Mark Vol. 2 - Week 13 (10:32-45)
Mark 10:32-45
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No Ordinary King
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Mark 10:32-45 〰️ No Ordinary King 〰️
One of the most prominent themes in the Gospel of Mark is that of the suffering servant. Jesus, our Lord, came to suffer and serve humanity by giving His life as a ransom. This week's passage presents another interesting, head-scratching exchange between Jesus and His disciples. Most of the Gospel of Mark up to this point has contained stories where Jesus' disciples, the Pharisees, or the crowd just don't get it, and Mark 10:32-45 further emphasizes the gap between Jesus' teaching and everyone's understanding.
In last week's passage, Jesus told the rich young ruler that to follow Him would be costly: he was to sell all his possessions (v21). Jesus then tells those listening that the Kingdom of God is not for the faint of heart and that "many who are first will be last, and the last first" (v31). Then, this week's passage opens with Jesus walking with His disciples, leading us to believe these stories are close together in time. In v32-34, Jesus again tells the twelve of the coming crucifixion. The first two times Jesus tells them of His coming death, He tells them what will happen, but now Jesus tells them where it will take place, causing astonishment and fear (v32).¹
Reading the Gospels post-resurrection, we see all of the foreshadowing and predictions in hindsight, but it wasn't the case for the disciples. A lack of understanding caused the disciples to be confused and sometimes angry (8:32) at the mere suggestion of Jesus being killed. The disciples did not yet understand the eternal implications of the spotless lamb dying for many (Isaiah 53:7). This is made clear immediately. James and John approach Jesus, asking to be seated at His right hand for eternity. It seems they've forgotten the words of Jesus earlier in 9:33-35, and even more interestingly, we see a third incarnation of this pattern in story-telling. Mark reiterates to the readers that the disciples have no clue what they are getting into. In his writing, Mark cleverly displays this pattern for us:
i. Professed belief in Jesus (Peter in 8:27-30; the boy's father 8:24; the rich young ruler in 10:17)
ii. Jesus predicting His death (8:31-33; 9:30-32; 10:32-34)
iii. A misunderstanding of the cost of following Jesus (8:32; 9:33-36; 10:35-37)
iv. Jesus warning of the cost of following Him (8:34-38; 9:37; 10:38-45)
Amazingly, the disciples still don't seem to understand the purpose of Jesus' coming. They know that He's come to establish the Kingdom of God but are still thinking of it in the physical and earthly realm. Living under the oppressive thumb of Rome had left many waiting for the Messiah to come and liberate God's people. The disciples were likely no different, and James and John wanted to be top dogs when Jesus is seated on the throne in glory. However, being seated next to Jesus comes at a cost, and church tradition and historical documents tell us that all of the disciples except one would eventually pay it.
And so our Savior tells us that to be glorified in heaven means to be made low here on earth, "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" (v45). We might often find ourselves approaching God in prayer, asking for things (a promotion, a spouse, a house, health, etc.) but not considering the weight of these prayers and that first, God calls us to follow Him. Jesus said, "If anyone wants to follow after me, let him deny himself, take up his cross, and follow me" (Matt. 16:24). We can't, like the disciples, expect the blessings and benefits we desire from the Lord without first living in obedience and loyalty to Him.
Discussion Questions
What stood out to you from the passage?
Does anything in this passage remind you of another part of Scripture?
Do you have any questions?
Have you ever done or seen someone do anything for the sake of Christ that was misunderstood by others?
In what ways have you misunderstood what Jesus asks of us?
Have you ever come to God in prayer and said, "I want you to do whatever we ask"? What can that teach us about our own hearts?
What did Jesus mean when He said He gave "his life as a ransom for many"? What does that mean for us today?
Read v42-45. What does it mean to be "a slave to all"?
1. Warren Wiersbe, The Bible Exposition Commentary: New Testament Vol. 1 (Colorado Springs, CO: Cook Communications Ministry), 147.