Jesus said to them, “The cup that I drink you will drink, and with the baptism with which I am baptized, you will be baptized, but to sit at my right hand or at my left is not mine to grant, but it is for those for whom it has been prepared.”

Mark 10:32-45

Jesus said to them, “The cup that I drink you will drink, and with the baptism with which I am baptized, you will be baptized, but to sit at my right hand or at my left is not mine to grant, but it is for those for whom it has been prepared.” Mark 10:39b-40

I continue my study of Mark, leaning on the Christ-Centered Exposition commentary series volume for Mark.  Today, my focus is a commentary-assisted review of Mark 10:32-45.  Excerpts from the commentary's second (of four) division (vv35-40):

• The title of the second division per the commentary is "Consider the Challenge to Being a Servant." 
• "Being a servant doesn’t come easily, especially for those who have been trained to lead and especially for those who dream of being served. Of course there is also the battle we must engage with the flesh. There is a voice in our head from our fallen sinful nature that can whisper persuasively, “The Lord takes care of those who take care of themselves.” Just enough truth to deceive us, and just enough heresy to derail us."  
• "James and John get one thing right but everything else wrong. They are correct that Jesus is headed for glory. But as for how the glory would come, they don’t have a clue. They still don’t get it. They need a discipleship lesson on a cup and a baptism."  
• "Jesus had promised the 12 apostles that they would sit on 12 thrones with Him in the kingdom (Matthew 19:28). That however, was not enough. They wanted the two most honored thrones!"   
• "Their request is for the best seats in the house, in the kingdom. Their request reveals: (1) their superficial understanding of what it means to follow Jesus, to be His disciple; (2) their inflated opinion of their own importance, something those who are called to lead are especially susceptible to; and (3) their wrongheadedness on how God measures greatness (cf. Mark 9:34-36). Being a servant goes against our human inclinations. It often is counter to our opinion of ourselves. We know who we are, what we have done, and what we deserve. Being a servant after the pattern of Jesus is a divine enablement, not a human inclination."  
• "Jesus is gentle but firm, gracious but direct in His response. He compares His approaching suffering and death to drinking a cup and experiencing a baptism. These are interesting and powerful metaphors. Drinking a cup with someone speaks of sharing in that person’s fate, experiencing his destiny. The cup was also a common picture of the wrath of God in judgment (Psalms 75:8; Isaiah 51:17-23; Jeremiah 25:15-17; Ezekiel 23:28-34). Similarly, Jesus’ passion and death were a baptism—His being overwhelmed, flooded, and immersed in the destiny planned for Him by His Father (cf. Genesis 6; Psalms 69:2,15). His cross was a divine appointment!"   
• "James would be the first of the apostles to be martyred (Acts 12:1-2). John would experience, alone, the great persecution of Domitian and be exiled to Patmos (Revelation 1). But to choose who sits on His right or left is a decision reserved for His Father."  
• "Sadly, James and John fail to see that the pathway to glory is always the pathway of suffering. Before the crown there is a cup of suffering. Before the blessings that flow there is a baptism that overwhelms and drowns."

There is a cost to following Jesus but we should share Paul's view on this from Philippians 3:8, where Paul says "[f]or his sake I have suffered the loss of all things and count them as rubbish, in order that I may gain Christ."  Believers have received the greatest gift of all time - salvation.  We received what we do not deserve and we do not receive what we deserve as the wages of sin are death (Romans 6:23).  God also pours out mercies that never cease - daily (Lamentations 3:22-23).  Of course there is more....  

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My Prayer: Father God, You are an awesome God who loves and saves.  Thank You Jesus!  I am not deserving of such a gift - the greatest gift of all time.  My sin is great and it continues...daily.  Please forgive me Jesus and help me overcome and turn from my sin towards You.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, and mind and love others as You love me.  Help me grow in my faith.  Give Lisa and myself wisdom and strength.  Please continue to heal Lisa of her cancer and from the side effects of chemo.  Help us lead Zach and Dustin to You Jesus and for them to choose You as their Lord and Savior.  Please provide Godly friends and spouses to Zach and Dustin.  Help me serve You, my family, my church, and others.  Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day.