Chapter # 10 Paragraph # 5 Study # 3
October 10, 2023
Moss Bluff, Louisiana
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Thesis: Selfish ambition has no place in the values of the Kingdom.
Introduction: In our last study we considered James and John as the Sons of Thunder who, along with Peter, are examples of how great the changes can be in the children of God as He draws us out of our lusts and establishes us in the Truth.
This evening we are going to look into Mark's presentation of the ambitions of James and John.
- I. Round Two: The Kingdom's Requirement Of Servanthood (10:32-45).
- A. Part One: The King's Example; 10:32-34.
- B. Part Two: The Disciples' Complete Absence Of Understanding; 10:35-45.
- 1. The "approach" of James and John to Jesus.
- 2. That it is James and John who are directly involved as "the sons of Zebedee" is also to be regarded with some thought.
- 3. The Kingdom and man's ambitions.
- a. Teacher...
- 1) This is a huge misnomer in terms of what they are saying in the light of their ambition.
- a) As "Teacher", Jesus had already taught that their "ambition" was totally out of line with Kingdom values.
- b) Mark's use of "Teacher" contains references to 12 texts (4:38; 5:35; 9:17; 9:38; 10:17; 10:20; 10:35; 12:14; 12:19; 12:32; 13:1; and 14:14); only three of which use the word in a positive light.
- c) The title is correct (14:14), but the application of it to the situations in which it is found is faulty in all but 12:32; 13:1; and 14:14 (and even 13:1 reveals a significant fault in the disciples' focus of life).
- d) "Teacher" insists that men should not only pay careful attention to what He says, but also place themselves under His meaning.
- 2) The contrast is the point: the disciples have the Kingdom altogether misconstrued.
- b. We are wishing that whatsoever if we should ask you (Accusative Singular)...
- 1) The use of "thelo" indicates a value in the "Love System" of the disciples that holds some power over them, but they recognize that they do not have the "power" to bring it into reality.
- a) In 1:40, where we find the first use of this word by Mark, the word is in the mouth of a leper who clearly understands that Jesus has the "power" to bring His "wishes" to pass, but who does not clearly understand the essential character of Jesus.
- b) In 1:41, Jesus declares that He does have the requisite "desire" -- that there are issues in the circumstances that have moved Jesus' "wishes" into "determinations".
- i. In the situation of that day, and within the constraints of Jesus' "calling", His "wish" to heal the leper is genuine and He has the power to do it.
- ii. That Jesus was "willing" to heal the leper, but is very often "unwilling" the heal those who read the paragraph in a context of their own desire for healing, is a "problem" for current readers because they do not understand the progress of revelation in regard to "healings of the body's weaknesses".
- i) The purpose in that day was for Jesus to establish His identity.
- 2) After that identity has been undeniably established by His own resurrection from the dead, the body is degraded in terms of its importance for men.
- 3) In our day, the "problems of the body" retain their place in the values of men, but should not: the "body" has been turned over to the processes of "futility" while God focuses upon the greater values of the soul and spirit (Romans 8:20), but men care more for their physical well-being than for the well-being of their souls/spirits.
- c) In Mark's other uses of "thelo", Mark reveals much about the issue of "desires" as they arise out of "values" that are misplaced: it was "desires" in Mark 6:19-26 that sponsored the murder of John the Baptizer.
- d) The issues of "wanting" are revealed to be a major problem for men: Psalm 106:15.
- 2) They were asking for a blank check so they could indulge themselves in a wicked pursuit.
- c. You should do for us.
- d. But Jesus said to them...
- 1) "But" --- Jesus was not going to give them their blank check.
- 2) He said to them, "What are you desiring I should do for you?"
- a) This is the question of Life, and ought to be asked in every situation of "Life" where options exist.
- b) This record allows that Jesus did not turn them down until they had expressed the reality of their upside down view of the Kingdom.
- e. But they said to Him...
- 1) This is raw ambition at the "method level" (it is not what they really want).
- 2) What they really wanted was the status and acclaim that being the executors of the "glory" of the Christ would bring them from others.
- a) This longing was deeply self-centered.
- b) This longing was not about being able to meet the needs of others.
