Mark 10:35-49

35And James and John, the sons of Zebedee, come unto him, saying, Master, we would that thou shouldest do for us whatsoever we shall desire.

36And he said unto them, What would ye that I should do for you?

37They said unto him, Grant unto us that we may sit, one on thy right hand, and the other on thy left hand, in thy glory.

38But Jesus said unto them, Ye know not what ye ask: can ye drink of the cup that I drink of? and be baptized with the baptism that I am baptized with?

39And they said unto him, We can. And Jesus said unto them, Ye shall indeed drink of the cup that I drink of; and with the baptism that I am baptized withal shall ye be baptized:

40But to sit on my right hand and on my left hand is not mine to give; but it shall be given to them for whom it is prepared.

41And when the ten heard it, they began to be much displeased with James and John.

42But Jesus called them to him, and saith unto them, Ye know that they which are accounted to rule over the Gentiles exercise lordship over them; and their great ones exercise authority upon them.

43But so shall it not be among you: but whosoever will be great among you, shall be your minister:

44And whosoever of you will be the chiefest, shall be servant of all.

45For even the Son of man came not to be ministered unto, but to minister, and to give his life a ransom for many.

46And they came to Jericho: and as he went out of Jericho with his disciples and a great number of people, blind Bartimaeus, the son of Timaeus, sat by the highway side begging.

47And when he heard that it was Jesus of Nazareth, he began to cry out, and say, Jesus, thou son of David, have mercy on me.

48And many charged him that he should hold his peace: but he cried the more a great deal, Thou son of David, have mercy on me.

49And Jesus stood still, and commanded him to be called. And they call the blind man, saying unto him, Be of good comfort, rise; he calleth thee.
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James and John ask to sit on the right and left of Jesus in his earthly kingdom.  (also Matt 20:21, his mother asks Him)
Jesus listened to their request, always willing to listen.  But He did not grant the request.  They didn't know what they were asking.  In a few weeks crucified thieves are on Jesus' right and left.

"a cup" - a terrible burden to bear.
"baptism" - immersion--waters of death
Acts 12:2 - a foretelling of their future hardships.

Christ had the power to give these positions,but it is for those already assigned it.

v.41 The other 10 disciples were displeased with James and John blatantly asking the king for high position. The verb used here indicates things were about to get physical, but Jesus diffused it.

v.42  Jesus discussed Gentile government.

v.43 - contrasted no hierarchy in His New Testament church.  (Each Baptist church is sovereign.)

v.44-45 Jesus distances Himself from politics.  He was a minister, not a prime minister; servant to all, not to be served.  Move it to spiritual realm.

v. 45 the term 'many' = 'all, minus one'
v. 45 is the theme of Mark's gospel.

v. 46-49   While James and John had asked of Jesus out of fleshly ambition and were told 'no', these asked out of faith and received.


BGPeek 7-18-10