The Gospel According to Mark (Part 34)

The Gospel According to Mark

(part 34)

Mark 10:32 ESV

The disciples who had gotten to know Jesus were in awe of the journey they were on, but those that followed behind the disciples were overwhelmed with fear.

• Who are you following?
• Who has your heart?

Mark 10:32-34 NKJV

Notice the word again here in this passage. It stood out to me after I realized this wasn’t the first time Jesus had predicted his death to His disciples, but they still didn’t understand Him.

This reminds me so much of when I tell my kids to go do something, clean their room, go give the dogs food, go let our dog Coco out, and I feel like I have to ask them to do it three times before I then have to yell at them to go do it. Or if I am telling my son like this past weekend to not talk about the score of his soccer game. They beat the other team 6-1, and he was very expressive and passionate about how badly they beat the other team, but still while we were near the field other parents or players may or may not have heard him. So, I kept telling him that we weren’t going to talk about it right now, but we would later. But he just was not getting it! So, I am not necessarily surprised by this story with the disciples that they constantly didn’t understand Jesus. They were like little children following their parents learning so much all at once, and probably even having to learn faster than my kids have to learn with me.

This was the third time Jesus predicted his death to the disciples. Mark’s Gospel records three times that Jesus prophesied of his death and resurrection. After each time he had to rebuke his disciples.

The first time (Mark 8:31) he rebuked Peter for being used by Satan to try to hinder Jesus. The second time (Mark 9:31) the disciples argued over who would be the greatest. Let’s look at the third time here in this passage:

Mark 10:35 NKJV

I would definitely be scared to say to Jesus, do whatever we ask. 

Matthew 20:20-21 NKJV

As a parent that is such a perspective and a lens I can clearly see through, as I have gotten on my knees before Jesus in my bedroom and pleaded to Jesus to give my children far more than I ever have experienced or will experience in my lifetime. 

Mark 10:36-39 NKJV

To sit on the right hand and left hand of Jesus was referencing a place of honor, authority, and power next to Jesus.

God is no respecter of persons – Acts 10:34 KJV

To say, “We are able,” this was very naive of them to say that. James and John both were trying to exude confidence, but they didn’t understand the full extent of the sacrifice Jesus was explaining, and out of that boastful posture of their hearts, they only were humbled by Jesus’ next words about sacrifice and servanthood.

Mark 10:39-42 NKJV

In 2/3 stories where Jesus rebukes the disciples after he predicts his death, Jesus makes something beautifully clear here, he knows our thoughts.

Mark 10:42-45 NKJV

The disciples wanted to make it about themselves, but it was all about and always will be about Jesus. 

Indignant means to feel or show anger or annoyance at what is perceived as unfair treatment.

James 3:14-18 ESV

Jesus reprimanded them but didn’t give them a clear answer of WHO is to sit at His left and right. Jesus is sharing a bit of the mystery of how the Holy Trinity works

After the third time of predicting his death, Jesus corrected James and John about their ambition to be in the place of highest honor. This shows us that not only is the sacrifice of the cross difficult to understand, but it also brings out the ambition that hides in our hearts. Jesus’ submission to the Father to choose who sits in glory next to him becomes a rebuke to the ambition of James and John.

This deals a lot with our selfish hearts and choosing to see what we see and not fully listen or hear what God is regularly trying to say and get across to us. It is abundantly clear within these three passages that we’re to be selfless, and sacrificial and realize our honor, authority, and power does not come from us, and never will.

We’ve never thought we’ve known more than God right?

The disciples went through a lot of emotions in the three predictions: anger, frustration, confusion, fear, etc. They regularly didn’t know what Jesus was saying or doing, but God still would use them.

What does God want us to see through this story?

• Follow Him means sacrifice
• Jesus hears our thoughts
• We have hidden selfish ambitions that are revealed through the sacrifice of the cross
• When God does something big for us somehow it still isn’t enough and we want more
• God does things in threes: The number 3 biblically represents divine wholeness, completeness, and perfection

The rebuke from Jesus to His disciples, in each of those three stories, after He explained to them he was going to sacrifice His life so that they may live, dealt with their selfish ambitions.

None of us would have wanted Jesus to leave or go through that sacrifice, but hidden in our hearts when experiencing what Jesus was able to do for people, we often want that power, that authority, to experience that kind of Glory, and have that kind of honor.

Sacrifice and servanthood will never be fully achieved without dying to ourselves.

Romans 6:23

I win:

If my wife wins

If my kids win

If our worship team wins

If our church wins

God is calling us to a new place of honor and servitude, through being selfless and care.

Sacrifice through servanthood can’t be fulfilled without dealing with our selfish ambitions.

If Christ is literally willing to sacrifice Himself in life for all of this world, it confirms that has to be central to our belief system.

Jesus is teaching us an important lesson here. Through His sacrifice and now our own, we must rebuke our selfishness so that we may serve humbly.

Zephaniah 2:3 NIV

Mark 12:30-31

The disciples were constantly concerned about what Jesus could do for them versus what they could do for Jesus. Hence, I believe they had such a hard time coming to terms with the sacrifice of Jesus.

John 16:7 NIV

The advocate is the Holy Spirit which is inside of US, and with US, 24/7.

Selfish ambitions will always mask the truth. The truth is that we have to get out of our own way. We have to first sacrifice and lay down our own lives. We have to not let God’s sacrifice be for nothing, and remember our place which is to serve God, serve our families, and serve our communities.

It’s all about Jesus and our heart posture towards Him. May we cast our selfishness and pride into the deep sea.