The King's Questions

Introduction:

Only Two Times Jesus asks: “What do you want me to do for you?”

Blind Beggar: Asked a person who is humble!

Mark 10, parallel passage to ours, Jesus literally asks, “What do you want me for do for you?”

What do you want me to do for you?

What do you want me to do for you?

Two Opposite Conversations:

SHOW SPECTRUM:

Asking someone from the position of weakness and humility

Asking someone seeking position and authority

Question #1: “What do you want?”

Mom’s Misunderstood Motive

Who is this mom?

Cross reference the names of all the women who were at the crucifixion, it appears as though this mom is Salome.

Again, do the cross referencing of the names, we learn that Salome was Jesus’ aunt! Which means… James and John were Jesus’ cousins!

So the beginning of this story is sort like a scene out of the Godfather… Family calls in a favor…

What do you want??

“Say that these two sons of mine are to sit, one at your right hand and one at your lift, in your kingdom.”

“Who would ask for places of honor in such a kingdom? Who could ask for places of honor in it? To ask the question is to show that one has not understood what the kingdom is; it is impossible to seek greatness for oneself in it.” Morris

Motive:

Assumption that Kingdom looked like this:

Show picture of Jerusalem.

Loyalty, honor, expectation of a Kingdom.

Mom wants to set things up for her sons so they are placed in positions of authority when Jesus takes over the throne.

Keep things in the family.

v. 22: Jesus response: “You don’t know what you are asking.”

Why don’t they know?

The deep seated issue with their request.

Question #2: “Are you able to drink the Cup?”

What is Jesus talking about?

“The “cup” throughout Scripture refers figuratively to one’s divinely appointed destiny, whether it was one of blessing and salvation (Ps. 16:5; 116:13) or of wrath and disaster (Isa. 51:17; Jer. 25:15–29). Jesus is referring to his forthcoming cup of suffering on the cross (Matt. 26:39), to which he has just given his third prediction (20:17–19).” Michael Wilkins

Cup=Suffering: “It is not so clear why the sons of Zebedee were so ready to express their willingness and their capacity to endure it.” Morris

“We can!” Without understanding, without seeking clarification of what drinking from the cup means.

James=First Martyr

James died: Acts 12:1-2 “1 About that time Herod the king laid violent hands on some who belonged to the church. 2 He killed James the brother of John with the sword”

John: Exiled to Patmos: Last living??

Crucifixion:

Progressive understand

Patience of Jesus

He works with our misguided loyalty.

We’ll get it.

If you don’t get it yet, you will!

vv. 23: “Yeah, you’re right, you will drink my cup… But the positions of authority of not mine to give. The Father prepares those positions.”

Word Gets Out

v.24: Apostles were indignant

What’s that about?

“The attempt to use their mother’s family relationship to Jesus as an unfair advantage to get what they themselves wanted. All of the disciples had earlier argued about who would be the greatest in the kingdom of heaven (cf. 18:1), and they had already been promised to sit on thrones in Jesus’ eschatological rule over Israel (19:28).”

Lesson about Leadership:

How the World Operates?

Rhetoric this week between President Biden and Putin

Rules of Leadership:

Intimidation: “The son's relationship towards his father was characterized by pietas and obedience. It is important also, however, to consider the place of the slave within this dynamic. It is clear that the slave was treated very differently from the son.69 The slave could be punished most severely. Valerius Maximus cites a dream, in which: At the Plebeian Games, a certain paterfamilias had his slave brutally flogged and led him to execution, bearing the 'fork' (i.e., the crossbeam beam used for crucifixion), through the Circus Flaminius just before the sacred procession entered.”70

Andrew D. Clarke. Serve the Community of the Church: Christians as Leaders and Ministers (First-Century Christians in the Graeco-Roman World) (Kindle Locations 824-827). Kindle Edition.

Rules of Embarrassment

Fear: “It was widely regarded that slaves would remain loyal if they lived in fear of their masters.73 Ulpian, the jurist, wrote, 'no household would be safe if slaves were not forced by the threat of danger to their own lives to protect their masters against enemies both from within and from outside the household' 74 The loyalty and obedience of slaves could also be ensured by various incentives and rewards, including holidays and the possibility of eventual manumission (the granting of freedom from bondage as a slave).75

Corporate Leadership:

v. 25: “Rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and their great ones exercise authority over them.”

Hard stop! “It shall not be so among you.” “Not so with you!”

v. 26-27: Servant versus Slave

Andrew D. Clarke. Serve the Community of the Church: Christians as Leaders and Ministers (First-Century Christians in the Graeco-Roman World) (Kindle Locations 831-834). Kindle Edition.

“A “servant” (diakonos) worked for hire to maintain the master’s home and property, while a “slave” (doulos) was forced into service.” Wilkines

“John later calls himself a doulos of Jesus (Rev. 1:1), as does Peter (2 Peter 1:1) and Jesus’ own brothers (James 1:1; Jude 1).” Wilkins

v.25: “In the nations rulers commonly excercise lordship over them… ‘What is the point of being a ruler if you can’t act like one?’” Morris

“Greatness in the world is determined by status; in the kingdom by function. In the world greatness is shown by ruling; in the kingdom by serving. In the world’s eyes the great are those who can order others about; in the kingdom they are those who endure hard times and injustice without complaining.” Green

“In the upside-down kingdom, greatness is measured in terms of service, and that is a severe judgment from Jesus on estimations of greatness both outside the church and, regrettably, in it.” Green

Lesson #1: Whoever would be great among you must be your servant.”

Lesson #2: “Whoever would be first among you must be your slave.”

First shall be a slave. “the slave’s ‘whole life is lived in service for which he can claim neither credit nor reward.” Robinson

“The person who wants eminence in the kingdom is to take the path of lowliness and humility.” Morris

v.28: “Even as the Son of Man/Messiah came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.

Ransom: “The word ransom took its origin from the practices of warfare, where it was the price paid to bring a prisoner of war out of his captivity. It was used of sacral manumission of slaves, a process wherein the slave went through the solemn rigmarole of being sold to a god “for freedom.” In effect this meant that, while the slave technically belonged to the god, as far as people were concerned he or she was free. This forms a vivid illustration of one aspect of Christ’s saving work. Sinners have become the slaves of sin (John 8:34), and they cannot break free. But Christ has paid their ransom price, and now they are free indeed.”

Ransom: “The price of release.” “A word often used of the money paid for the release of slaves.” Wilkins

“The craving for honors can be every bit as contrary to the spirit of Jesus as the longing for money and impressive things, and the two are related in their goal of being recognized by people. They seek justification by achievement.” Frederik Dale Bruner

Jesus Self-Awareness

“This verse is the Gospel’s first description of the meaning of Jesus’ death, and it carries special cargo because it is given by no one less than Jesus himself.”

Blomberg: “Perhaps the most curical teaching of Jesus about his self-understanding and [his] conception of his mission.”

“Ransom”=liberation (lyo “Loose”+tron “a means (of)).

“Cosmic redemption-liberation”

“The key to a social ethic is Jesus’ atonement.” Bruner

“Perhaps one reason why we resist the Anselmian doctrine is this: We want to believe God would not kill anyone, that God would do, as Jesus instructed us to do: love even God’s own enemies and somehow be able to ‘kill evil’ without killing people.

Mark 10: James and John

35 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.” 36 And he said to them, “What do you want me to do for you?” 37 And they said to him, “Grant us to sit, one at your right hand and one at your left, in your glory.” 38 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?” 39 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, 40 but to sit at my right hand or at my left is not mine to grant, but it is for those for whom it has been prepared.” 41 And when the ten heard it, they began to be indignant at James and John. 42 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. 43 But it shall not be so among you. But whoever would be great among you must be your servant, 44 and whoever would be first among you must be slave of all. 45 For even the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.”

Intro: The King’s Questions:

Tie into last week:

Blind Bart in Luke 18:41: “What do you want me to do for you?”

Mark 10:36 “And he said to them, “What do you want me to do for you?”

Matthew and Mark=They Connect the Dots between Jesus asking Blind Bart this question and towards James and John

We’re going to explore the significant of Jesus asking this very specific question and how it applies in different ways.

“What is it that you want for me to do for you.” Powerful question, and the fall out of what happens in the context of these questions are equally powerful!

Part I: Bold and Believing Bart

Part II: Bold and Believing James and John (and their mom…)

Part III: Be Table Setters...

Part IV: …Like THE Table Setter

Review: Believing Bart

Last week I preached from Luke, and Luke 18 doesn’t contain our story… But Mark and Matthew do:

SHOW Graph

Immediately after our passage:

Mark records the story about Bartimaeus.

Matthew records a story of two blind beggars who were healed.

Mark is the only gospel who records the questions exactly the same to BOTH Bart and to James and John.

Review of our Requests:

Bart:

Note, again, the story immediately following our passage:

Blind, begger who does all the right things.

WHO DOES EVERYTHING RIGHT!

Recognizes the King:

“Heavenly Father, we come before your throne of grace to thank you for…”

Courageous and Shameless

Faith overcomes our fears, and overcomes what other people think of us!

Humble: “Have mercy on me!” Understand himself as a sinner needing mercy.

Dependency

Desires to be with Jesus because he knows Jesus is the answer.

Result of Jesus Granting His Request:

To see Jesus, to follow Jesus, to give God glory, for others to give God praise

What is it that you want me to do for you? I want to see!

To see Jesus!

43 And immediately he recovered his sight and followed him, glorifying God. And all the people, when they saw it, gave praise to God.

TRUE HUMILITY

TRUE DISCIPLESHIP

HIS SIGHT pointed towards Jesus, towards God, and gave praise to God.

ALL THE ATTENTION went to God...

Illustration of how GRACE works on the front end.

Jesus reveals himself (initiated by Jesus)

Cry of Faith

Conversion

Discipleship and Worship

TRANSITION:

OKAY, SO THAT’S THE IDEAL, NOW LET’S TAKE A LOOK AT OUR STORY.

Bold and Believing James and John (and their mom...)

Matthew 20:20: Then the mother of the sons of Zebedee came up to him with her sons, and kneeling before him she asked him for something. 21 And he said to her, “What do you want?” She said to him, “Say that these two sons of mine are to sit, one at your right hand and one at your left, in your kingdom.”

Mom was with James and John when they asked this question:

Matthew’s Gospel: SHE’s the one who asks

Salome: Kneeling before him:

Position of Humility… Prostrate before the future King

Seems to be in a position of humility, just like blind and begging Bart!

Does she need to be healed?

Are James or John sick?

But there’s a huge difference in the request!

Can they sit in positions of authority!!??

They want to be seen

Bart wanted to see Jesus, the disciples wanted to be seen

They Boldly approach Jesus with humility!

They believe Jesus will be King!

BUT UNLIKE BART, THEY DON’T UNDERSTAND WHAT THEY ARE ASKING!!

Mom, James and John don’t know what they are asking…

“Are you able to drink the cup that I drink or to be baptized with the baptism with which I am baptized?”

What is the Cup?

Answer: “YES, WE CAN!”

But they also don’t know how to answer Jesus’ next question:

“Are you able

Blind Ability:

Power to Suffer

“Ability” to drink

“We are able!”

Yes, you WILL drink

Jesus can’t just willy nilly give us what we want.

Not so much, Do you want the Lord’s attention?

The question is: WHY do you want the Lord’s attention?

Disciples False Humility

“Can you??”

“WE CAN!!”

WE can

“In any case, Jesus is asking James and John if they can handle what is ahead.” Bruner

But they can’t (26:40, 43, 56) and, through Jesus’ resurrection forgiveness and presence, they can (26:32; 28:10, 16-20).

Cup of mine!

She wasn’t asking for her sons to be recognized by Jesus, she was asking for her sons to be recognized by others…

She doesn’t konw what she’s talking about for sure. She really doesn’t.

Take a Book out of Jesus’ humilty.

OUR REQUESTS MUST BE IN LINE WITH GOD’S WILL.

“Look man, I can’t give you what you request because I’m here to obey my Father’s will.”

“Look, Lord, I’m not sure if this is in line with your will, so I’m going to ask...

Disciple’s Response

Bruner: “they were furious with the two brothers.”

10-2 struggles. “Even when Jesus was fully around, the church was imperfect.” Bruner

“Chrysostom: “As the two had asked carnally, so now the ten are grieved carnally.”

Become a Table-Waiter

“An excess of can teaching leads to spiritual pride or frustration…; an excess of ‘cannot’ teaching leads to spiritual lethargy.” Bruner

“You know that the world’s leaders are domineering with people, and their ‘great ones’ are authoritarian with people.” Bruner

Dominus+kata=thoroughly lordish

Exouisa=authority+kata= “are authoritarian”

Not a political statement, per se, but just about how leadership is often times excercised in the workplace.

“Few models are more desperately needed in an age of celebrity Christianity high-tech evangelism and worship, and wide-spread abuses of ecclesiastical power for self-aggrandizement or, more insidiously, [using questionable techniques] in the name of ‘attracting’ more people to the gospel—a ‘gospel’ that is thereby badly truncated.” Blomberg

“Jesus turns this aristocratic ideal on its head, and in one of cultural history’s dramatic reversals he asks, in effect, ‘How can anyone be happy unless one is the slave of everyone else?’” Bruner

Marriage Example: Sacrifice and service

Philippians 2:5-6 “5 Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus, 6 who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped,”