Chapter # 10 Paragraph # 5 Study # 5
October 24, 2023
Moss Bluff, Louisiana
(Download Audio)
(441)
Thesis: Jesus links the placement in the Kingdom issues to "abilities" and "prior commitments".
Introduction: Last week we focused upon the total lack of awareness of James and John. This study is focused upon the link between "accomplishments" and "prior decisions".
- 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 ambition.
- 4. The Kingdom and God's requirement for man's ambition.
- a. Jesus responds with the declaration that James and John "do not (emphatic "ouk") know (have a clue; "oida") what you are asking for yourselves".
- b. Then He asks, "Are you able to drink the cup which I am drinking or to be baptized the baptism which I am being baptized?
- 1) The issue of "drinking".
- a) The only previous reference to "drinking" ("pino") is in 2:16 where Jesus' "drinking with tax collectors and sinners" was a reason for the "scribes of the Pharisees" to find fault with Him.
- b) When we are conscious of this first reference when we read the last two references to "drinking" (14:23 and 25), we are able to see that "drinking" is a "together" action that indicates both a significant level of relationship (hence the criticism), and a participation in the effect of "wine" upon the drinker (uninhibited and joyful interaction with those also "drinking").
- c) However, the only other two references (10:38 and 39) by Mark to "drinking" are in the context of "extreme sacrifice" and its requirement for deep participation in the actual character of the Kingdom.
- i. Jesus casts His coming subjection to "what was going to happen to Him" in 10:32-33 in terms of "drinking out of a specific cup".
- ii. In this context, there is an inescapable link to Mark's last use of "cup" in 14:36.
- i) In Mark's record of this "cup" (14:36 and context) he records Jesus' declaration of the deep level of "grief in His soul" (14:34).
- ii) This final use of "cup" makes the contents of the "cup" to be extremely distasteful at the "soul" level (interacting with tax-collectors and sinners). This extreme distaste involves a deep participation with "other drinkers" (whose "sinfulness" was also extreme) in that He "became Sin for them" (2 Corinthians 5:21) so that those who "drink Him" (John 6:53-56) are established in "the righteousness of God".
- iii) This extremely distasteful issue is highlighted in 15:36 where we find Jesus' last act was to call attention to His physical appearance just before He was given "sour wine" to drink and Jesus then cried out with a loud voice and "breathed His last", and the veil of the temple was torn into two parts from top to bottom (with the issue of Hebrews 10:20 and context heavily involved).
- a) Luke's Gospel declares "bloody perspiration" (Luke 22:44) and an angel to strengthen Him (Luke 22:43).
- b) And all of the records tell of the complete obliviousness of the disciples who go to sleep.
- 2) This question also identifies "baptism" according to its "regular nature", i.e., "being immersed into" so that "identity with" is the outcome.
- a) Jesus' "baptism" was circumstantially the cross.
- b) But the "identity" issue of the cross was "punishment for wrong doing" and the New Testament claim is that Jesus was fully identified with our sin(s) so that His death was rooted in His having become Sin for us that we might become "righteous" in the reckoning of God.
- c. And, finally, He declares that James and John will, in fact, participate at this level, but that even that will not make it possible to be given their ambition.
- 1) In Jesus' refusal (10:40) there is a clear declaration that there are some things that even the "King" cannot do: change things that are circumscribed by prior decisions.
- 2) This, clearly, indicates a very real and persistent involvement by God with the development of His "disciples" in view of His prior plans for them.
