A Deeper Look : Mark 10
If you have a chance, read Mark 10:32-52 before diving into this article.
The Objects of His Affection
The rich young man, full of sorrow, had just walked away. He didn’t like what just Jesus told him. Perhaps it was too straightforward, or just too radical. Maybe it was for someone else to do but, for him, it was not worth the risk of losing his earthly possessions and reputation over. He was told by Jesus to sell and give all of his possessions away and trade that in for treasures in heaven. Jesus was calling him to recklessly abandon all of the things he put his trust and self-worth in but to this man Jesus’soffer just wasn’t good enough. Treasures in heaven didn’t seem real enough, at least not compared to the tangible things this life had to offer. From the outside, this man looked Christ-like by following the commandments since he was a child, but his heart was far from the truth that would set him free. And the reality is, this man was his own idol. He, with all his riches and self-reliance, stood in the way of him and his relationship to God. He placed the desire of material things on earth before the divine supremacy of Christ above all things, revealing that possessions were truly the objects of his affection.
What Do You Want Me To Do For You? Part 1
Following this scene, while walking along the road, Jesus pulls his twelve disciples aside to tell them for the third time how he will die. He says to them, “...we are going up to Jerusalem, and the Son of Man will be delivered over to the chief priests and the scribes, and they will condemn him to death and deliver him over to the Gentiles. And they will mock him and spit on him, and flog him and kill him. And after three days he will rise.” After this James and John came to him and said, “Teacher, we want for you to do for us whatever we ask of you.” And I think to myself, “Really? As if him telling you he is about to die wasn’t enough?” Still, let’s press on to this request of James and John because in it there are implications for us today. Jesus humbly responds by asking, “What do you want for me to do for you?” They responded, “Grant us to sit, one at your right hand and one at your left, in your glory.”
Who Do You Say I Am?
We can see several things taking place within this conversation. First, notice that Jesus’ two disciples address him as teacher. Jesus is more than a teacher. He is the Messiah. The Son of God, the Lamb who was about to be slain for the sake of the world. James and John missed this. They were too busy focused on their own agenda, egos, and self-exaltation, rather than exalting the Son of Man. Their eyes were on themselves, not their Savior. Perhaps James and John didn’t put it together who Jesus was referring to as the “Son of Man,” but maybe they would have woken up to this realization earlier if they weren’t caught-up thinking about their social positions with Christ. Secondly, did they want to be beside Jesus in his glory to give him all the glory? Or was it because they wanted the glory for themselves? Their question revealed the condition of their sinful hearts: they were just as, if not more, concerned with their own exaltation as they were Jesus’s. Jesus began to explain that they too will drink of the same cup and be baptized with the same baptism as he, prophetically saying that they would suffer in a similar way for God’s glory. They welcomed this, although they didn’t quite know what it meant for their future.
The First Will Be Last
The other ten disciples overheard this and became angry with James and John. This could have been because of their own desire to ask the same question to Jesus. They wanted to be exalted, too. Jesus said firmly that this is not the way that they should act, showing others that they are greater and have more authority. This was not to be so of Jesus’ followers. He began to teach them again about humility. Without humility one cannot be a leader, much less “the greatest,” because in the kingdom of God the first shall be last and the last shall be first. The one who is a humble–servant is the one who will be the greatest. And in every way, Jesus proved himself to be the greatest. What Jesus was teaching James and John (and us today) is mind-blowing and paradigm-shattering. Being a humble-servant can, at times, feel very similar to being a doormat for people to step on, however, not with a kingdom perspective. Jesus says, “and whoever would be first among you must be slave of all. For even the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.” Jesus tells them that it is not up to him to grant but ultimately for the Father will decide who will sit where in his kingdom. So, we should be concerned about our humility in Christ and not in word recognition. All of Jesus’ disciples should look to his humble sacrifice on our behalf for our motivation to serve and love others.
What Do You Want for me to do for you? Part 2
The blind beggar cries out among the crowd! The disciples hear him and rebuke him for his loud shouts for Jesus’s attention. Jesus asks him the same question he asked the disciples, “What do you want me to do for you?” The blind beggar says, “Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!” Look how he addresses Jesus with exaltation! Although he was blind he could see something in Jesus that even the disciples missed. He recognized Jesus as the Son of God because he had faith, and his faith made him well. Unlike for James and John, Jesus honored this man’s faith and granted his request. His sight was recovered!
Don’t Walk Away
Like the rich young man, Jesus was used to people walking away. In fact, throughout scripture it seemed he was never stunned by the turning of backs when he spoke truth to people. He spoke the words of eternal life to all those he encountered, those he loved (Mark 10:21). Just like this rich young man, we too become disheartened to hear Jesus tell us that we must give up our earthly possessions to follow him. We also become indignant at the thought of someone else being exalted to positions that we think we deserve. We also ask some silly and selfish requests to the Savior of the world! There were and always will be some who will be amazed and some will be afraid of what Jesus has to say (Mark 10:32). The blind man wasn’t afraid. He threw off his cloak, sprang up, and came to Jesus! Maybe it was because he had nothing holding him back. He didn’t have physical sight but he had spiritual sight. He didn’t have material possessions but heavenly ones. He didn’t have wealth or a gift to offer Jesus but he was given the gift of faith. This man followed Jesus and he became a disciple. Let us not be disciples caught up in our selfish gain and recognition, rather let us recognize the one who is to be exalted above everyone and everything. Let us not be like the rich young ruler. Do not walk away from the man whose words hold the truth that leads to eternal life. May we come stripped of all our earthly possessions and desires, coming to Jesus with an earnest and honest heart willing to be lowly servants because he was. May we loosen the grip on our earthly goods and trade them in for heavenly riches!