The Cost of Discipleship (Part 3)

One of the ways that we know that the Gospel of Mark is not just some guys attempt to make up a religion is that Mark makes his friends, and the followers of Jesus, look like such morons. It wouldn’t seem very compelling to invite people to follow Jesus by casting those who already follow him as idiots. But Mark is honest about the glaring failures of the disciples. In fact throughout the book they continually seem to miss the point of who Jesus is and what it means to follow him. As we wrap up this look at the theme of the cost of discipleship in the Gospel of Mark we will look at one last passage of Scripture. In it we see again just how blind the disciples really are.

And they aren’t just blind. In this particularly James and John are basically spoiled little brats. The scene depicts Jesus once again foretelling of his humiliation and death, and James and John in return asking Jesus for positions of power and authority. Mark 10:32-45 reads:

³² And they were on the road, going up to Jerusalem, and Jesus was walking ahead of them. And they were amazed, and those who followed were afraid. And taking the twelve again, he began to tell them what was to happen to him,  ³³ saying, “See, we are going up to Jerusalem, and the Son of Man will be delivered over to the chief priests and the scribes, and they will condemn him to death and deliver him over to the Gentiles.  ³⁴ And they will mock him and spit on him, and flog him and kill him. And after three days he will rise.”  ³⁵ 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.”  ⁴¹ And when the ten heard it, they began to be indignant at James and John.  ⁴² And Jesus called them to him and said to them, “You know that those who are considered rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and their great ones exercise authority over them.  ⁴³ But it shall not be so among you. But whoever would be great among you must be your servant,¹⁴⁴ and whoever would be first among you must be slave¹ of all.  ⁴⁵ For even the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.”

In light of what we read I think it’s safe to say that James and John missed the point Jesus was making. Their request reveals not only that they didn’t listen to Jesus very carefully but that they didn’t really care. Their concern was for their own desires. They are brats. It’s interesting to note that in Matthew’s account of the incident he records that James and John’s mommy asked on their behalf. So not only are the two disciples brats, but they are also momma’s boys. They disciples really aren’t role models.

And that’s as it should be. Mark’s goal is not to highlight the disciples as our example, Jesus is always our example in his gospel. In this case James and John still don’t understand what it means for Jesus to be the Messiah. They are still thinking of him as a political hero. Their request for positions of authority suggests that they are anticipating a new kingdom. They anticipated that Jesus was going to lead the charge in kicking the Romans out of Jerusalem and setting up a new order for the people of Israel. They anticipate that Jesus would be king and, if they can work it out, that they will be his next in command. But they have no idea what they are asking.

Jesus let’s them know that too, see verse 38. Jesus is king, but he is the king of a different kind of kingdom. And this kingdom does not come through military conquest but through death and suffering. He asks them, “Are you able to drink the cup that I drink, or to be baptized with the baptism with which I am baptized?” They say “Yes,” probably with more excitement than actual thought about the question. But Jesus’s language is very important here, he is again pointing to his unique status as the Messiah. The language points back to the Old Testament where “drinking the cup” referred to the cup of God’s wrath. Jesus was about to drink that cup on the cross. To be “baptized” alluded to several Old Testament ideas about baptism in fire. Jesus is pointing out to them, though they fail to see it, that he is the Messiah. That he has come to bring about his kingdom by dying. He is pointing out here that they can’t follow him.

James and John, despite their excitement, don’t know what they are asking. They cannot endure the wrath of God. Jesus must do that alone. And yet, Jesus indicates, there is a very real sense in which they will drink from a cup, they will be baptized with some fire. That is to say, those who would follow Jesus must suffer. Jesus won’t grant their request here, but he does spell out for them what it looks like to follow him. Verse 45 is really, I believe, the crux of the entire Gospel of Mark: For even the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.” Jesus is our example. He tells the disciples that unlike the leadership of the Romans, the followers of Christ are to be sacrificial servants. That’s what he is.

Of course we can’t imitate Jesus in his act of dying for our sins or bearing the wrath of God. But the point he is making to the disciples, the point he is making to us, is that we are to be like him. True disciples will become sacrificial servants. Jesus stress that “Even” the Son of Man came to serve is an indication that we are to be like him. Are we willing to be sacrificial servants of others? This is the model of ministry that followers of Jesus are given. It is who we are supposed to be if we are true disciples. It’s not easy, of course. But following Jesus isn’t easy…it is, however, worth it.

Following Jesus isn’t easy, but it is worth it. That’s what I’ve tried to state clearly, plainly, and repeatedly throughout this series. It is not real sacrifice to give up the things of this world to gain the greatest treasure there is (Matt. 13:44). Jesus is the greatest treasure, sacrifice all, serve others well, and you will find that you’ve never made a sacrifice. Following Jesus isn’t easy. There is a cost to discipleship, but it is totally worth it.