Jesus Emphasizes the Cost of Greatness

GOLDEN TEXT: “But so shall it not be among you: but whosoever will be great among you, shall be your minister.” —Mark 10:43

MARK 10:35-45

THE entire ministry of Jesus pertained directly or indirectly to the messianic kingdom which had been promised by God through the Old Testament prophets. The disciples had come to understand by the teachings of Jesus that they would share the rulership of the kingdom with him. They believed that the kingdom would be established in their day, so were intensely concerned over the part they would have in it.

This is why James and John approached Jesus and asked if one might sit on his right hand and the other on his left hand in the glory of his kingdom. (vs. 37) Jesus replied; “Ye know not what ye ask: can ye drink of the cup that I drink of and be baptized with the baptism that I am baptized with?”—vs. 38

It is God’s plan that the faithful followers of Jesus shall share in the glory of his kingdom. (II Tim. 2:11,12) But at that time the disciples did not realize what would be involved in proving worthy of reigning with him. Indeed, they did not then realize that it was necessary for Jesus to die as the world’s Redeemer before the kingdom of blessing would be established. Not realizing the pathway of suffering and death that was ahead for Jesus, they could not know the necessity of their suffering and dying in order to reign with him.

How true, then, were Jesus’ words, “Ye know not what ye ask.” Were they willing to pay the high cost of suffering and death that they might share in the glory of Christ’s kingdom? For Jesus’ “cup” of which they were invited to drink was a cup of suffering, and his “baptism” was a “baptism” of death. Later Paul wrote, “Know ye not, that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into his death?”—Rom. 6:3

Probably without fully realizing what it would mean to drink of Jesus’ “cup” and to be “baptized” into his death, James and John replied to him saying, “We can.” Then Jesus explained that they would be given this opportunity to prove their worthiness to share the glory of his kingdom, but that the assigning of the exact positions of each of his followers in his future glorious kingdom was not in his hands, but it was to be given to those for whom it was prepared.

The other ten apostles overheard this conversation, and they were displeased with James and John. This was not the only time that a degree of rivalry was displayed among the apostles. Seemingly all of them were too interested in high positions of honor in the new kingdom which they believed Jesus was about to establish.

As usual, Jesus took the opportunity to give his apostles a needed lesson in humility. This time he did it by reminding them of the viewpoint among Gentile rulers, that it was considered a position in which lordship should be exercised over others, meaning probably what today we call dictatorship. But such a position of authority was not to be the goal of those who were to be associated with him in his kingdom.

“So shall it not be among you’’ Jesus said to his disciples, “but whosoever shall be great among you, shall be your minister: and whosoever of you will be the chiefest, shall be servant of all.” (Mark 10:43,44) A “minister” is a servant, and thus Jesus gives us the true measure or standard of greatness in the sight of the Lord as it exists in the relationships of his people. The basic lesson here is that no one will be considered worthy to reign with Christ unless he has proved to be a faithful and humble servant of the Lord and of his people.

Then Jesus reminded the disciples of his own position in this respect, saying, “Even the Son of man came not to be ministered unto, but to minister.” (vss. 4,5) The most important aspect of Jesus’ service was the giving of his life for the sins of the world, that the condemned and dying race might be given an opportunity to live. Jesus said that he had come to “minister, and to give his life a ransom for many.” The Greek word translated “ransom” means “corresponding price.” The thought is that Jesus gave his life as a substitute for the forfeited life of Adam and his race. In I Timothy 2:4-6; the Apostle Paul interprets the “many” of Jesus’ statement as “all.”

QUESTIONS

How much did Jesus’ immediate disciples know about his kingdom?

How do we know that the true followers of Jesus will reign with him?

What are the conditions of joint-heirship with Christ?

What is the measure of true greatness in God’s sight?

Explain how Jesus’ sacrifice was a “ransom for many.”

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