Mark 10:35-40 - The Cup that Jesus Drinks

Mark 10:35-40
³⁵ James and John, the two sons of Zebedee, *came up to Jesus, saying, “Teacher, we want You to do for us whatever we ask of You.” ³⁶ And He said to them, “What do you want Me to do for you?” ³⁷ They said to Him, “Grant that we may sit, one on Your right and one on Your left, in Your glory.” ³⁸ But Jesus said to them, “You do not know what you are asking. Are you able to drink the cup that I drink, or to be baptized with the baptism with which I am baptized?” ³⁹ They said to Him, “We are able.” And Jesus said to them, “The cup that I drink you shall drink; and you shall be baptized with the baptism with which I am baptized. ⁴⁰ But to sit on My right or on My left, this is not Mine to give; but it is for those for whom it has been prepared.”

Message: The Cup that Jesus Drinks

Time: Mark's personal connection with Peter gave him the source material for this book. This book was composed probably between AD 57 and AD 59. It's a book that is on the move, leading to the cross. 39 times is the word 'immediately' used. Mark reveals Jesus as God's servant, reaching into the lives of people and effecting physical and circumstantial change.

What the Lord is Saying: 

Preface - Jesus once again predicts his death and resurrection, but this time provides more details that include being delivered over to the scribes and chief priests and then to the Gentiles. Thus, all those that up to this point Jesus has to deal with, but also he has had an answer for, but now he would be mocked, spit on, scourged prior to his death. For the disciples to hear this must have been hard to accept.

After hearing this, two of his disciples have a request. Naturally. They want something for themselves. When they die, in glory, they want to be near Jesus in a preferred status and rank in heaven - that is, they want to sit on their right and left. But, Jesus remarks that they don't realize what they are asking. They can receive the cup and the baptism, but that place of honor is not his to give but only for those whom it has been prepared.

Overall, as in earlier passages, the disciples fail to understand what Jesus has said to them. The problem is that what James and John are looking for is their own advancement in the kingdom. The request seems very selfish. Jesus is on the way to his death and a very painful death. They hear what they want to hear, or rather what is a benefit to themselves. Matthew records that their mother is with them. Mark doesn't record this. He obviously thinks it is unnecessary. The male is the head and the responsible one so perhaps only mentioning them is to him important. Thus, they come to Jesus asking Grant that we may sit, one on Your right and one on Your left, in Your glory. They did understand him rising again, so they understand that heaven was an outcome. In that vein, and possibly even encouraged by their mother is then the request - Lord, can we have the chief posts in your kingdom? They might have thought they had a special calling because they were his disciples.

Jesus responds with the words - You do not know what you are asking. They have come to him expecting a special place of honor, but Jesus states that to share in that glory you also must share in the suffering. 

What is meant by Jesus saying to them - Are you able to drink the cup that I drink? 1. In the Old Testament, the cup can symbolize God's blessing. 2. It can represent the Lord's judgment and wrath on wickedness. 3. Here it probably represents the cup of divine wrath that Jesus will drink on behalf of his people - to save them from his sin. Thus, their request - Grant that we may sit, one on Your right and one on Your left, in Your glory - is something they don't completely understand.

Jesus is saying to them, to drink the cup is to bear the inward sufferings which he must undergo; to bear the wrath that is coming. When Jesus spoke they heard the good outcome, but they didn't hear also the words that he would be scourged, spit on, and mocked. And also Jesus says Are you able...to be baptized with the baptism with which I am baptized? To be covered with sufferings. Baptism represents a burying of a person's old life and here Jesus is saying you will be buried in the sufferings of mankind. 

And again, these two disciples respond - They said to Him, “We are able.” What they are thinking about is the reward and once again they don't seem to understand completely what Jesus is saying. But Jesus obliges them. He remarks - "okay." The cup that I drink you shall drink; and you shall be baptized with the baptism with which I am baptized. In other words, you will experience the sufferings as well, not that this is what they wanted. And then Jesus says, but the posts of being on my right and left is something that is decided or handed out because of your labor on earth. Jesus doesn't say they will not receive these posts. He leaves it open that they may. But, he remarks that this reward is a principle laid down by His Father. But to sit on My right or on My left, this is not Mine to give; but it is for those for whom it has been prepared. This means that there is plan or an expectation. This is not simply a one-time gift that Jesus gives to two men but it is based upon a standard. That standard is not clearly stated, though. Thus, the aim of the disciples should be to live in the best manner that they can. 

Summary: After Jesus has communicated that he is headed to die, be mocked, spit on, and scourged, two of his disciples come to him and hearing that he will rise again, perhaps pressured as well by their mother, ask if they can sit at his right and left in glory. Jesus immediately shows them that they have no idea what they are asking. 

Promise: Each day, we are to surrender to the Lord and accept what He provides. It may not be what we want or desire. But we can trust the outcome he has for us, the eternal outcome.

Prayer: Lord, I pray that I am a worthy vessel of yours. Forgive my selfishness and for wanting things that will make me stand out and be looked upon by others. Lord, I must realize that often I am called to suffer and though hard, I can accept this lot for my life.