Jesus Prophecies His Death
10:32-34
Jesus left Capernaum and headed South to Jerusalem. He seemed very determined, even walking ahead of his followers on the road. Luke wrote that Jesus “set his face to go to Jerusalem”. (Luke 9:51) The disciples were amazed at this. The other followers were afraid, knowing there would be much opposition to Jesus in Jerusalem.
When Jesus was alone with the Twelve, he told them exactly what would happen. He did not sugar coat it. He said that they were going to Jerusalem. Once there, he as the Son of Man would be delivered over to the chief priests and scribes. They would condemn him to death and hand him over to the Gentiles, meaning the Romans. The Romans would mock him, spit on him, flog him, and kill him. This foretelling is so specific it is astonishing. It is also astonishing that Jesus, knowing all of this, kept going resolutely to Jerusalem.
This is the third and final prediction of his death.
The conclusion of the foretelling, though, is that Jesus would rise after three days. (34) He would rise from the dead.
James & John Want Preeminence
10:35-45
Although Jesus had previously rebuked he disciples for arguing about which of them were the greatest, James and John were undeterred. It is interesting, and shows the disciples’ lack of spiritual discernment, that, after each of Jesus’ predictions about his death, the disciples contend for personal greatness. They are incredibly selfish even as Jesus is incredibly humble.
They asked Jesus for a favor. They asked him to do whatever they asked. In other words, they asked him to promise to give them what they asked even before they asked. This indicates that they were not sure Jesus would grant their request.
This is audacious. They presumed to bind their master to their wishes without even making them known.
Jesus did not promise as they requested, but asked what they wanted. They asked him to give them the right to sit on his right and left sides in his glory. (37) They are thinking of Jesus becoming king in Jerusalem when they get there. They seem to have ignored his statements about dying there.
They do believe Jesus is the Messiah who will receive his kingdom in Jerusalem. In Jewish thought, the most important person in a gathering sat in the center. The next important seats were first on his right and then on his left.
Since these two, along with Peter, were the inner circle of the Twelve, it also seems to be a deliberate attempt to remove Peter from leadership and keep it in their family. And, since Mark is writing Peter’s account of Jesus’ life, it was a betrayal that was remembered.
Jesus, using the metaphors of cup and baptism, referred to his suffering God’s wrath and death. The cup is a symbol for something allotted to a person by God. It can be something good, but usually symbolizes the pouring out of God’s wrath. For example, Psalm 11:6 says “Let him rain coals on the wicked, fire and sulfur and a scorching wind shall be the portion of their cup.”
Baptism is used as a parallel to cup here. It is a symbol of being overwhelmed with sorrow. (Luke 12:50)
For Jesus, the cup represented his suffering and death for our sin. It is preordained by God. It is the portion allotted to him by God. That is why Jesus prayed “Remove this cup from me. Yet not what I will, but what you will”. (Mark 14:36) Acts 2:23 says that Jesus was delivered up according to the definite plan and foreknowledge of God.
James and John are confident that they can do what Jesus will do. At this point, it sounds like naive bravado. They cannot do what Jesus would do; only he could die to make atonement for sin.
But, Jesus told them they would eventually suffer as he would. (39) Acts 12:2 tells us that James was murdered by the sword at the order of Herod. We do not know how John died.
Jesus, of course, denied the request, saying it was not his to say who sat where in the kingdom. Nonetheless, the other ten disciples were upset at James and John for making the request.
This dispute led to Jesus teaching them again about leadership. He told them that leaders in the kingdom would not act like those in the secular world, lording it over them. Instead, the greatest must be the servant of the others, following the example of Jesus. Jesus would indeed die to ransom from sin the many who would believe in him. (45)
One Last Healing
10:46-52
Having just dealt with James and John, who were spiritually blind, Jesus proceeded to deal with a man who was physically blind.
Jesus had now travelled all the way to Jericho. This city is not far from Jerusalem, about 20 miles. But there is also an elevation change of 3400 feet. That is why the gospel writers sometimes speak of going “up” to Jerusalem.
As Jesus left the Jericho, headed to Jerusalem, he was confronted by a blind man. Mark gives us very specific details here: the man’s name was Bartimaeus, the son of Timaeus. (46)
When Bartimaeus heard that Jesus was approaching, he began to cry out to him, asking him to have mercy on him. (47) He was asking to be healed.
Unlike the rich young man that addressed Jesus merely as “Good Teacher”, Bartimaeus addressed Jesus as “Son of David”. The is a Messianic title. Bartimaeus believed in Jesus as the Messiah and believed he had the power to heal blindness.
Unfortunately, people tried to shut him up. We see this hard heartedness among Jesus’ followers, trying to keep away people who want or need to come to him. Why not see the need and carry the man to Jesus?
Fortunately Jesus had the man brought to him and healed him. He recognized the man’s faith and acted in response to it. Once healed, Bartimaeus joined the crowd and followed Jesus.
It is a little picture of salvation, isn’t it? We are spiritually blind before we come to Christ. God opens our eyes to our need for Jesus. We believe in him and are saved\healed. In response, we follow him. (1 Corinthians 4:4-6)
TAKEAWAYS
Jesus taught discipleship within the context of marriage, with children, and with possessions.
Now he has taught that discipleship is ultimately about following Jesus.
Don’t seek to lead, seek to serve.
Don’t keep people from coming to Jesus; bring them to Jesus.
Jesus loves and saves all kinds of people.
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