Once More with Emphasis!
Opening Prayer
Lord God, what a great wonder and mystery it is that You gave Your Son to die for me!
Read Mark 10:32-45
[32] They were on their way up to Jerusalem, with Jesus leading the way, and the disciples were astonished, while those who followed were afraid. Again he took the Twelve aside and told them what was going to happen to him. [33] “We are going up to Jerusalem,” he said, “and the Son of Man will be delivered over to the chief priests and the teachers of the law. They will condemn him to death and will hand him over to the Gentiles, [34] who will mock him and spit on him, flog him and kill him. Three days later he will rise.” [35] Then James and John, the sons of Zebedee, came to him. “Teacher,” they said, “we want you to do for us whatever we ask.” [36] “What do you want me to do for you?” he asked. [37] They replied, “Let one of us sit at your right and the other at your left in your glory.” [38] “You don’t know what you are asking,” Jesus said. “Can you drink the cup I drink or be baptized with the baptism I am baptized with?” [39] “We can,” they answered. Jesus said to them, “You will drink the cup I drink and be baptized with the baptism I am baptized with, [40] but to sit at my right or left is not for me to grant. These places belong to those for whom they have been prepared.” [41] When the ten heard about this, they became indignant with James and John. [42] Jesus called them together and said, “You know that those who are regarded as rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and their high officials exercise authority over them. [43] Not so with you. Instead, whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant, [44] and whoever wants to be first must 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 as a ransom for many.” Scripture taken from the Holy Bible, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION. Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984 International Bible Society. All rights reserved throughout the world. Used by permission of International Bible Society.
Reflect
What do we learn here of Jesus and his way?This is the third time in Mark that Jesus predicts his betrayal, condemnation, mocking, death and resurrection (33,34; 8:31; 9:31). This time the disciples’ response is neither rebuke nor confusion, but James and John make a bid for status and personal glory. How ironic! In response to a statement concerning Jesus’ suffering and death, the brothers consider their own pathetically self-centered futures. At least they seem able to embrace the idea that glory lies beyond this talk of suffering and death. Jesus simply comments that they don’t know what they’re talking about (38-40). Their companions react with jealousy (41). To drive the point home, Jesus turns them to his own example of a life of service. Unlike the Gentile world, the Kingdom of God is not about power games and top-down status; it is about servanthood and self-giving. In language which recalls that of the servant songs in Isaiah (e.g. Isaiah 52:13-53:12), Jesus also adopts the title “Son of Man,” which may refer to the glorious figure in Daniel 7:13. The end point is his giving his life to save many (45). His giving of his life is precisely life-giving to others.
Apply
What implications of Jesus’ self-giving life do you see for how you live your life day by day?
Closing prayer
Lord, I know it’s not easy to be Your disciple today but I want to do my best. Please help me.
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