In The Word
Read: Mark 10:32-52
Jesus’ Sufferings Foretold
32 They were on the road going up to Jerusalem, and Jesus was walking on ahead of them; and they were amazed, and those who followed were fearful. And again He took the twelve aside and began to tell them what was going to happen to Him,33 saying, “Behold, we are going up to Jerusalem, and the Son of Man will be delivered to the chief priests and the scribes; and they will condemn Him to death and will hand Him over to the Gentiles. 34 They will mock Him and spit on Him, and scourge Him and kill Him, and three days later He will rise again.”
35 James and John, the two sons of Zebedee, *came up to Jesus, saying, “Teacher, we want You to do for us whatever we ask of You.” 36 And He said to them, “What do you want Me to do for you?” 37 They said to Him, “Grant that we may sit, one on Your right and one on Your left, in Your glory.” 38 But Jesus said to them, “You do not know what you are asking. Are you able to drink the cup that I drink, or to be baptized with the baptism with which I am baptized?” 39 They said to Him, “We are able.” And Jesus said to them, “The cup that I drink you shall drink; and you shall be baptized with the baptism with which I am baptized. 40 But to sit on My right or on My left, this is not Mine to give; but it is for those for whom it has been prepared.”
41 Hearing this, the ten began to feel indignant with James and John. 42 Calling them to Himself, Jesus *said to them, “You know that those who are recognized as rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them; and their great men exercise authority over them.43 But it is not this way among you, but whoever wishes to become great among you shall be your servant; 44 and whoever wishes to be first among you shall be slave of all. 45 For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life a ransom for many.”
Bartimaeus Receives His Sight
46 Then they *came to Jericho. And as He was leaving Jericho with His disciples and a large crowd, a blind beggar named Bartimaeus, the son of Timaeus, was sitting by the road. 47 When he heard that it was Jesus the Nazarene, he began to cry out and say, “Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!” 48 Many were sternly telling him to be quiet, but he kept crying out all the more, “Son of David, have mercy on me!” 49 And Jesus stopped and said, “Call him here.” So they *called the blind man, saying to him, “Take courage, stand up! He is calling for you.” 50 Throwing aside his cloak, he jumped up and came to Jesus. 51 And answering him, Jesus said, “What do you want Me to do for you?” And the blind man said to Him, “Rabboni, I want to regain my sight!” 52 And Jesus said to him, “Go; your faith has made you well.” Immediately he regained his sight and began following Him on the road.
New American Standard Bible (NASB) Copyright © 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation
Walking In The Word
Jesus is explaining the way in which He will be treated and killed in Jerusalem. He reveals that His resurrection will take place on the third day. What amazing words. Yet the sons of Zebedee completely missed the moment. Their minds were bent on their own desires, so consumed with themselves that they boldly asked Jesus to give them what they asked for. Notice that Jesus’ prophecy of man’s greatest hope of salvation was overshadowed by selfishness.
So selfish were these two that they unwittingly agreed to drink from Jesus’ cup of bitter suffering and be baptized in His death. Little did James and John realize their resolve would end in death by sword and sufferings of boiling oil. This “Who will be first?” attitude prevailed amongst the disciples and caused much contention. We have to imagine that the heart of Jesus was grieved by the condition of their hearts. He revealed a dramatic truth about His future, and they trampled it with their own selfishness. Later, Jesus tells them that even He, the Son of God, has come to serve others (Mark 10:45), and He illustrates this very truth by healing a man in Jericho who just wanted to see.
Selfish ambition blinds those who are perfectly healthy. It can blind us from hearing or seeing Jesus even when we are in His presence. God desires that we deny ourselves and serve others. What we want is not as important as what others need. Those that will be great will be those who become the servant of others. Do you hear what God is saying to you? Or has selfish ambition dulled your senses?