Petitions of the Lord

Review from Last Study in Mark

· What are some things we know about Mark?

He is also named John or John Mark.

Mark was the son of a widow named Mary.

One of the early house churches met in their house Acts 12:12

Acts 12:12 “12 As soon as he realized this, he went to the house of Mary, the mother of John who was called Mark, where many had assembled and were praying.”

He was a cousin of Barnabas (Col. 4:10)

Colossians 4:10 “10 Aristarchus, my fellow prisoner, sends you greetings, as does Mark, Barnabas’s cousin (concerning whom you have received instructions: if he comes to you, welcome him),”

Mark turned back from a missionary journey with Paul (Acts 13:13)

Acts 13:13 “13 Paul and his companions set sail from Paphos and came to Perga in Pamphylia, but John left them and went back to Jerusalem.”

He was very close to Peter. In fact, Peter calls him his son in 1 Pet. 5:13.

1 Peter 5:13 “13 She who is in Babylon, chosen together with you, sends you greetings, as does Mark, my son.”

He was reunited with Paul shortly before Paul’s execution.

This gospel of Mark is considered the earliest gospel account written and it is believed to have been written shortly after Peter’s martyrdom. Therefore, it is further believed that this gospel of Mark was written to Roman and Gentile believers because he explains Jewish customs, translated Aramaic words and phrases into Greek, used Latin terms rather than Greek equivalents at time, and he rarely quotes the OT in his gospel. But, most importantly, he is writing to these believers who are going through or will go through suffering and persecution. In many respects, Mark’s gospel solidifies for them that this man, Jesus, is well worth following, serving and suffering for.

· In Mark’s gospel you will notice the following:

He uses the word “immediately” a lot. What would that denote to the reader? There is a lot of action in the book of Mark

Lastly, he selects Jesus’ miracles and other vignettes which depict Jesus as divine and God Himself.

One of the key themes in Mark’s gospel can be found in verse 15 of chapter 1: “The time is fulfilled, and the Kingdom of God has come near. Repent and believe the good news!” Repent and believe are both commands given by Christ here. It is important to have both – repentance and belief – if we are to be saved. Belief, therefore, is not enough for salvation. James 2:19 states, “Even the demons believe – and shudder.” Repentance must be coupled with belief.

Since we last looked into the book of Mark four weeks ago, there has been a lot encounters and actions the Lord has done as He is now heading towards Jerusalem. Such things as:

The rejection of Jesus in his hometown (Mark 6)

John the Baptist’s beheading (Mark 6)

Feeding of the 5,000 and the 4,000 (Mark 6, 8)

Walking on the water (Mark 6)

Peter’s great confession of Messiah (Mark 8)

The Transfiguration (Mark 9)

Jesus’ prediction of His impending death multiple times (Mark 8:31-33, Mark 9:30-32, Mark 10:32-34)

It is here we will begin our study today.

Impressions of a Leader

Read Mark 10:32-34

Mark 10:32–34 (CSB)

32 They were on the road, going up to Jerusalem, and Jesus was walking ahead of them. The disciples were astonished, but those who followed him were afraid. Taking the Twelve aside again, he began to tell them the things that would happen to him. 33 “See, we are going up to Jerusalem. The Son of Man will be handed over to the chief priests and the scribes, and they will condemn him to death. Then they will hand him over to the Gentiles, 34 and they will mock him, spit on him, flog him, and kill him, and he will rise after three days.”

Items to note:

Jesus’ position - He was walking ahead of them. Nothing new about that per se, Jesus oftentimes walked ahead of His disciples. In fact it was common for Rabbis or teachers to walk ahead of their disciples / students. Yet, this time it seems different. Jesus is determined. Mark’s picture is of a resolute Jesus leading the way to Jerusalem - knowing full well what awaits Him there. Jesus is communicating the meaning of leadership as a position, a tone and a responsibility. As always, when these qualities are displayed in leaders, close followers are amazed and the masses are paralyzed with fear. What do we notice about Jesus’ leadership position here? What is He conveying to not only those who are with Him but to us who are looking at this now? Here are three takeaways as presented by David McKenna and Lloyd Ogilvie from one of my commentaries:

Leadership is being alone and ahead of the crowd. As Isaiah recorded hundreds of years before about describing the Messiah’s focus and resolve, Isaiah 50:7 “7 The Lord God will help me; therefore I have not been humiliated; therefore I have set my face like flint, and I know I will not be put to shame.” Jesus set his face like flint - He was fixed, He was sturdy, and He was resolute. Walking on the road towards the crisis of the cross, Jesus pictures for us what the writer of Hebrews says about Him to challenge and encourage us in Hebrews 12:2 “2 keeping our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of our faith. For the joy that lay before him, he endured the cross, despising the shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.”

Leadership is the tone of courage in the midst of fear. Jesus shows us the positive side of resolute courage. Out in front of the fearful crowd, He finds strength and determination to do the will of God. Jesus further demonstrates to those around HIm and to us a single-mindedness of doing the will of God.

Leadership is the responsibility for living with the consequences of our decisions. Jesus sees the storm that awaits Him, and sensing the heightened emotions that He has created on this road to Jerusalem, He takes the disciples aside and reveals to them the reason for His resolve. For the third time He tells them about His impending death, yet this time, He reveals more facts about what will happen. Therefore, to follow Christ is to lead with Him—alone, courageous, and realistic.

As is the case in each of the previous times before when Jesus shares about His upcoming death, the disciples seem to distract Him. In Mark 8, Peter takes Jesus aside and tries to rebuke Him. Jesus responds, “Get behind me, Satan!” The second time in Mark 9, the disciples begin to argue between themselves as to who was the greatest. And here in Mark 10, we see John and James come and petition Jesus on the similar theme found in Mark 9.

However, unlike the display found in Mark 9, James and John are petitioning Jesus. In fact there are two vignettes here at the end of Mark 10 that I would like for us to compare and contrast. In both of these final two scenes there are two petitions made of Jesus. The outcomes and responses of Jesus are different but so are the motivations and way these petitions are made.

In Scripture, petitions are a form of what? Prayers. Paul says in 1 Timothy 2:1 “1 First of all, then, I urge that petitions, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgivings be made for everyone.” Paul is equating petitions with prayers. So what are petitions anyway? Literally, to petition means to beg or request something. When we petition the Lord in our prayers, we are asking for something from Him or for Him to do something on our behalf or on the behalf of others. How important, then, then are our motives when we petition the Lord? James reminds us that motives have a significant impact on the outcome of our petitions. James 4:2–3 “2 You desire and do not have. You murder and covet and cannot obtain. You fight and wage war. You do not have because you do not ask. 3 You ask and don’t receive because you ask with wrong motives, so that you may spend it on your pleasures.”

Petitions of Our Leader

First Petition - Mark 10:35-40

Read Mark 10:35-40

Mark 10:35–40 (CSB)

35 James and John, the sons of Zebedee, approached him and said, “Teacher, we want you to do whatever we ask you.”

36 “What do you want me to do for you?” he asked them.

37 [Petition]They answered him, “Allow us to sit at your right and at your left in your glory.”

38 Jesus said to them, “You don’t know what you’re asking. Are you able to drink the cup I drink or to be baptized with the baptism I am baptized with?”

39 “We are able,” they told him.

Jesus said to them, “You will drink the cup I drink, and you will be baptized with the baptism I am baptized with. 40 But to sit at my right or left is not mine to give; instead, it is for those for whom it has been prepared.”

What is the petition James and John take before Jesus? To allow for one to sit Jesus’ right hand and the other at Jesus’ left hand when He comes into His glory. The right hand seat is the seat of highest honor, so do you think these brothers would have been satisfied if Jesus responded, “Oh sure, you can have these seats.” What questions would follow? Which one does John get? Or, which one does James get? A brotherly battle may have ensued if Jesus answered their request any other way than the way He did.

How would you assess their motives? What is their motive? Based on what we read in the James passage, it appears to me that James and John’s motives here are definitely self-serving. In the “purest” sense, their motives may have come from a heart of ambition, but in the “worse” sense, their motives may have come from a lust for power. Either way, their request is made from wrong motives.

When it comes to our prayer life, how do we know if our motives are wrong? Our motives are wrong when they do not either carry kingdom value or kingdom purpose, or they are wrong when they come from a heart that is fixed on one’s self - and the betterment of ourselves.

Keep reading Mark 10:41-45

Mark 10:41–45 CSB

41 When the ten disciples heard this, they began to be indignant with James and John. 42 Jesus called them over and said to them, “You know that those who are regarded as rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and those in high positions act as tyrants over them. 43 But it is not so among you. On the contrary, whoever wants to become great among you will be your servant, 44 and whoever wants to be first among you will be a slave to 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.”

Based on what Jesus says to His disciples here, what is Jesus’ admonition to His disciples which addresses James and John’s motives? If you want to become great…be a servant! Jesus came to serve not to serve. What does that say for us?

Second Petition

Read Mark 10:46-52

Mark 10:46–52 CSB

46 They came to Jericho. And as he was leaving Jericho with his disciples and a large crowd, Bartimaeus (the son of Timaeus), a blind beggar, was sitting by the road. 47 When he heard that it was Jesus of Nazareth, he began to cry out, “Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!” 48 Many warned him to keep quiet, but he was crying out all the more, “Have mercy on me, Son of David!” 49 Jesus stopped and said, “Call him.” So they called the blind man and said to him, “Have courage! Get up; he’s calling for you.” 50 He threw off his coat, jumped up, and came to Jesus. 51 Then Jesus answered him, “What do you want me to do for you?” “Rabboni,” the blind man said to him, “I want to see.” 52 Jesus said to him, “Go, your faith has saved you.” Immediately he could see and began to follow Jesus on the road.

What is Bartimaeus’ position in life? A blind beggar. How does he come to Jesus? As a blind beggar trying to be heard above the crowd. He comes humbly, and he comes immediately. It is here that Jesus is first introduced / announced in Mark’s Gospel with the title, Son of David. Whether Bartimaeus knows it or not, his introduction of Jesus to Jerusalem as the “Son of David” will strike a keynote for the triumphal entry. Jews in Jerusalem claimed David as their father and his son as their Messiah.

How is Bartimeaus’ petition different from that of James’ and John’s? Although Bartimaeus’ request seems self-serving, i.e., I want to see, what is different about his heart here than the disciples’ we saw earlier? First of all Bartimaeus, he just states his desire - I want to see. He doesn’t say, “Lord, I want you to make me see.” His request is simple. His request is honest. He has thrown off his coat - the very thing that depicted security for Bartimaeus. His coat was used to collect the money people cast his direction as he begged. He throws away his perceived security and comes to Jesus empty-handed fully dependent on what Jesus can do - He brings nothing to this equation.

The contrast here between the disciples’ petition and Bartimaeus’ is compared to the parable Jesus tells in Luke’s Gospel. Luke 18:9-14

Luke 18:9–14 CSB

9 He also told this parable to some who trusted in themselves that they were righteous and looked down on everyone else: 10 “Two men went up to the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector. 11 The Pharisee was standing and praying like this about himself: ‘God, I thank you that I’m not like other people—greedy, unrighteous, adulterers, or even like this tax collector. 12 I fast twice a week; I give a tenth of everything I get.’ 13 “But the tax collector, standing far off, would not even raise his eyes to heaven but kept striking his chest and saying, ‘God, have mercy on me, a sinner!’ 14 I tell you, this one went down to his house justified rather than the other, because everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, but the one who humbles himself will be exalted.”

Do you see the similarities between Bartimaeus and the tax collector? Both recognized their desperate need of God. Both are humbled before the Lord. Scripture tells us to come boldly before the throne of grace, but boldly does not mean arrogantly or proud. In both of these examples, humility answers the call of faith. The petition presents a show of faith. And Jesus’ response, therefore, is a result of faith. “Go, your faith has saved you. Immediately he could see and began to follow Jesus on the road.”

We have not because we ask not or we ask with wrong motives. Which of the two petitions here in Mark 10 were answered?

The Preacher’s Commentary Series, Volume 25: Mark (To Heal)

A call to faith. On Jesus’ instruction, someone tells the blind man that he is being summoned. Whoever carries the call sounds like Jesus Himself, “Be of good cheer. Rise, He is calling you” (v. 49). “Be of good cheer” is an appeal to emotions that Bartimaeus thought were gone forever. He has heard “Cheer up” before from callous people who tossed it into his face rather than throwing a coin into his begging blanket. Never before has he heard words of encouragement combined with the command, “Rise.” A serious call to faith requires an act of will as well as a word of hope. The information, then, that “He is calling you” (v. 49) tests the level of Bartimaeus’s cognitive skills. In his past experience, no one has ever responded to his call, except to demand silence. Perhaps even now, he thinks, a cruel hoax is in the making. Raw intelligence and refined intuition, however, tell Bartimaeus the truth. As a blind beggar, he has no place to go but up. The risk is minimal. As simple as it seems, the call to “Look up, get up, and go up” defines faith as an act of hope based upon limited information.

A show of faith. If ever a person enthusiastically demonstrates a holistic show of faith, Bartimaeus does. Feeling for feeling, will for will, mind for mind, he answers the call from Jesus. In response to the word of encouragement, “Be of good cheer” (v. 49), he goes a step further to the daring act of throwing aside the ragged garment that serves functionally to catch coins and symbolically as a sign of his beggarliness. Equally bold, on the command, “Rise,” he abandons his sitting position as a beggar by springing up and standing like a man. Posture always gives clues to self-esteem. Never again will Bartimaeus be looked down upon as the scum of the earth. As Job responded to God’s challenge, Bartimaeus stands ready to answer as a man.

To complete his show of faith, Bartimaeus comes to Jesus. All of his life, the blind beggar has counted on others to lead and feed him. If he still needed help, Peter would have remembered it and Mark would have reported it. No. Although still blind, Bartimaeus walks out his own Emancipation Proclamation. What a sight it must have been to see the crowd open a path for Bartimaeus as he comes to Jesus! In one sense, faith has already made him a whole man. His feelings, his will, and his mind are healed.

The result of faith. Jesus meets the ready faith of Bartimaeus with the open-ended question, “What do you want Me to do for you?” (v. 51). Not long before, James and John had asked Him to grant them whatsoever they asked. The difference between Bartimaeus’s answer and the disciples’ request is the difference between faith and ambition. Faith asks for needs; ambition begs for wants. Bartimaeus needed his sight; James and John wanted the places of honor in the coming kingdom of God.

Jesus exempted Himself from responding to the disciples’ wants, but He wastes no time in meeting Bartimaeus’ need. “Go your way; your faith has made you well” (v. 52) not only gives instant sight to a blind man, but recognizes the total healing of a person with a ready faith. Spiritually free, physically sound, and humanly dignified, Bartimaeus is pronounced “well” and “whole.”

Mark reinforces the total healing of Bartimaeus by bringing the story full cycle in the conclusion, “And immediately he received his sight and followed Jesus on the road” (v. 52). A beggar becomes a disciple and a squatter becomes a pilgrim—living, seeing, walking, and singing proof that Jesus is Servant and Savior.

David L. McKenna and Lloyd J. Ogilvie, Mark, vol. 25, The Preacher’s Commentary Series (Nashville, TN: Thomas Nelson Inc, 1982), 208.