Mark for Lent 26
Today Jesus tells again about his death and James and JOhn ask to sit at the right hand and left hand of Jesus when he comes into his glory.
Jesus Again Tells about His Death (Matthew 20.17-19; Luke 18.31-34)
32The disciples were confused as Jesus led them toward Jerusalem, and his other followers were afraid. Once again, Jesus took the twelve disciples aside and told them what was going to happen to him. He said:
33We are now on our way to Jerusalem where the Son of Man will be handed over to the chief priests and the teachers of the Law of Moses. They will sentence him to death and hand him over to foreigners, [a] 34who will make fun of him and spit on him. They will beat him and kill him. But three days later he will rise to life.
The Request of James and John (Matthew 20.20-28)35James and John, the sons of Zebedee, came up to Jesus and asked, “Teacher, will you do us a favor?”
36Jesus asked them what they wanted, 37and they answered, “When you come into your glory, please let one of us sit at your right side and the other at your left.” [b]
38Jesus told them, “You don’t really know what you’re asking! Are you able to drink from the cup [c] that I must soon drink from or be baptized as I must be baptized?” [d]
39″Yes, we are!” James and John answered.
Then Jesus replied, “You certainly will drink from the cup from which I must drink. And you will be baptized just as I must! 40But it isn’t for me to say who will sit at my right side and at my left. That is for God to decide.”
41When the ten other disciples heard this, they were angry with James and John. 42But Jesus called the disciples together and said:
You know that those foreigners who call themselves kings like to order their people around. And their great leaders have full power over the people they rule. 43But don’t act like them. If you want to be great, you must be the servant of all the others. 44And if you want to be first, you must be everyone’s slave. 45The Son of Man did not come to be a slave master, but a slave who will give his life to rescue [e] many people.
Copyright © 1995 by American Bible Society
March 27th, 2006 at 11:42 am
The disciples are afraid to go to Jerusalem - with good reason too.
The plot is finaly building on the tension in the conflict that has been simmering along.
Once more Jesus names names: ‘the pharisees’ the ‘teachers of the law of Moses’ and ‘Son of Man’. Mark wants us to see what is happening not just in terms of the politics of first century palestine, but in the cosmic order of things. This is about the justness of the kingdom of God pitted against the corruption of the kingdoms of this world.
And true to form the disciples don’t see it and come right out with questions and that align themselves to the kingdoms of this world, asking for patronage and seats of power on the board.
Jesus responds with more clear teaching offered to those who will travel with him along the road to Jerusalem about surrendering power and serving the least.
There seems to be less dramatic public actions and more tough words for the inner circle in this act.
March 27th, 2006 at 12:49 pm
Do you ever wonder why Jesus talks in such indirect terms with his disciples? Why didn’t he express himself in easy to understand, unambiguous manner?
I don’t know about you, but I appreciate clarity of communication. It saves time and misunderstandings.
Or did Jesus suffer from a psychological illness that limited his expressive power? I don’t know, but perhaps a psychologist or psychiatrist could comment.
March 27th, 2006 at 1:43 pm
I really believe that Jesus spoke in riddles and stories so that people “who had ears” would listen and understand.
If He said anything bluntly I don’t think His ministry would have been as effective. For example, how more likely are we to tune out if we are moralised to? Jesus was a great sower and He sowed seeds via parables and stories. The rest of what happens to the message once it enters our ears, He left that up to the Holy Spirit.
If it is a story that makes you think, you are more likely to go home and have a think about what was said and depending on the type of soil lining your heart, the message may take root and grow, die or be choked out by the things in life that we percieve to be more important.
He wanted people to listen to what He was saying and find ways to apply those words. In fact, He was an example to us of how to bring life to His words.
March 27th, 2006 at 3:01 pm
I think we have seen a contrast in how cryptic he is with the wider crowds, and how blunt he is with his disciples.
“You know that those foreigners who call themselves kings like to order their people around. And their great leaders have full power over the people they rule. But don’t act like them. If you want to be great, you must be the servant of all the others.”
Sounds pretty clear to me.