Concluding summary - Mark 10:31
Verse 31 is the concluding summary of this section. It describes the true nature of discipleship. Following Jesus means giving up all claims to greatness. It demands simple faith in the Messiah, trusting him for all of life. But following Jesus also means believing that Jesus will more than make up for the sacrifices that are a part of following him. Blessings follow and even come in the middle of struggles.
The Third Time Repeated Lesson of the Suffering Messiah. - Mark 10:32-52
This section follows the same pattern of the two before it. Jesus predicted his suffering and death. He then told the disciples that their lives and ministries would be like his.
Jesus Predicts his Death a Third Time. - Mark 10:32-34
This prediction is much like the first two (8:31-33; 9:30-32). They were
going up to Jerusalem. The word
up referred to altitude. Jerusalem was about 3,000 feet higher in altitude than Jericho. See v. 46. Jesus
was going ahead. As he boldly led the way to his messianic death in Jerusalem, his disciples lagged behind. It seems that they were
amazed that Jesus was so determined to go to Jerusalem when he expected to be killed there. Others followed along with them and they
were afraid. Jesus confirmed the disciples' worst expectations when he said
we in verse 33. They would share in his danger in Jerusalem. Jesus added a new fact to his earlier predictions. The
Gentiles would be involved in his death.
Demands of Servanthood. - Mark 10:35-45
The disciples still had not learned Jesus' teaching on greatness and servanthood (9:33-37).
Disciples asked Jesus to grant their wish. - Mark 10:35
It is odd that the disciples asked Jesus to grant their wish before they even told him what they wanted. Perhaps they knew he was going to disapprove. In Matt.20:20-21 their mother was involved.
Prestige - Mark 10:37
They asked for seats of prestige,
glory, and power. Perhaps they still hoped that Jesus would soon be ruling in Jerusalem as a political Messiah.
Coming suffering and death - Mark 10:38
On Jesus' lips both the
cup and
baptism referred to his quickly coming suffering and death. For Mark they both also held a reminder of the sacraments of baptism and the Lord's Supper. In the Old Testament
cup was often used as a symbol of God's wrath (Isa.51:17-22; Ezek. 23:31-34). Baptism was a symbol of both death and life (Ps. 88:7; Rom. 6:3).
Mysteries of the Trinity - Mark 10:40
Jesus' inability to grant their request leads into the mysteries of the Trinity. See Article on the Trinity. Jesus was fully God, but bowed to the Father's will. In this sense he was the perfect Son who served the Father. This thought prepares the way for verse 45.
Ungodly ambition - Mark 10:41
The fact that the other disciples became
angry is a hint that James and John were not the only disciples who struggled with ungodly ambition.
Leadership involves serving - Mark 10:42-44
Jesus
called all the disciples to him because all the disciples needed to hear this teaching. His words were the great reversal of the typical human perspective and behavior. Leadership among the followers of Jesus involves serving.
Jesus' death paid the debt. - Mark 10:45
Verse 45 gives the reason for Jesus' words in verses 42-44. The followers of Jesus must be great in service not in ruling, because Jesus was the great servant. In all of their sacrificing service the disciples must be motivated by gratitude for how Jesus had served them. A
ransom is the payment for the release of a slave or a debt. Jesus' death paid the debt for the release of many.
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