Mark 10:33-52
35 Then James and John, the sons of Zebedee, came to him. “Teacher,” they said, “we want you to do for us whatever we ask.”
36 “What do you want me to do for you?” he asked.
37 They replied, “Let one of us sit at your right and the other at your left in your glory.”
38 “You don’t know what you are asking,” Jesus said. “Can you drink the cup I drink or be baptized with the baptism I am baptized with?”
39 “We can,” they answered.
Jesus said to them, “You will drink the cup I drink and be baptized with the baptism I am baptized with, 40 but to sit at my right or left is not for me to grant. These places belong to those for whom they have been prepared.”
41 When the ten heard about this, they became indignant with James and John. 42 Jesus called them together and said, “You know that those who are regarded as rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and their high officials exercise authority over them. 43 Not so with you. Instead, whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant, 44 and whoever wants to be first must be slave of all.45 For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.”
46 Then they came to Jericho. As Jesus and his disciples, together with a large crowd, were leaving the city, a blind man, Bartimaeus (which means “son of Timaeus”), was sitting by the roadside begging. 47 When he heard that it was Jesus of Nazareth, he began to shout, “Jesus, Son of David,have mercy on me!”
48 Many rebuked him and told him to be quiet, but he shouted all the more, “Son of David, have mercy on me!”
49 Jesus stopped and said, “Call him.”
So they called to the blind man, “Cheer up! On your feet! He’s calling you.” 50 Throwing his cloak aside, he jumped to his feet and came to Jesus.
51 “What do you want me to do for you?” Jesus asked him.
The blind man said, “Rabbi, I want to see.”
52 “Go,” said Jesus, “your faith has healed you.” Immediately he received his sight and followed Jesus along the road.
Jesus is our Messiah...And as His ministry progressed, His disciples and many of His followers and others heard about this Miracle Worker and Healer...They saw what this Man was doing, but who could He be?...Could this be the Messiah, they had heard and read about in Scripture?...But many thought the Messiah in His day, would rid the country of Israel of the Romans and their occupation of their country...The Messiah that was to come was thought by many of as being a great military leader or a great king...And the thoughts of this Messiah were in earthly type thoughts, leadership and fame type thoughts...But Jesus did not represent any military groups...He was a Rabbi...Jesus' Kingdom was one that would represent the needy and those needing mercy and help...He would go to sinners needing forgiveness and help...This type of Kingdom was not given much thought before He came...Forgiveness, mercy, helping others, and grace were attributes of His Kingdom...Man, on earth, thinks more in terms of possessions, material things, power, wealth and fame...
Jesus explains to the Twelve about His death...“We are going up to Jerusalem,” He said, “and the Son of Man will be delivered over to the chief priests and the teachers of the law...They will condemn Him to death and will hand Him over to the Gentiles, who will mock Him and spit on Him, flog Him and kill Him...Three days later He will rise.”...The Twelve Disciples knew He was a Special Man as they listened, but they still did not quite understand all He was saying...
The two disciples James and John seem to have figured out partly that Jesus was the Messiah, and was Someone special...They ask Him the bold question, “Teacher, we want You to do for us whatever we ask.”...Jesus seems open to question and asks this specific question to them, “What do you want Me to do for you?” ...They replied, “Let one of us sit at Your right and the other at Your left in Your glory.”...The two disciples knew that Jesus was destined to glory, they had that figured out...But glory to Jesus and glory to man is so different...Jesus was near the time that He must take on salvation for the world...So, He answers, “You don’t know what you are asking, can you drink the cup I drink or be baptized with the baptism I AM baptized with?”...Jesus explained to them that they were asking for glory...And in His kingdom glory was not anything special...In His Kingdom, it is best to serve others...And Jesus explains this to the Twelve -that in His Kingdom one must serve others...To become great in His Kingdom, 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 to give His life as a ransom for many.”...James and John were seeking the greatest place in the Kingdom of God, and Jesus explains to them that they must learn to serve others...
As Jesus and the Twelve travel on, they meet a blind man, who calls Him the Son of David...To call out to Him by this name, He must have heard about this Miracle Worker...The blind man must also be one of faith...The blind man asks Jesus to have mercy on him...Jesus responds to blind Bartimaeus with a very similar response that He did to James and John asking for glory...Jesus specifically asks the blind man, "What do you want me to do for you?"...While James and John ask for glory, Bartimaeus is asking for help...The blind man said, “Rabbi, I want to see.”... Go,” said Jesus, “your faith has healed you.” Immediately he received his sight and followed Jesus along the road...Jesus immediately helps the one who had ask for mercy...He heals the blind man...Without pause, Bartimaeus can see...
Jesus had to explain to the Twelve and to James and John what they were asking for were not important things in His Kingdom...Seeking glory is not what the Kingdom of God is or does...Having mercy and love for others is what is important...There is much contrast in Jesus' question to James, John, and the blind man of "What do you want me to do for you?"...
By Jesus' actions and what He says, we learn much about His Kingdom...By His grace, He helps the needs of those who have faith in Him...Jesus' Kingdom is not about glory, but about having mercy and love and serving and forgiving and helping others...The glory is not about being over others, the glory is about being like Him...