Greetings friends,
The resurrection of Jesus Christ changed everything. For those who trust in Jesus, they receive a new life in Christ, a new inheritance in Christ, a new family in Christ, a new mission in Christ, and they are part of a new Kingdom. Like 2 Corinthians 5:17 says, “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here!” It’s like everything becomes new. Today, I want to talk a little bit about what life is to be like in this new Kingdom that Jesus inaugurated. We often talk about “church,” but kingdom carries a little different idea.
Last night, in my Life Group, we were discussing Mark 10:32-45. It struck me how the kingdom of God was to be so different than the kingdoms of men. It’s like everything is upside down. Different values. Different perspectives. Different desires. Different priorities. Everything is so different than what this world is all about. I want to bring a few highlights from our discussion to you today. Ponder Mark 10:32-34 with me…
“32 They were on their way up to Jerusalem, with Jesus leading the way, and the disciples were astonished, while those who followed were afraid. Again, he took the Twelve aside and told them what was going to happen to him. 33 “We are going up to Jerusalem,” he said, “and the Son of Man will be delivered over to the chief priests and the teachers of the law. They will condemn him to death and will hand him over to the Gentiles, 34 who will mock him and spit on him, flog him and kill him. Three days later he will rise.”
First, we see a group of people, who are going up to Jerusalem. They are heading up for the Passover. Everyone expects this, because this is the time of year when the Jews come to Jerusalem to celebrate God’s deliverance for the Jewish people from Egypt. But what a Christ-follower would not expect is to see Jesus “leading the way.” Why? Because earlier, the Jewish leaders tried to stone Him. If you were following Jesus, the last place you would want Him to do is to go to His death. But Jesus was adamant. He WAS going. He was leading. And it says that, “the disciples were astonished.” Moreover, those who followed Him were afraid. Why afraid? They all knew that Jesus was a “wanted man” in Jerusalem.
I hope you see the significance in this. Jesus is going; He is leading the way. Why? Because He is committed to serve His Father. His Father’s will was more important to Him than life itself. Nothing would deter Him. Not the threat of dying, nor the fear of the crowd, nor the pleas of His disciples could stop Him. I sometimes question my commitment to fulfilling my Father’s will. Sometimes I’m obedient, simply because it is convenient. But when it is really threatening and tough to carry out the Father’s will—am I as doggedly determined to do it? Sometimes I let it slide. But Jesus wouldn’t. Jesus is going to Jerusalem no matter what. Those in His Kingdom now should take a page out of Jesus’ playbook. Let’s be committed to obeying the Father’s will.
And what is the Father’s will for Jesus? He knew exacting what was going to happen to Him. Jesus would face death and then rise from the dead. In verses 33-34 Jesus explains in no uncertain terms what will happen. He was “The Prophet,” and this prophecy was fulfilled to the “T”. Yes, Jesus was handed over to the chief priests that the teachers of the law. Yes, Jesus was condemned to death. Yes, He would be handed over to the Gentiles, (Pontius Pilate). Yes, Jesus was mocked and spit upon. Yes, He was flogged. And yes, Jesus was killed, crucified on a cross for the sins of the world. All of that would take place within a week of this teaching—(Palm Sunday), and by the following Sunday, (Easter), Jesus would rise from the dead. Jesus knew all of this and He was still “leading the way.”
It’s been said that, “The measure of a man is NOT what it takes to get him to do something. Rather, it’s what it takes to get him to stop.” Jesus was on a mission, and nothing would stop Him. Nothing could stop Him. Not the cross; not death; not Satan or his hoard of demon; and not the grave. He was triumphant over it all. Sometimes, for us, a little criticism, a little effort, a little discomfort, or a little money—keeps us from doing what we should be doing for God. I don’t want to be a man who can easily be stopped from serving the Father. I want to be more like Job, who said, “Though he slay me, yet will I hope in him.” Job 13:15.
It is at this point where Jesus takes advantage of a teachable moment to show us more about the kingdom. James and John come to Him with a personal request.
“35 Then James and John, the sons of Zebedee, came to him. “Teacher,” they said, “we want you to do for us whatever we ask.” 36 “What do you want me to do for you?” he asked. 37 They replied, “Let one of us sit at your right and the other at your left in your glory.” 38 “You don’t know what you are asking,” Jesus said. “Can you drink the cup I drink or be baptized with the baptism I am baptized with?” 39 “We can,” they answered. Jesus said to them, “You will drink the cup I drink and be baptized with the baptism I am baptized with, 40 but to sit at my right or left is not for me to grant. These places belong to those for whom they have been prepared.” Mark 10:35-40
James and John were cousins of Jesus, and along with Peter were part of Jesus’ inner circle. They were close to Jesus, and it’s at this point they ask Him for a favor. I think they thought that this was it. They were going to enter Jerusalem and Jesus would become King. They wanted to get ahead of the competition for the places of honor. I don’t think that they heard a thing Jesus had just said?
Jesus in return asks them if they are able to drink the cup He drinks and be baptized with the baptism He will be baptized with. And Jesus here isn’t referring to taking communion and being baptized by immersion as a symbol of their faith. In essence, He is suggesting that they really don’t know what they are getting into. Not thinking—James and John say “yes.” They believed and loved Jesus so much, at this point they would do anything Jesus asked them. And Jesus knew it. That’s why Jesus affirms that they would indeed drink His cup and be baptized with His baptism. But He cannot grant their wish to sit at His right or left. That was the Father’s choice, and not up to Him.
In this passage, Jesus explains to us that His Kingdom not only requires commitment, but some suffering for His name’s sake. The “cup” stood for suffering. This cup is mentioned in Jesus’ prayer in Gethsemane when He prayed, “Take this cup from me. Yet not wat I will, but what you will.” It was the cup of suffering that He alone would drink in order to accomplish salvation for lost sinners. The way of the cross is the way of suffering. Jesus’ baptism picks up the Old Testament metaphor for a person being overwhelmed by suffering. In the Old Testament, “deep waters” often described calamity, suffering, and the divine judgement of God. For example, Psalm 18:16 says, “He reached down from on high and took hold of me; he drew me out of deep waters.” In Isaiah 43:2 we read, “When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and when you pass through the rivers, they will not sweep over you. When you walk through the fire, you will not be burned; the flames will not set you ablaze.” Walking with Jesus will require drinking His cup and enduring His baptisms. But it will be worth it. Why? Because He has gone before us and will be with us. It’s the nature of kingdom life.
Of course, there are always those who feel like they are missing out on something. Even in a spiritual context, people can get indignant. Look what happens next:
“41 When the ten heard about this, they became indignant with James and John. 42 Jesus called them together and said, “You know that those who are regarded as rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and their high officials exercise authority over them. 43 Not so with you. Instead, whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant, 44 and whoever wants to be first must 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 as a ransom for many.” Mark 10:41-45
Yes, there were other people there—but here we see the 10 other disciples who felt like James and John might be getting something they weren’t. Jealousy reared its ugly head. Jesus puts a stop to it immediately. Why? Because as we like to say at Grace, “The ground is level at the cross.” Jesus never shows favoritism. The world shows that. But in Jesus’ Kingdom… He shows us grace. We don’t deserve anything—just like James and John didn’t “deserve” the places of honor. We all get His grace together.
Then Jesus draws a comparison between this world’s strategy and the Kingdom of God’s. He says that those who are rulers in this world like to lord it over others. They want positions of power and authority over others. Just like the Romans who were ruling over the Jews at the time, (and the Jews hated them for it), so James and John were acting just like them. This was a wake-up moment for James and John.
Instead, in God’s Kingdom, we live by different rules. In this kingdom, those who want to become great should act like a servant. As Christians, we are to serve one-another. And if you really want to be in first place, then in reality you must become like a slave to all. This is backwards from our current culture. It is upside-down to how this world works. Being a servant and like a slave to others is a God thing. It shows that others come before us and illustrates what Jesus has done for us. It is love in action.
How do we know this? Because in verse 45 Jesus tells us that this is exacting what He has done for us. He is the Son of Man who was to come. And instead of being this ruler who wants to rule over others, Jesus was going to serve others. How? He would ransom them from their slavery to sin. He would ransom them with His very life.
Peter, years later, would write, “For you know that it was not with perishable things such as silver or gold that you were redeemed from the empty way of life handed down to you from your ancestors, but with the precious blood of Christ, a lamb without blemish or defect,” 1 Peter 1:18-19 Jesus drank the cup and was baptized that He might pay the penalty for the sin of the world.
This is amazing! Here we see that the Greatest One written about, and long-expected by the Jewish people—wasn’t coming to rule over others. Rather, He was coming to serve others and give His life as a ransom for many.
In the kingdom today, we who follow Jesus, should be living according to kingdom values that Jesus modelled for us. So, what does that look like? It looks like us being more committed to serving our King. This will cause us to do things that we know He wants us to do… even when we might not feel like it. It means that we are to serve others by putting their needs first. Being a servant like Jesus was.
What can we do? Suggestions: Call someone this week and encourage them. Pray for others in our church—and pray for your lost friends. Send a card, text, email, or letter to a loved one. Share the good news of Jesus with an acquaintance or a stranger. Mow someone’s lawn. Bring a meal to a neighbor or a needy family. Pray to the Father and ask Him what He would have you do to serve others. Keep your eyes and ears open for how you can be Jesus’ hands and feet in this world.
My prayer today comes from 1 Timothy 1:17, “Now to the King eternal, immortal, invisible, the only God, be honor and glory for ever and ever. Amen.”
