Tuesday, January 31, 2012

In His Glory

Mark 10:35-40 (ESV)
And James and John, the sons of Zebedee, came up to him and said to him, "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] And they said to him, "Grant us to sit, one at your right hand and one at your left, in your glory." [38] 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] And they said to him, "We are able." And Jesus said to them, "The cup that I drink you will drink, and with the baptism with which I am baptized, you will be baptized, [40] but to sit at my right hand or at my left is not mine to grant, but it is for those for whom it has been prepared."

“Teacher we want you to do for us whatever we ask of you.” Don’t we all. I don’t know I get a kick out of this one. The disciples are acting like little kids, trying to secure the answer they want before they even bother asking. I mean parents normally know that when their kids ask for you to say yes to whatever they ask, the only answer you can honestly give is no. Ask for whatever you want, but I’ll retain the right to give the answer I want to, or need to. Jesus knows better. “What are you asking for?’ he says.
Of course what the disciples ask is something totally ridiculous. If they knew what they were asking for they would not have asked for it. Jesus in many places promises the disciples exceeding Glory in the kingdom of heaven. But he disples ask to sit at his right and his left in his glory. Jesus says no. They don’t know what they are asking for. Jesus starts talking about a cup that he drinks, a baptism he must undergo, he talks of this in association with his glory. He is speaking of the cross. His death and resurrection that is his baptism, his glory. He will not have the disciples sit at his right and at his left in his glory. Two receive this honor, two robbers, they get to sit with Jesus in his glory. It was his glory, clothed in humiliation, power in weakness, a death that brought life to the world. Yes, There is Jesus in his glory.
Others will drink the cup, as will the disciples. Others will receive the baptism. But the disciples are spared the honor for the time being, that they might spread the news of Christ’s glory, his cross.

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