Servants Shall Be Rulers (Mark 10:32–45)

I. The Passion and Resurrection Prediction (10:32–34)

32 Now they were on the road, going up to Jerusalem, and Jesus was going before them; and they were amazed. And as they followed they were afraid. Then He took the twelve aside again and began to tell them the things that would happen to Him: 33 “Behold, we are going up to Jerusalem, and the Son of Man will be betrayed to the chief priests and to the scribes; and they will condemn Him to death and deliver Him to the Gentiles; 34 and they will mock Him, and scourge Him, and spit on Him, and kill Him. And the third day He will rise again.”

A. We must try to understand the bewilderment and fear of His followers.

This was a difficult experience for them and not at all what they had planned or expected. Each new announcement of His death only added to their perplexity. In the first two announcements (Mark 8:31; 9:31), Jesus had told them what would occur; but now He told them where His passion will take place—in the Holy City of Jerusalem!

In this third announcement, He also included the part that the Gentiles would play in His trial and death, and for the fourth time, He promised that He would rise again (note Mark 9:9). He told His disciples the truth, but they were in no condition to understand it.

B. Rabbis usually walked ahead of their disciples.

Mark had something more than that in mind by his statement “with Jesus leading the way.” He pictured Jesus as resolutely pressing toward his goal, as deliberately going to his death. This steadfast determination on the part of Jesus produced the astonishment and fear.

And now at the third time the jesting, the mocking and the scourging appear. It would seem as if the picture became ever clearer in the mind of Jesus as he became more and more aware of the cost of redemption”

Furthermore, Jesus would be handed over to the Gentiles. This was the ultimate rejection and humiliation that his own people could lay on him.

II. The Ambition of James and John (10:35–45)

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.”

A. James and John approached Jesus privately.

In the light of our Lord’s announcement of His death, we are embarrassed and ashamed to read of James and John asking for thrones. How could they and their mother be so callous and selfish? It is clear from their words that they did not recognize that Jesus would die; they were expecting him to inherit his kingdom.

Some interpreters believe they spoke from faith, because they believed Jesus would die but would overcome through his resurrection. In this case, they wanted to be a part of his kingdom when he came back victoriously. This interpretation does not fit with the rest of Mark’s Gospel or with the general disbelief of the disciples.

B. Despite the audacity of James and John, Jesus did not rebuke them.

Jesus indicated they did not realize the implications of their request. In the kingdom the way to glory is sacrifice, service, and suffering. In the kingdom exaltation involves lowliness.

James and John were praying selfishly, and God does not answer selfish prayers. If He does, it is only that He might discipline us and teach us how to pray in His will. James, and John did not realize that it costs something to get answers to prayer. For Jesus to grant their request, He would have to suffer and die. Why should He pay such a great price just so they could enjoy free thrones? Is that the way to glorify God?

C. Jesus compared His approaching suffering and death to the drinking of a cup and the experiencing of a baptism.

In the Old Testament a cup is sometimes a symbol of joy and salvation, but more often it is a symbol of the wrath of God. In the Old Testament the word “baptize” is not used, but there are several references to being engulfed by trouble. Here the word does not refer literally to Christian baptism but metaphorically to being immersed in calamity.

It would be a devastating experience—and yet James and John said they were able to go through it with Jesus! Little did they realize what they were saying, for in later years they would indeed have their share of the baptism and the cup. James would be the first of the disciples to be martyred (Acts 12:1–2), and John would experience great persecution.

Because their prayer was motivated by earthly wisdom, not heavenly wisdom, James and John aroused the anger of the other disciples and brought disunity to the group. Once again, Jesus tried to teach them what it means to be an “important person” in the kingdom of God.

D. God’s pattern in Scripture is that a person must first be a servant before God promotes him or her to be a ruler.

Like many people today, the disciples were making the mistake of following the wrong examples. Instead of modeling themselves after Jesus, they were admiring the glory and authority of the Roman rulers, men who loved position and authority.

While there is nothing wrong with aspiring to greatness, we must be careful how we define “greatness” and why we want to achieve it. Jesus said, “43b 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. ”

Unless we know how to obey orders, we do not have the right to give orders. Before a person exercises authority, he or she must know what it means to be under authority. If Jesus Christ followed this pattern in accomplishing the great work of redemption, then surely there is no other pattern for us to follow.