“Not so with you”
Please do not miss the heightening tension and growing darkness. Also, do not miss who is “leading the way” toward Jerusalem. Recall all the times Jesus has told his disciples and others to “Tell no one” about being healed of an illness, or have an evil spirit cast out or recognizing Jesus as the long awaited Messiah. Now, Jesus begins to publicly embrace being the Messiah. He directly tells his disciples for the third time about his impending death.
What do the specifics Jesus reveals about his death tell us? Being handed over to the Gentiles and Jewish religious leaders? Being “condemned?” Being mocked, spit on, flogged and killed?
Jesus clearly explains that his destiny is to die, which as you will agree naturally leads to James and John asking Jesus in Mark 10:37, “Let one of us sit at your right and the other at your left in your glory.” Notice how Jesus responds. He gives them the room to openly reveal the state of their hearts.
Why do you think James and John thought this was a good request to ask of Jesus? How did they miss Jesus speaking of suffering only to ask for a place of honor?
What does this say about their expectations of the Kingdom Jesus has been speaking about?
How would you have responded if you were one of the disciples? Assume you know only what they know to this point in Mark’s account.
Jesus then uses there misunderstanding that reveal their self-centered hearts to teach them again about how they will live in the Kingdom. The words of Jesus turn on its head all the values we hold dear. Really, even many Christian leaders in the church and in the world seemly ignore these words. Yes, they are difficult to wrap our brains around.
First, how might Jesus expect us to live out this Kingdom value or value of life ruled by God, where Jesus says, “Whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant, and whoever wants to be first must be slave of all.”
How would this life of being servant and slave of all look like in your own life? What do you think or who do you think Jesus means when he says “all?”
Then, as if Jesus knows we will need not only an example to follow but also the renewed life to follow, Jesus tells his followers in Mark 10:45, “For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.”
Ponder what this say about the work of Jesus on the cross. Based on these verses, what does Jesus accomplish in his death on the cross?
Again, looking to these words of Mark, why is it important for us to understand what Jesus does on the cross? How does this guide our living?
There is a lot going on here. You might want to look at one section at a time. Mark 10:32-34; Mark 10:35-41; and then Mark 10:42-45.
See you Sunday.
Picture thanks to hugues-de-buyer-mimeure-unsplash