Mark 10:32-45 Comments by Stephen Ricker
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For Even the Son of Man
Comments for Study 19

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Memory Verse: 10:45
Questions
Introduction
Outline
A CHART COMPARING JESUS' PARABLES
JESUS' LATER MIISTRY TRAVELS
A MAP OF GALILEE

I. "The Son of Man Will Be Betrayed..." (32-34)

Jesus' Late Ministry Travels

>1. Where were Jesus and the disciples going and what awaited Jesus there?

* They were going to Jerusalem.

* Jesus' suffering and crucifixion and resurrection awaited him there.

>How does Mark describe Jesus and his disciples as they walked along the road?

* Mark 10:32 "They were on their way up to Jerusalem, with Jesus leading the way, and the disciples were astonished, while those who followed were afraid. Again he took the Twelve aside and told them what was going to happen to him."

* "with Jesus leading the way" -Jesus determination and pace as he headed for Jerusalem.

* "while those who followed" -probably pilgrims on their way to celebrate the feast of Passover and the feast of Unleavened Bread. The Mosaic law required all Israelites and Jews to go to Jerusalem and the temple to celebrate this feast.

>Why might the disciples have been astonished?

* "and the disciples were astonished" -Jesus' attitude had changed he no longer stopped every moment, but went straight down to Jerusalem boldly and with determination. The disciples still had hope in an earthly Messiahship. Jesus had been talking about his kingdom in his teachings, referring to it as the kingdom of God, so they were slightly encouraged. James and John's coming request shows they were thinking these things.

* "while those who followed were afraid"-they did not know what Jesus was doing. Some might have speculated that Jesus was going to proclaim himself as the Messiah and then there would be trouble for them. They knew the conflict between some of the important Jewish leaders and Jesus.

>2. What detail did Jesus share with the Twelve about what would happen in Jerusalem?

* Mark 10:33-34 ""We are going up to Jerusalem," he said, "and the Son of Man will be betrayed to the chief priests and teachers of the law. They will condemn him to death and will hand him over to the Gentiles, who will mock him and spit on him, flog him and kill him. Three days later he will rise.""

* This is very clear. There is no room for misunderstanding. This is the third time that Jesus told them. He knew what they were thinking and so he addressed it.

>When had he taught them about his suffering and death before? (See 8:31-32; 9:31-32)

* Mark 8:31-32 "He then began to teach them that the Son of Man must suffer many things and be rejected by the elders, chief priests and teachers of the law, and that he must be killed and after three days rise again. He spoke plainly about this, and Peter took him aside and began to rebuke him."

* Mark 9:31-32 "because he was teaching his disciples. He said to them, "The Son of Man is going to be betrayed into the hands of men. They will kill him, and after three days he will rise." But they did not understand what he meant and were afraid to ask him about it."

* The teaching in chapter 8 is after Peter's confession that Jesus is the Christ.

* The teaching in chapter 9 is after the boy's healing and the transfiguration.

* Each time Jesus taught this was the right time. Jesus did not teach this every time. It was one to one.

* Even though they didn't understand he taught them. Why? Because they were his co-workers and because they would understand later.

>3. Why do you think Jesus repeated this teaching over and over again?

* This teaching was their spiritual life and death. By accepting it by faith they would be saved. Understanding the meaning of it would prepare them for the future when they came true.

* They were not receiving it.

* They were at the point where they were afraid to ask him when he talked about this issue. (Mark 9:32)

* They didn't understand what he meant. (Mark 9:32)

* They were interpreting it wrong.

* Suffering scares people as it must have the disciples.

* Jesus was patient.

>Think about the importance of Jesus' death and resurrection. (See John 3:16)

* John 3:16 ""For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life."

* Three points are seen in John 3:16 in light of Mark 10:45:
    1) "Shall not perish"
    2) "God's love"
    3) "Eternal life"

* Jesus did not have sentimental love but sacrificial love.

>Think about how difficult it must have been for Jesus to obey God's will. (See Hebrews 5:8)

* Hebrews 5:8 "Although he was a son, he learned obedience from what he suffered"

* He was human so it is a struggle to suffer.

* It doesn't seem fair for Jesus to suffer for our mistake. He didn't do anything to deserve punishment.

* Apostle Paul said that we should not think suffering coming to us is strange.

* To obey this one's heart must be right and prepared. Pride must be moved.

* Suffering can be and instrument to learn obedience.

* "he learned" -obedience goes against our will (our self preservation). We need to learn this.

* To obey often means suffering.

II. Even the Son of Man (35-45)

>4. How did the disciples respond to Jesus' teaching about his suffering and death? (See verses 35-37, 41)

* Mark 10:35-37 "Then James and John, the sons of Zebedee, came to him. "Teacher," they said, "we want you to do for us whatever we ask." "What do you want me to do for you?" he asked. They replied, "Let one of us sit at your right and the other at your left in your glory."

* Mark 10:41 "When the ten heard about this, they became indignant with James and John."

* They felt comfortable in asking Jesus. They trusted his love.

* Jesus' response is amazing.

>What was in James and John's minds when they made this request?

* They had in mind that Jesus would go to Jerusalem, overthrow the Roman empire and establish himself as king of Judea. Then they could take the right and left hand place on his throne.

* They wanted glory and security.

* They took advantage of their relationship with Jesus.

* Matthew 20:20

* Showed childish characters.

* They thought that Jesus had been speaking figuratively.

* They had desire, they weren't lazy and they wanted to improve.

>5. What did Jesus ask them?

* Mark 10:38 ""You don't know what you are asking," Jesus said. "Can you drink the cup I drink or be baptized with the baptism I am baptized with?""

* Jesus repeated their request and used it to teach the cross.

* Jesus redirected their ambition.

* Jesus understood them.

* Jesus interpreted their request spiritually.

* Jesus said not because of politics.

>What is the "cup"? "the baptism"? (Mt. 26:39, Rom. 6:4)

* Matthew 26:39 "Going a little farther, he fell with his face to the ground and prayed, "My Father, if it is possible, may this cup be taken from me. Yet not as I will, but as you will."

* Romans 6:4 "We were therefore buried with him through baptism into death in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, we too may live a new life."

* To be baptized into his suffering and death.

* The cup of his suffering.

* The bitter the drink and the more we drink the more glory is in store for us.

* The more faith we have the more we drink.

* Old self dies.

* Live a life of mission.

* Paul said, "Serve the Lord with humility and tears."

* Suffering for mission not suffering for our sins or others. Its voluntary. Not self imposed.

>6. What does their "we can" show about their faith and their ambition?

* Mark 10:39a ""We can," they answered."

* Their faith was in themselves. However, they loved Jesus. They didn't want to be first in the world, they wanted to rule next to (with) Jesus.

* Their ambition went beyond the truth and reasonable thinking.

* Faith and ambition looks similar on the outside. The difference is our motive.

>7. What promise did Jesus give and what did he mean by it?

* Mark 10:39b "Jesus said to them, "You will drink the cup I drink and be baptized with the baptism I am baptized with,"

* Jesus took their request seriously even though they didn't know what it meant.

* James was the first apostle to be killed and John suffered the longest.

* They need to follow Jesus' example.

>What did he refuse and why?

* Mark 10:40 "but to sit at my right or left is not for me to grant. These places belong to those for whom they have been prepared."

* It is up to God to choose.

* No human favoritism. Not human way, but God's way.

>What did he teach them about God's sovereignty?

* God chooses who he wants to according to his good promise and purpose.

* The glory in heaven is not by political process.

* God is in control and has everything already planned.

* Jesus' righteousness and God's justice.

* God establishes who will be leaders and missionaries despite what man wants and thinks. (i.e. Saul's son Jonathan didn't become king, but David did. Even Samuel though David's older brothers were great candidates to be king, not necessarily David. Isaac's eldest son, Esau did not receive the inheritance but Jacob did.)

* Not how, but from where-the heart.

>8. What does the indignation of the 10 show about them?

* Mark 10:41 "When the ten heard about this, they became indignant with James and John."

* They also wanted to say as John and James did.

* What should he have done? Help and pray for them. Communication in a group.

* If he ignored the problem it would remain and grow.

>How were the disciples like the Gentiles?

* Mark 10:42 "Jesus called them together and said, "You know that those who are regarded as rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and their high officials exercise authority over them."

* They wanted to be served. They wanted to rule over other co-workers.

* "wants to" -personal

* "must" -no choice

>What did Jesus teach them about how to be truly great?

* Mark 10:43-44 "Not so with you. Instead, whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant, and whoever wants to be first must be slave of all."

* To serve, to be a slave of all. This is a heart attitude. Not just outward hard work.

* We should not expect or want our sheep to serve us.

* Jesus didn't take sides.

* Among Christians it has to be applied.

* This truth practiced is effective.

>9. What example can we follow?

* Mark 10:45 "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."

>How did Jesus serve sinful people?

* He suffered and died to take away their sins.

* Practically and personally.

* Peace and justice. Understanding each person.

* Each person was a different case.

* He used authority to help other people.

>What was his purpose in coming into the world?

* "to serve" -(i.e. He taught the word of God; he healed; he helped people; he prayed.)

* "to give his life as a ransom for many"

>How does this explain the meaning of his death and resurrection?

* "as a ransom for many" -legal transfer of a slave from one person to another person, a purchased slave.