The Pilgrim Path---Mark 10: 32—45

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, 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. And they will mock him and spit on him and flog him and kill him. And after three days he will rise.”

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.” And he said to them, “What do you want me to do for you?” And they said to him, “grant us to sit, one at your right hand and one at your left, in your glory.” 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?” 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, but to sit at my right hand or my left is not mine to grant, but it is for those for whom it has been prepared.” And when the ten heard it, they began to be indignant at James and John. 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.”

JAMES & JOHN: “Please designate Us BIG positions in Glory---Now”

The LORD Jesus comes to the third announcement of his upcoming treatment by the religious authorities and Gentiles. This is His third prophecy concerning His death, burial, and resurrection. His men were not grasped by it: the economy of the Kingdom---You die to live---the Cross before the Crown. Sinners that they were (we are)---two of them (James and John), distinguish themselves from the rest of the disciples by requesting “special privileges now,” for the glory that is to come (seats of honor on either side of Jesus in Glory). The LORD Jesus tried to acquaint them with the fellowship of His sufferings, “Do you have any idea what identification with me will require of you?” This is what He asks. Jesus puts it to the brothers,

“Can you drink from the cup---I am to drink from?” They say, “We are able.”

“You WILL drink from that cup---And, be baptized as I am baptized.” Jesus said to them.

From Dr. William Hendriksen:

Indirectly, both the martyrdom of James (Acts 12: 2) and the banishment of John to the isle of Patmos (Rev. 1: 9) are here foretold. These two future events were part of the suffering for Christ’s sake that would be experienced by these disciples…As to the request itself, Jesus points out that the degrees and positions of eminence in His glorious kingdom have already been determined, that is, they were decreed in God’s eternal counsel (cf. Matt. 20: 23: prepared by my Father). They cannot now be altered by the Mediator. See Matt 24: 36; 25: 34; Luke 12: 32; Acts 1: 7; Eph. 1: 4, 11.

It is something, this view of James and John? They really had no idea what was ahead in serving the LORD Jesus---But they knew they wanted to be “counted” more worthy than the other disciples. They knew that…They did not know enough about the Way of Jesus Christ…

Self-absorption, self-assertion, self-promotion, and self-advancement may “play well” in the world---but the LORD Jesus Christ has never been impressed (neither are many people). It is natural to the flesh. You do not need many seminars to be good at it. Just remember: The LORD Jesus says, “Deny yourself---take up your cross and follow Me.” He who would be greatest in the Kingdom must be willing to serve. “Do not be like the Gentiles who constantly use positions of authority to bear down on people,” was Jesus teaching. Serve people with the power you have. Use your authority to bless people in Jesus’ Name---for the sake of His Kingdom.

From J. C. Ryle: Like James and John, we are right in coveting the best gifts, and in telling all our desires to Christ. Like them we are right in believing that Jesus is King of kings and will one day reign upon the earth. But let us not, like them, forget that there is a cross to be borne by every Christian, and that “through much tribulation we must enter into the kingdom of God” (Acts 14: 22). Let us not, like them, be overconfident in our own strength, and forward in professing that we can do anything that Christ requires. Let us, in short, beware of a boastful spirit, when we first begin to run the Christian course. If we remember this, it may save us many a humbling fall. Let us mark secondly, what praise our LORD bestows on lowliness, and devotion to the good of others. It seems that the ten were much displeased with James and John, because of the petition which they made to their Master. Their ambition and love of pre-eminence were at once more excited at the idea of any one being placed above themselves. Our Lord saw their feelings, and, like a wise physician, proceeded at once to supply a corrective medicine. He tells them that their ideas of greatness were built on a mistaken foundation. He repeats with renewed emphasis, the lesson already laid down in the preceding chapter, “Whosoever of you will be chiefest shall be servant of all.” And He backs up all by the overwhelming argument of His own example: “Even the Son of man came not to be ministered unto, but to minister.”…We ought often to ponder the words of St. Paul, “Let nothing be done through strife or vain glory; but in lowliness of mind, let each esteem others better than themselves” (Philippians 2: 3).

Psalm 139: 14—24

Search me, O God, my heart discern;

Try me, my inmost thought to learn;

And lead me, if in sin I stray,

To choose the everlasting way.

The Psalter, 1912

Grace and Peace in Jesus, the Only Redeemer of broken and wretched souls, Pastor Jason