prepared.” For Jesus already promised the twelve disciples, “Assuredly I say to you, that in the regeneration, when the Son of Man sits on the throne of His glory, you who have followed Me will also sit on twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel.” Matt. 19:28 James and John’s request then was simply pure selfishness, at a time when Jesus was trying to prepare them (and Himself) for what lay ahead of them.
Now when the ten heard it the Scripture says that they began to be greatly displeased with James and John (vs. 41.). Notice that they began to be greatly displeased, but Jesus interceded before their displeasure could arise further. Instead Jesus calls all the disciples to Himself and says to us all: …“You know that those who are considered rulers over the Gentiles lord it over them, and their great ones exercise authority over them. 43 “Yet it shall not be so among you; but whoever desires to become great among you shall be your servant. 44 “And whoever of you desires to be first shall be slave of all. 45 “For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life a ransom for many.” Vs. 42-45
Notice, Jesus says those who are considered rulers, lit. “rule” (i.e. are first in political rank or power, Strong’s) amongst the Gentiles lord it over them. For that that is what the Gentiles, and thus Jesus means unbelievers do; both in politics and in business, or wherever power is wielded and coveted. Therefore in contrast to how the world generally operates and defines a person’s significance; by what men and women attain for themselves, Jesus says: 43 “Yet it shall not be so among you; but whoever desires to become great among you shall be your servant. 44 “And whoever of you desires to be first shall be slave of all. 45 “For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life a ransom for many.” Vs. 43-45
Notice that Jesus says if one desire to become great, they must be your servant and whoever desires to be first must be a slave of all. Now Jesus Words are not just an antidote to selfish ambition, though they certainly will quell that. But rather they are a command by which His leadership is to be defined and enacted. For Jesus concludes His mandate by saying: “For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life a ransom for many.” Therefore Jesus Words are not an injunction against structures of leadership in the church, or anywhere else. For Jesus had already commissioned the twelve as His Apostles who would go on and lead and guide the early church. But for now they needed to learn what Kingdom leadership is to be like, for Jesus is not calling His disciples; and that means all of us who believe in Him; to worldly ambition, but rather servant hood with Him, and thus if someone desires to become great, than they shall be a servant of all. Not a lord, not a worldly ruler, but a servant of all of God’s people. For that is how the Lord Jesus Christ Himself lived. “For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life a ransom for many.” Mark 10:45
Therefore greatness in the Kingdom of heaven is not, nor will it be measured by the positions of privilege one attains to, or by the power one yields, rather how they follow Christ in caring for and serving His people. Therefore the Biblical motif of the shepherd leading, seeking and caring for his flock in both Testaments, is the only model on how God’s people are to be shepherded (Num. 27:16-20; Isaiah 40:10-11; Luke 15:1-7: Ezekiel 34:1-16; John 10:11-18; 21:15-19; Acts 20:28-38; Heb. 13:20-21; 1 Peter 5:1-5 etc.).
Scripture Quotations:
The Holy Bible, New King James Version, (Nashville, Tennessee: Thomas Nelson, Inc.) 1982.
Additional Resources:
New Strong’s dictionary of Hebrew and Greek words, James Strong editor, (Nashville: Thomas Nelson) 1997, c1996.
Also consulted the King James Bible Commentary on verses Mark 10:38-40: Jerry Falwell, executive editor; Edward E. Hinson and Michael Kroll Woodrow, general editors.
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