Bible Studies
Mark 10:35-45 – Places of Honor
Key Verses:(NRSV)
- 35: “James and John…,came forward to Him and said to Him, ‘Teacher, we want you to do for us whatever we ask of you.’” – Just prior to this Jesus had taught them the lesson of the rich man, that the first will be last and the last first. He had also indicated that in Jerusalem that He will be mocked, spat upon, flogged, and killed.
- 37: “Grant us to sit, one at your right hand and one at your left, in your glory.” – Had they been paying attention? Even with the lessons of servanthood, they remained focused on the Messiah as a conquering hero.
- 38: “But Jesus said to them, ‘You do not know what you are asking. Are you able to drink the cup that I drink, or be baptized with the baptism that I am baptized with?’” – James and John were only thinking about glory. Little did they comprehend the cup of suffering and the baptism of crucifixion that Jesus was about to experience.
- 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.” – Jesus could have been referring to the thieves that would hang beside him at Golgotha, or He could be talking about the plans God has prepared for eternity. In either case, the decision was not His to give.
- 42: “You know that among the Gentiles those whom they recognize as their rulers lord it over them…” – Most people measure greatness by the levels of success one is able to achieve, yet, these successes usually result in self-righteousness and egotism.
- 43-44: “but whoever wishes to become great among you must be your servant, and whoever wishes to be first among you must be slave of all.” – Again, Jesus teaches that a life within God’s kingdom is a life of servanthood.
- 45: “For the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give His life a ransom for many.” – Jesus’ life is a model for us to follow. He came and He was crucified so that we all could live.
- What do you ask of Jesus?
Promises of the Gospel:
We have a tendency to laugh at James and John because of their inability to “get it.” Jesus keeps teaching about a life of servanthood and, yet, they remained focused on glory and their special positions of status. Have they not been listening? The question remains, however, are we listening two thousand years later? Jesus clearly states that a life as one of His followers is a life that sets the self aside in order to serve others. He came into this world “not to be served but to serve.” This remains a calling for all of us to set aside our focus on the what’s-in-it-for-me mindset and to step out, instead, into service; giving our lives as ransom for many.
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