Mark 10:38

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?"

Back in Mark chapter nine verse thirty-three, you might recall this took place...

"They came to Capernaum. He was in the house, and He began to question them, ‘What were you discussing on the way?' But they kept silent, for on the way they had discussed with one another which of them was the greatest. Sitting down, He called the twelve and said to them, ‘If anyone wants to be first, he shall be last of all and servant of all.’"

So, now we're here at the end of his ministry work in Galilee. And again he's addressing this issue about which of the disciples is considered greatest among them. Jesus explains that he is going to his death. In detail he explains that the scribes and chief priests will hand him over for execution, and on the third day he will rise from the grave. And he goes on to say, "whoever wishes to become great among you shall be your servant; and whoever wishes to be first among you shall be slave of all."

The lesson in the gospel of Mark we have learned is that Jesus lays the blame for sin at the feet of hard heartedness. The lesson of the entire Bible is God hates pride and honors humility.

I've often said that what's missing in much of our church culture is "The Fear of The Lord". And I think people refuse that wisdom because it sounds like a Jesus they don't want. But do people really know what's truly being said when we say, "The Fear of The Lord".

The fear of the lord has to do with that hard problem of heartedness and pride.

Proverbs 8:13

"The fear of the Lord is to hate pride."

Proverbs 21:4

A proud heart is sin."

"God is opposed to the proud but gives grace to the humble."

• James 4:6

Pride and humility, this is what Jesus is teaching on today. In Micah 6:8 it says, "What does the Lord require of you but to do justly, love mercy, and walk humbly with your God?" In my mind I believe this verse perfectly sums up the cost of discipleship. And as we've been walking on the way with Jesus and his disciples we've seen how these men who are called his disciples have NOT always been merciful, loving, humble or acted justly. They've been for us a perfect example of what it means to be unfaithful to Jesus Christ.

Now these fools want Jesus to give them positions of authority and glory. Oh sure, they love Jesus, and his words of truth. They believe in Him, they believe in His kingdom, and they are saved according to that faith. And they've been regenerated, sealed by the Holy Spirit who is with them. But they foolishly keep on failing into pride and self interest.

Like so many have throughout the ages, these men have a materialistic view of the kingdom. Not because they want what's best for the kingdom, not because they hope to achieve great things for the kingdom, but because of their own personal desires for fame and fortune. They've spent their entire lives at the lower levels of social echelons and now they're one on one with the Messiah himself. And so, it's not a surprise that they'd get to thinking about glorifying themselves some. Obviously the Messiah is top dog, but he needs his pack. And every pack has a pecking order. James and John in particular were at the transfiguration, they obviously hold some special significance in the kingdom. And even though Jesus says to them, "Many who are first will be last, and the last, first", these men have quite a bit of pride left in them to be worked out. I suppose that's what the baptism Jesus is talking about has to do with. And so, Jesus grants them their prayer.

Mark 10:39

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."

Careful what you ask for boys, you might just get it.

They wanted the glory. They wanted the elevation in social status. They wanted exaltation among their peers. And now they'll have it. But when Jesus starts talking about his future and the persecution he's going to face, well now that's a different story. "We're going up to Jerusalem. I’m going to be arrested and condemned to death" – yada yada yada – "and rise from the dead." And just talking about this irritates them. They want nothing to do with all this negativity talk. Somebody needs to community note these things Jesus is saying. If he keeps this up he'll drive all the adoring fans away with all this drama about him and his passion play. They want this issue to go away, and they want to stay focused on what's in it for them.

And Jesus says, this is exactly what's in it for you.

These men are not the Old Testament psalmists or humble servants of that time. No "I’m not worthy of the least of Your mercies." (Genesis 32:10) from these guys. There's not a David, or Joshua in the bunch. At least not until well into the book of acts. But we're not there yet. For now Jesus still has to suffer these prideful fools. And these two in particular were close to Jesus and were in on much of the inner workings of the ministry. In Matthew's gospel he tells us their mother came with them when they approached him about this kingdom glorification business.

Matthew 20:20

"Then the mother of the sons of Zebedee came to Jesus with her sons, bowing down and making a request of Him."

And she's influential. She's more than just their mom, she's among the core group of women who followed Jesus, even to the foot of his cross (John 19:25). She's Salome the sister of Jesus' mom and Zebedee's wife. This is a big deal. It's family business, everyone is in on this scheme. And there is no thought whatsoever of how this request diminishes the other disciples or the entire point of the ministry for that matter. It's completely selfish of them. And certainly, Jesus has never taught them that the world will know they are his disciples by their selfish ambition. They're self-promoting and manipulative and it's not pretty.

And to make matters worse, Jesus lays it all out for them. Suffering. Persecution. Death. Are you able to drink from that cup, are you in on this baptism?

Mark 10:39

And they said to him, “We are able.”

Typical arrogance and human pride. And of course, at the first sign of danger these two are among the first to scatter and run from Jesus in the garden.

Now it's not all bad for these boys. James is the first to be killed for the sake of Jesus and the gospel, and John spends the rest of his natural life devoted to the gospel, the church, and God's revelation. For James the end came quick, and for John it was a lifetime of persecution and perseverance. They both drank the cup and then some.

And let's not be too hard on these two, the other ten disciples weren't astonished that they asked this ask from Jesus.

Mark 10:41

"And when the ten heard it, they began to be indignant at James and John."

I think they were annoyed that they hadn't thought to ask for themselves. They'd been thrown under the bus and they were pissed. It sounded to them like they'd be cut out of the deal. I'm sure there was enough selfish ambition to go around. And I think Jesus senses this tension is going on. So he calls everyone together for a conference.

Mark 10:42-45

"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. But it shall not be so among you. But whoever would be great among you must be your servant, and whoever would be first among you must be slave of all. For even the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many."

And so there it is. No one who wants to follow Jesus is going to be set up as lord or king, queen or prince. All are servants. All serve one another for the glory of King Jesus. There is no "father" or "mother" of Christ. There is no ruling body of princes and courts of law givers. There isn't even a judge. It's a community of slaves. And when mankind makes it into anything else, it's called organized religion, a manmade institution. And it immediately becomes corrupted by the corrupt men who made it. And in case it wasn't clear Jesus uses the example of the gentiles and their domineering, monarchial displays of power and influence to illustrate and illuminate the point.

This pagan approach to religion works for the worldly, but it doesn’t work in the kingdom of God where only One rules and where only God determines who is exalted and who is not. Even Jesus the man wouldn't determine that.

Mark 10:40

"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."

In conclusion:

So, you want to be a disciple of Christ?

Here's your apron and serving tray. Your title is "Diakonos"...it means table waiter.

Get to work!