Follow Jesus Series

Keys of Courageous Faith:

Follow

Mark 10:32-52

Introduction

Today we conclude our series on Keys of Courageous Faith. We are following the development of the faith of the disciples. Like us, sometimes they demonstrate great faith. Sometimes they fail. Always they follow Jesus. Courage calls us to follow Jesus.

Mark 10:23a “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.”

Swindoll: “Like all good Jewish men, He had attended the three required festivals each year since at least His twelfth birthday…This time He would walk into Jerusalem only to walk out bearing a cross on His back. Death waited for Him there, and he knew it.” He is determined to go to Jerusalem. This is a somber walk to his death. His followers are trying to come to grips with it. It’s the passover. Thousands of people would be on this road up to Jerusalem. Jericho sits about 18 miles northwest of Jerusalem- a newly rebuilt city - a winter palace for Herod - the City of Roses - where the wealth and strength of Rome is on display. The road from Jericho to Jerusalem passed through desolate mountainous country and was notoriously unsafe, but much travelled.

There are three passion narratives in Mark - three times that Jesus tells his disciples what to expect - each one with more detail. This is his third explanation for them. (Vs. 32b-34 ESV)

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.”

This is a highly emotional text - the courage and determination of Jesus - the fear and amazement of the disciples. Jesus is well known at this time, and as they travel a highly populated route toward Jerusalem through a key city, people would see him and know who he was. A crowd would follow him, knowing that the miracle worker was passing through their area once again. There are three segments in this text, and each one points us to following Jesus. In the first segment, James and John respond to the message Jesus just gave them.

1. Follow Jesus to the Cross (Mark 10:35-40)

Mark 10:35-40 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.”

“James and John want to turn Jesus’ messianic journey to Jerusalem into a march to glory - a glory in which they will sit on either side of him when he reigns as king.” - Wright

This was a complete failure to hear Jesus and take him at his word. Despite the inappropriateness of their question, Jesus does not rebuke James and John, but affirms the suffering to come. Vs 38 “Are you able to drink the cup that I drink, or to be baptized with the baptism with which I am baptized?” This question calls for a negative reply! Jesus affirmed that they would follow him to the cross. James was the first to be martyred by King Herod. John was tortured and banished to Patmos.

Anytime we begin to think that the call to Christianity is a call to glory, riches, fame, or ease, we have missed the message of the cross. No doubt there are blessings to being a Christian - Promise, Hope, Eternal life, Grace, and a Peace that passes understanding. However, ease and trouble-free living in a world that is running in the opposite direction is never promised. We are following Jesus to the cross as well - and some will turn away when it gets hard. Courageous faith continues onward, knowing that in the end, King Jesus reigns forever!