Mark 10:32-45 (NKJV)
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."
Verse 38- You Do Not Know What You Ask
The disciples agreed to something that they had no idea of all the implications of what they were agreeing too.
Just like we do...."Yes, I'll marry you!"
If people knew what their future spouse was like, I mean real like!
There would be fewer divorces, because there would be fewer marriages.
"Yes, I'll take that new job, or that promotion!"
Oh, if we only knew sometimes, what that entails!!!
We would stay right where we are at, realizing that 50 cent raise is not worth it.
"I can fix that, we don't need to call a professional!"
I'm not even going to comment on that one!!
Verse 39- 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;
Think of this way….Let’s say someone came to and said, “I will pay off all you debts, and I will deposit enough money into your account, that any new debts you accumulate, after you inform me about them, will be paid in full.”
And you knew that person had the resources and willingness to do it, and all you have to do is except what that person is offering, to except what that person is sacrificing to do!!
The cup…..The wrath of God upon man’s sin!!
The baptism….Is being submerged in the judgement of God!!
I don’t have to go thru what Jesus went thru, because He went thru it for me!!
I don’t have to drink the bitter cup of judgement, because He drank it for me!!
I don’t have to be baptized in the vengeance of God being pour out because of my sins, because He did that for me!!
All I have to do is except the fact that He did it!!
I don’t owe a debt, because He paid it!!
This statement of you will drink, you will be baptized….Is helping His followers, His believers, identify with His suffering, His sacrifice, because we will suffer for our beliefs, we will endure persecution for our faith, not only from Satan, but from this world!!
But suffering, and persecution, does not merit….Position in the Kingdom of God!!
James and John came to Jesus because they thought they were entitled to something, (I’m sorry to say but that’s the way many Christians come to God) but Jesus is going to show them that they have been given something better that they can ask for!!
We come to God in prayer and the truth is, if we would listen to what we are saying to God, it comes across as if God owes us, because we been following Him, because better than other people because we put more money in the offering, because we been a church member longer and the list goes on!!!
Jesus could have put them in their place, but He doesn’t stop them, He lets them reveal what is in their heart!!
God does that to us too, He could keep us quiet, (Have you ever wonder why when somebody that is a Christian is just running at mouth, about people, why God doesn’t just, knock them to the ground and say, Peace Be Still!) because wants us to look at them listen to them, so that we will see in them what we don’t want to be, or we see ourselves in them!! (Living, breathing illustration)
He could humble us, but He lets us pour out our heart to Him, so that He can help us!!
Verse 43-Yet It Shall Not Be So Among You; But Whoever Desires To Become Great Among You Shall Be Your Servant.
They are like us, they wanted to serve the Lord, but they wanted to tell the Lord what capacity they would do it!!
Lord, don’t convict me to come 10 minutes early and sweep of the porch. Nobody will see me doing that, but Lord, put me up front doing something, so everyone will see!!
People want to pick and choose where and how they will serve the Lord!!!
What it boils down to is this…..Jesus is basically saying, “You will suffer like me, but you will also inherit what is given to Me, so serve God in whatever capacity He has chosen for you!!”
It is all about God being served, not you!!
And if you don’t believe that, then I really feel sorry for you!!!
