Mark 10:35-45 (NKJV) Greatness Is Serving
(Matt. 20:20–28)
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.”
V35 “Then James and John, the sons of Zebedee, came to Him, saying, “Teacher, we want You to do for us whatever we ask.” Rather brazen for them to request this. They have not learned enough yet or have forgotten. Humility is before honor (Proverbs 15:33, Proverbs 18:12, and Luke 14:11). Jesus taught to seek the Kingdom of God, not the kingdom of self. Matthew 6:33 (EHV) But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.
V36 “And He said to them, “What do you want Me to do for you?” Jesus knew but wanted them to tell Him. When we pray, it is okay to ask. Nevertheless, we are not to ask for selfish things according to our lusts. See James 4:3. Be careful what we ask for the Lord may grant it but: Psalms 106:15 (NKJV) “And He gave them their request, But sent leanness into their soul.”
V37 “They said to Him, “Grant us that we may sit, one on Your right hand and the other on Your left, in Your glory.” This is the request. They were asking to be chief rulers under the Kingship of Jesus. This is an example of selfish interests which we are to avoid (Philippians 2:4 and Philippians 2:21). Jesus is practically marching to Jerusalem to be the Passover Lamb by His crucifixion. Then, in contrast, are two disciples seeking some of the highest positions of honor. What a contrast! What is our first love?
V38 “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?” Jesus corrects them. They are asking in ignorance. Praise God, He knows our foolishnesses and usually will give the answer of “No.” The cup I drink refers to the burdens of Jesus as Savior of the World (Matthew 26:42 and Luke 12:50). The baptism Jesus had was the complete fullness of the Holy Spirit. See Isaiah 11:2-3.
Comments:
JFB: “(Jamieson, Fausset, and Brown Commentary) can ye drink of the cup that I drink of?—To “drink of a cup” is in Scripture a figure for getting one’s fill either of good (Psalm 16:5; Psalm 23:5; Psalm 116:13; Jeremiah 16:7) or of ill (Psalm 75:8; John 18:11; Revelation 14:10). Here it is the cup of suffering.”
(Holman Commentary) “Again, Jesus did not rebuke them, perhaps because he knew of their love for him. But Jesus asked them if they were prepared to suffer as he would suffer. Jesus asked them, as he asks all disciples, to count the cost (cf. Luke 14:27-33). In the Old Testament, “the cup” signified divine judgment on sin. By “his cup,” Jesus was probably referring to the divine judgment poured out on him on behalf of all humanity. This phrase further points out the disciples’ lack of understanding.”
V39 “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…”
Their reply shows they don’t fully understand the cost. The Apostles did suffer. All suffered martyrdom except John.
V40 “…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.”
Comments:
(ESV Global Study Bible Notes) “Though Jesus is fully God, there are differences of authority within the Trinity. Throughout Scripture, the Son is always subject to the authority of the Father, who will ultimately determine who receives such positions of honor.”
(Wuest Word Studies) “As to the fact that our Lord does not have the authority to grant preferred places, Swete says: “Christ is indeed the appointed distributor of all eternal rewards (2 Timothy 4:8, Revelation 22:12), but He will distribute them in accordance with the Father’s dispositions.”
V41 “And when the ten heard it, they began to be greatly displeased with James and John.” The envy is palpable. See James 3:16, 1 Corinthians 13:4, and Mark 7:21-22.
V42 “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.” Jesus teaches the difference between worldly leadership and godly leadership. Verse 42 is the example of worldly leadership and Verse 43 for godly leadership. God’s way is to delegate, rarely decree.
V43 “Yet it shall not be so among you; but whoever desires to become great among you shall be your servant.” To be a leader, a Christ-follower must have first learned to be a servant and to serve when needed. Humility is God’s attitude. Proverbs 15:33, Proverbs 18:12, and Proverbs 22:4.
V44 “And whoever of you desires to be first shall be slave of all.” We must be servants with a serving attitude before positions of authority. A serving attitude does not mean putting up with any abuse. Abuse is a crime.
V45 “For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life a ransom for many.” Jesus states that His life is the example. The reason the ransom is for many and not all is that Jesus did not have to ransom His life.
Comments:
(Wuest Word Studies) “The words, “a ransom for many” need special attention. The word “ransom” is lutron “the price for redeeming, the ransom paid for slaves.” The word “for” is anti, the predominant meaning in the Koine being “instead of.” It is the preposition of substitution. Our Lord paid the ransom money for slaves of sin who could not pay it themselves, namely, His own precious blood. The verb of the same root is used in 1 Peter 1:18-19 where the Apostle tells us that we were not redeemed, set free by payment of ransom, with little silver and gold coins used to buy a slave out of slavery, but with precious blood, highly honored, blood as of a lamb without blemish and without spot, the blood of Christ. Our Lord here speaks of the substitutionary aspect of His atonement. This is usually Pauline as to presentation, but the Gospels which give the historic event also interpret for the reader the doctrinal significance of the Cross.”
(Pulpit Commentary) “Not that Christ died only for the elect. For Christ died for all; and has obtained for all the means necessary and sufficient for their salvation. Yet the fruit of his death and his full salvation comes only to those who persevere to the end. When our Lord says that he came “to give his life a ransom for many,” he regards the vast multitude of those who are included within his purposes of mercy. He “is the Savior of all men, specially of them that believe.”
We learn:
- Not to be envious.
- Leadership qualities.
- Jesus’s leadership and teaching.
Questions:
- Are we lusting for power and position?
- Are we willing to be servants to others?
- Are we willing to serve our whole life?