Stories of the Rabbi 18

Mark 10:32-52 – Third Prediction, “What do you want me to do for you?” Pt.1 and Pt. 2

I. Mark 10:32-34 – Jesus predicts his fate part 3

a. Vs. 32- Mark clearly states now that Jesus is on His way to Jerusalem

i. Best translation: “Jesus was walking up ahead of them” - this gives a sense of Jesus separating Himself from the others

ii. Those who are with Jesus (the Greek does not specify disciples, so this indicates that there was a larger crowd traveling with Him) are both astonished and afraid

iii. Why?

iv. Jesus focuses on the 12 to reveal what was going to happen

b. Vss. 33-34 Jesus predicts His death

i. Jesus confirms that they are going to Jerusalem

ii. His death will be a coordinated effort between the chief priests and teachers of the law (Pharisees and Scribes) along with the Gentiles (everyone was thinking Romans at this)

iii. Four things will happen (this is something that would be recounted by Peter as he was there to witness it):

1. They will mock Him

2. They will spit on Him

a. These two refer to what the Jewish leaders will do

3. They will flog Him

4. They will kill Him

iv. Jesus will rise again on the third day (in three days to the Jewish mind means the same thing)

1. During the Passion, everyone, except for Jesus, forgot about this

II. Mark 10:35-45 “What do you want me to do for you?” Part 1

a. Vs. 35 – Obviously, the disciples believe that Jesus is the Messiah, but they are still thinking in terms of a political Messiah

i. Jacob (James) and John want leadership positions in that political kingdom

ii. They brazenly ask an open-ended request of Jesus – they can’t ask Him directly

b. Vs. 36 - Jesus replies to them with a simple question: “What do you want me to do for you?”

i. Consider the impact of this statement.

ii. In our selfish moments, God still asks us what we want.

iii. Think about how we make requests of God – are we brazen like Jacob and John?

c. Vs. 37 – They tell Him what they want

i. They brazenly for a place of high leadership in the Kingdom

ii. To sit on the left or the right of the King would mean that they would have authority over everything the King has power over

d. Vss. 38 – 39 Instead of calling them out on their audacious question, Jesus challenges them

i. “Can you drink the cup I drink?”

ii. “(Can you be) baptized with the baptism I am baptized with?”

iii. They answer that they can

iv. Jesus states that they will go through what He is going through, but they do not understand this.

v. Be careful what you ask for because God will answer your requests

1. Jacob (son of Zebedee) – beheaded in Jerusalem

2. Jacob (son of Alphaeus) – stoned to death

3. John – although did not die a Martyr’s death, endured a life of torture and isolation on Patmos

4. Phillip – Executed in eastern Turkey

5. Peter – crucified upside down in Rome

6. Andrew – went to Russia, Greece, and Turkey, where he was crucified

7. Thomas - speared to death in India

8. Matthew – Stabbed to death in Ethiopia or martyred in Persia (Iran)

9. Bartholomew – several traditions: Martyred with Thomas in India, in Armenia, Ethiopia, or Southern Arabia

10. Simon the Zealot – murdered in Persia (Iran) after not sacrificing to the goat god

11. Thaddaeus – Crucified

12. Matthias – stoned and beheaded in Syria

e. Vs. 40 – Ultimately, God decides who is equal to Jesus; only God can give that privilege.

f. Vss. 41 – 45 – A Question of Power.

i. Jacob and John were asking for positions of power- which made their peers indignant (rightly so)

ii. Vs. 42 - Jesus points out how the Gentiles (Romans) view power – an exercise of authority

iii. Vss. 43 – 44 – Back to the idea of power and humility

iv. If you can, watch this video and discuss: https://youtu.be/K5lQA3bipHc

III. Vss. 46 – 52: “What do you want me to do for you?” Part 2

a. Vs. 46 – Came to Jericho – so they went South of Jerusalem – taking the long way to the city

b. Vs. 47 – A blind beggar named Bartimaeus called out for Jesus’ mercy

i. Notice the name drop by Mark – could Bartimaeus have been known by those reading the Gospel and could verify this story?

ii. He “heard” that it was Jesus that was causing all the noise

iii. He uses multiple times the messianic title of “Son of David” when appealing to Jesus

c. Vs. 48 – Read this verse and discuss how we sometimes keep people from hearing the Gospel because it is inconvenient

d. Vss. 49 – 51

i. Jesus orders the disciples to “Call him.”

ii. “Throwing his cloak aside” – an interesting detail – was this the thing keeping Him from Jesus?

iii. Jesus asks the same question he asked Jacob and John – “What do you want me to do for you?”

iv. Unlike Jacob and Joh, Bartimaeus is asking out of humility

v. He wants to see, but…

e. Vs. 52 …he receives so much more

i. Bartimaeus’ faith healed him – His trust in Jesus healed him

ii. He not only received sight but received faith

iii. He abandoned his place of pain, of infirmity; he abandoned his circumstances and traded in his blindness for faith and received a purpose

iv. Discuss the differences between the two requests.

v. Discuss how this affects you and your requests

Mark 11:1-19 Jerusalem Entry

We have come a long way with Jesus through Mark’s narrative. The past ten chapters have been a number of scenes, teachings, and miracles that have taken the past three years of Jesus’ and the disciple’s lives. These last six chapters will cover just one week. A full third of this Gospel is dedicated to what Jesus taught and what He did for this last week. It is intense, but it is so important that we understand the progression that takes us to the end of the gospel. Over the next three chapters look for themes of a New Temple, a New Passover, and a New Covenant. This week we are doing a LOT of diving into the Old Testament. Have fun!

I. Mark 11:1-11 Arrival into Jerusalem

a. This scene is in all four Gospels, so it is a scene that is worthy of serious attention as all four believed it needed to be included.

b. Vs. 1 – Jesus has taken His followers all the way form Galilee in the north down south of Jerusalem to Jericho, to a little village right outside of Jerusalem on the opposite side of the Mount of Olives, Bethany.

i. John’s gospel (chapters 11-12) provides more details on events in Bethany as it was where some of His closest friends lived.

c. Vss. 2-5 Jesus provides the exact detail of what the disciples should do and what they would find.

i. Go to the village (Bethany)

ii. Find colt that has never been ridden

1. Why never ridden? – see Num. 19:2, Deut. 21:3, and 1Sam. 6:7

iii. Untie it and bring it back

iv. Let the owner know that it will be returned

v. It happened just as He said it would

d. Vs. 6 – the disciples used the name and the authority of Jesus and Jesus’ will was done.

i. What does this say about how we can use the name of Jesus and His authority?

e. Vss. 7-10 – a royal welcome

i. Read Malachi 3:1 – how does that prophesy relate to this scene?

ii. Jesus is treated as a king

1. Robes on the colt

2. Robes in the road

3. Palm branches on the road

4. The word Hosanna is shouted

a. This means “The Lord Save us”

b. Read Psalm 118:25-26

5. Did the people understand who they were cheering for?

a. Did they understand that Jesus was not coming to take political power?

b. What kind of power was Jesus going to take over the next week?

f. Vs. 11 – what is the significance of this verse?

i. See Mark 1:2-3 and Isaiah 40:3