Second Pass at This Weekend's Bible Lesson: Mark 10:35-45

Mark 10:35-45

Verse-by Verse Comments:
v. 35: (1) Jesus has just finished predicting His death and resurrection, turning typical triunphalistic expectations of the long-awaited Messiah on their head. Yet, James and John clearly haven't understood Him. As The New Interpreter's Bible points out, in spite of Jesus' previous talk about "discipleship as taking up the cross and of the lowly as heirs of the kingdom, James and John ask for the chief positions of honor when Jesus enters His glory."

(2) In Matthew's Gospel, the request made here by James and John, the two sons of Zebedee, is ascribed to their mother. Many commentators suggest that Matthew was trying to deflect responsibility for this play for power and authority from the two disciples. But I've always assumed that if the mother played any role in this affair, she did so with the complicity of the sons.

v. 37: (1) The entire request reflects a view of the Messiah as a political figure who would rout the Romans and establish his own reign, a bit like what happened at the time of the Maccabean revolt of 168 BC. Then, God's people, the Judeans, under the leadership of corrupt priest-kings, rid themselves of Greek and Syrian overlordship.

Most of the Messianic visions that had currency among God's people were triumphalistic. They envisioned punishing the overlords-du-jour (in first-century Judea, when Jesus lived, died, and rose, it would have been the Romans) and establishing a nationalistic dominion under an heir of ancient King David.

(2) The phrasing of James' and John's request reflects how rulers and their top lieutenants were routinely pictured in those days. The second-in-command would be to the king's right. (That's why even today, we speak of some people being the high-and-mighty's "right hand man.") The next person in the pecking order would sit at the top person's left.

Ignoring Jesus' call to self-sacrifice and to sharing in His suffering, the Zebedee brothers focus on their desire to be big shots.

v. 38: (1) Jesus uses two metaphors to describe His suffering, which in one form or another, His followers are called to replicate. They are:

(A) Cup. Jesus, of course, speaks of His own suffering and death as His cup during His prayer in Gethsemane (Mark 14:36).

(B) Baptism. This seems to echo images of overwhelming waters found in some of the lament psalms (check out Psalm 42:8; 69:3).

In Romans, Paul writes about Baptism being the manner by which we undergo a death to sin and experience "newness of life," a resurrection. Paul says:

Do you not know that all of us who have been baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death? Therefore we have been buried with him by baptism into death, so that, just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, so we too might walk in newness of life. (Romans 6:3-5)

Paul goes on to write of the life of Jesus-Followers as a daily reiteration of this crucifixion/resurrection motif, a lifestyle in which we daily submit to the death of our sinful nature so that our true selves, our God-selves can rise in joy.

Pointing to Romans 6, Martin Luther responds in The Small Catechism to the question, "What does Baptism mean for daily living?":

It means that our sinful self, with all its evil deeds and desires should be drowned through daily repentance; and that day after day a new self, should arise to live with God in righteousness and purity forever.

Jesus has more in mind than the death of our old selves when He speaks of the cup and baptism, though. He also means that we risk and may experience actual persecution and death for our faith in Him. He urges all who contemplate following Him to count the cost. Seeing the possibility of persecution must surely be part of that inventory. Of course, this is brave talk from a guy like me, one who likes my comforts and has never really suffered for my faith.

(2) One can't miss the fact that the images Jesus uses here also nicely represent the two sacraments of the Church: Holy Baptism, the entry point into a relationship with Christ and His family, and Holy Communion, the food that Christ sets aside for our common journey with Him. This connection fits in well with this passage's themes of submission, humility, repentance, and renewal.

Historically, we Lutherans have said that there are three things that make a sacrament a sacrament:

• Instituted by Christ
• Uses common elements like water, bread, and wine
• Holds the promise of forgiveness

v. 39: (1) The confidence with which James and John answer Jesus' question is almost laughable.

It reminds me of the arrogant line I wrote as part of my yearly evaluation process at the end of my first year in seminary: "I have great confidence in my ability to be a pastor." Today, were I to read such a statement by a seminarian, I'd be tempted to drum the student out of the place. Subsequent years have taught me the truth of Jesus' words in John: "Without Me, you can do nothing." And of Paul's words: "I can do all things through Him [Christ] Who strengthens me."

(2) Jesus indicates that the brothers will experience drinking His cup and Baptism of suffering and death. Acts 12:2 records the execution of James under orders from Herod Agrippa.

(3) The New Interpreter's Bible says:

"Jesus' prophecy concerning the martyrdom of James and John reminds the reader that the failures of the disciples during Jesus' lifetime are not the final word about their faithfulness as followers of Jesus. Although they will run away during the passion, these same disciples will later share the suffering of Jesus."

These sentences remind us not to be too harsh in our judgments about James and John, of course. They're neither exceptionally evil or thick. They're a lot like us...at least, they're a lot like me.

But I find that these two sentences also give me hope. When I consider how sinful I am, how often I have deliberately rebelled against God, and how selfishly I have sometimes lived, I take comfort from the patience, forgiveness, and grace that Jesus showed to people like James and John. God doesn't use perfect people in His kingdom. He welcomes imperfect ones and patiently transforms them. God is truly amazing!

v. 40: Jesus' statement here appears to parallel what He says in Mark 13:32, where He says that only the Father knows the day when Jesus will return to the world and bring this world's life to an end.

v. 41: The other ten are probably as ambitious as James and John, just not so overt or bold. Remember that this gang has already argued over who is the greatest (Mark 9:33-37).

v.42: In the community Christ calls into being--the Church--things like power, arrogance, and worry about status are gone.

vv. 43-44: (1) Greatness is measured in the willingness to serve.

(2) The New Interpreter's Bible notes:

This insistence on service distinguishes Jesus' understanding of the new order from many apocalyptic visions.

v. 45: (1) Jesus' death as a "ransom for many" sets His death apart from the deaths of martyrs. As the New Interpreter's Bible points out, we may share in Jesus' suffering, but our lives don't act as sacrifices for others' sins.