Mark is quite subtle in some ways about how he expects his readers to respond to the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Rico Tice in Christianity Explored this evening pointed us to two different responses to Jesus.
The two accounts are clearly meant to be read together as they immediately follow on from one another and contain exactly the same question from Jesus: 'What do you want me to do for you?' (10:36, 51). Clearly they are also important as they occur immediately before the entry to Jerusalem and the Passion narrative.
James and John's respond to the question: 'Grant us to sit, one at your right hand and one at your left, in your glory' (v. 37). Bartimaeus responds: 'Rabbi, let me recover my sight' (v. 51).
It is difficult at first to see how the two answers relate to one another. Presumably one is supposed to be the opposite of the other. But how?
I am open to being persuaded otherwise, but I think the answer can be gathered from 3 observations:
- Jesus asks the question what he can do.
- Jesus' response to James and John is to ask whether they can do what he will do (ie. drink the cup he will drink). Their answer is 'yes', and Jesus almost grudgingly confirms that they will, but adds that this will not make him approve them to sit at his side.
- The link verse between the two narratives is 'the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many' (v. 45).
Reading the narrative of the request of James and John on its own may lead you to conclude that the point is to teach us that to follow Christ means to take up our cross; to be 'slave of all' (v.44). However, reading the two narratives together shows that this is secondary, although essential. First, we must accept that we like the blind beggar have nothing to give to God we can only receive.
This is a difficult truth to take to heart.
In the Christianity Explored course the final question is 'If you could ask God one question, and you knew it would be answered, what would it be?'. One of our group tonight confessed it would be 'What do you want me to do for you?' According to the Gospel that is the question that Jesus asks!
'nor is he served by human hands, as though he needed anything, since he himself gives to all mankind life and breath and everything' (Acts 17:25)
Dear Dave,
ReplyDeleteDon't minimize the clear teaching of 10:45 and verses surrounding that we are to follow Jesus is His humility and servanthood. James and John come seeking their own glory, and they are thinking (according to common scholarly opinion) of Jesus as a King in Jerusalem, rather than the King of the Kingdom Of Heaven. Jesus' teaching them their martyrdom is clearly one of the 'veiled sayings' -- they don't know He's speaking of the cup of His suffering (14:36, cf. Jer. 25:15-17). You are most correct when you comment on the Christocentric nature of the parallel of the two accounts; but Jesus is certainly teaching these two future leaders of the church (v. 43-44).
Just some thoughts.
Thanks for your post.
Arron
Hey Arron,
ReplyDeletePleasure to have your first comment on my blog.
I wasn't trying to deny that Jesus is teaching them what it means to follow him (hence: 'this is secondary, although essential'). It is interesting though that you read the account of James and John as an isolated unit to emphasise the disciples actions. Read together with the account of Bart it is clear that Jesus' action is primary, and our passive receiving of that our most important 'action' out of which flow our other actions. He serves us before we serve others... either way we don't serve him (at least in some sense).
Does that make sense?