Mark 10:32-52
Dear RTB’ers,
And they were on the road, going up to Jerusalem, and Jesus was walking ahead of them … and those who followed were afraid. (v. 32a) Two days ago I highlighted the first verse from this chapter as the turning point in Jesus’ life. Today we see that played out – Jesus is headed to Jerusalem and, somewhat surprisingly, those who followed Him were afraid. Why were His followers afraid? Were they afraid for Him? Or were they afraid for themselves, that something might happen to them as a result of their following Him? Whatever their reaction, Jesus’ own mind is resolute; He knows His future (see vv. 33-34).
And then we get one of the strangest incidents in all of the gospels – James and John asking for prominence in the Kingdom: Grant us to sit, one at your right hand and one at your left, in your glory. (v. 37b) What a strange request! How were James and John any more important than others among the Twelve? We have a tendency in our Western society toward humility, to play down our own importance. And I now wonder if it was Jesus washing the disciples’ feet at the Last Supper where we began this pattern. Certainly it was not the policy of the first century Jewish leaders to demean themselves; rather, they tended to highlight their own importance. (See Jesus’ parable of the Pharisee and the Publican in Luke 18:9-14.) Jesus understood the Ten being indignant at James and John (v. 41), and He spoke words to them that we recognize as our own Christian perspective: You know that those who are considered rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and their great ones exercise authority over them. But it shall not be so among you. But whoever would be great among you must be your servant, and whoever would be first among you must be slave of all. (vv. 42b-44)
So, the next time you are asked to consider serving on the Vestry, give it a second thought. Key word: serving.
Blessings!
See also:
Although there are MANY lessons to be learned from a careful, slow reading of Deuteronomy (and many thanks again, John, for your thoughtful and challenging insights during last month’s readings!), I am glad to slow down and have smaller sections of Mark each day.
Each set of verses tells a story that can be “chewed” on for the whole day and still not exhausted in meaning.
Which brings me to today’s story of blind Bartimaeus, one of my favorites. Search the Scriptures asks us to list the “progressive steps” which led to his healing. So I did:
Bartimaeus…
Note that after he regains his sight, he didn’t go back to town, find his family, (re-?)claim his former life, etc. He follows Jesus, presumably all the way to Jerusalem.
Also, it has always intrigued me that Jesus asks him, “What do you want me to do for you?”
Surely it is obvious? I think Jesus shows us that we need to articulate very clearly our prayers of need, thanksgiving, even praise. Just as he did with the woman who was healed from the flow of blood, he insists that we clearly state our needs and recognize his response, testifying to what God has done in our lives.
Next week Ben has declared a Glory Sighting Sunday so that we can tell the stories of what God has done in our lives. Big or small. So think about where God has worked in your life this year. And bless others by sharing your story with others this Sunday.
Finally, Search the Scriptures also asks us to examine this story for insight into how we might encourage and guide others who are spiritually blind. I’ll leave that to you all…
Okay, sorry. This got long, but I was inspired…