There Were Two Around Jesus (2)
Mark 10: 35-45
There is an old legend about a
pig and a chicken that were walking through a poor area. The chicken said: “these
people need breakfast. Let’s give them egg and ham.” The pig said:
“Wait a minute. For you to provide eggs would require compassion. For me to
supply ham would require total commitment.”
There were two around Jesus.
They wanted to be in heaven around him, one on the right side on and one on the
left. Jesus did not ignore their request. Jesus said if you want these positions you better know what are you doing.
First, it is not my job
to decide who will sit next to me.
Second, if you want to follow me,
fine. You need not only compassion but also commitment.
He gave his own example:
“Whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant. And whoever wants to be first must be slave of all. For even the Son of Man did not come to be
served, but to serve, and give his life as ransom
for many.”(vs. 43-45)
This is not any kind of servanthood. No, it
is to be a servant along with Jesus, through
his cross and resurrection.
A well-dressed European woman
was on a safari in
She noticed a nurse bending down in the dirt, tending to the pus-filled
sores of a leper.
With disdain the woman remarked, "Why, I wouldn't do that for all the
money
in the world!"
The nurse quietly replied, "Neither would I."1
It is not a service that can be measured by money or wealth.
Therefore, I
would like to go and dig in what Jesus is saying.
Jesus examines them and us
today by asking two important questions:
1. Are you ready to drink the
cup?
2. Are you ready to be baptized like me?
The cup is a metaphor for suffering.
Isaiah 51:17, 22
Awake, awake!
Rise up, O Jerusalem,
you who have drunk from the hand of the
LORD
the cup of his wrath,
you who have drained to its dregs
the goblet that makes men stagger.
22 This is what your Sovereign LORD
says,
your God, who
defends his people:
"See, I have taken out of your hand
the cup that made you stagger;
from that cup, the goblet of my wrath,
you will never drink again.
Baptism is a metaphor for being plunged into calamity
Psalm 42:7
7 Deep calls to deep
in the roar of your waterfalls;
all your waves and breakers
have swept over me.
Psalm 69:1
1 Save me, O God,
for the waters have come up to my neck.
This is not
the cup of victory that we drink and make a toast saying “cheers.” No it is different cup, something to do with the cross
and resurrection.
Jesus uses another important word: “ransom.” (vs. 45)
“Jesus knew the Torah very
well. There was ransom for personal
injury (Ex. 21:30). Then there was ransom for crime (Numbers 35:31-32) There was ransom for purchasing one’s freedom of enslaved relative
(Lev. 25:51-52).
In extrabiblical sources, it
referred to the amount paid to free a
slave or prisoner, redeem a pledge, or reclaim something pawned.” 2
We read in Isaiah 53:10-12
“Yet
it was the LORD’s
will to crush him and cause him to suffer,
and though the LORD makes his life a guilt offering,….
After
the suffering of his soul, he will see the light of life and be satisfied;
by his
knowledge my righteous servant will justify many,
and he will bear their
iniquities.”
They both said, “Yes, we can drink the cup and be baptized with your baptism.” I don’t think they understood very much but they believed in Jesus and they followed
him all the way to
They were afraid when he was crucified. According
to the Gospel of John, we see that John
is present at the cross along with the women, including Mary the mother of
Jesus. Right there, John saw two
criminals hanging one on the right
side and one of the left side of Jesus. Looking at this painful event, John suddenly
remembered his and his brother’s request: sitting
on the right and lest sides of Jesus. Finally here, he
understood the meaning of the cup, the baptism and the giving of life as a
ransom for many.
Yes, there were two around Jesus. I see another two who, unlike Zebedee’s sons, did not come near
Jesus willingly. They were there because of punishment for something they had
done. It is interesting to see that one of those men did not care about Jesus, while
the other said, “Remember me when you
come into your kingdom...” Jesus said, “…Today you will be in with me in paradise.” (Luke 23: 42-43)
These two criminals had
different futures. God through Jesus gave one of them a new chance and a new life.
James and John, however,
became strong witnesses and disciples who spread the Good News. I think they eventually
understood that their request to be
seated on the right and left sides of Jesus was not important anymore.
Where are we as church members and visitors of the
CACC?
Are we on his right and left side?
Are we looking for position,
prestige and power?
I cannot understand why it is a big deal where we sit in church or any other banquet. Do you know that
every time we have a banquet people are afraid to be in charge of seating arrangement?
Why? I think you know that answer.
How come we lose almost most of the congregation when we have cleaning jobs after banquets? How come we have more people coming if they will be
served and less people if they will serve?
Let me give five challenges
of commitments that I think is applicable to our context in our church:
1- Commitment to Jesus Christ as personal savior and
Lord.
2- Commitment to plug in to God. The
process of sanctification. This through the power of
Holy Spirit who can transform our life daily. Be part of some group for
spiritual growth.
3- Commitment for personal or collective Evangelism.
Be ready to share the Good News of the Bible with people who do not know the
Gospel.
4- Commitment in time and money,
be ready to tithe you income. Be ready to give time to God.
5- Commitment to be in some kind of organization which
helps the community, the environment , BAFA, CRD, AGBU, Hamazkayin…It
is a place for service and reaching out to the needs of others and meeting new
people.
We should be next to Jesus. I want to be on his right,
left side. I want be next to him because he promised that His Yoke will be
“easy.” It is easy because he is next to me carrying the yoke with me.
Yes, there were two around him. I want to be one of
them, how about you?
1 Donald L. Deffner, Seasonal Illustrations p. 130
2