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The Road Where Jesus Leads
Mark 10:32-45
Mari Ikeda
A. Jesus leads the way (32-34)
32 They were on their way up to Jerusalem, with Jesus leading the way, and the disciples were astonished, while those who followed were afraid. Again he took the Twelve aside and told them what was going to happen to him. 33 “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, 34 who will mock him and spit on him, flog him and kill him. Three days later he will rise.”
B. The mistake of following Jesus hoping for something in return
1) Friends become enemies (35-41)
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.
2) Following Jesus means making sacrifices (42-45)
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.
C. Living as Jesus says, not as the world says
Summary
Sometimes we find ourselves following Jesus hoping for something in return. In doing so, we compete with other followers of Jesus. The road where Jesus leads is marked by self-sacrifice and suffering. This is the only way to find true love, end strife, and bring God’s kingdom into the world.
For Discussion
- Why do you choose to follow Jesus?
- What, specifically, does it mean for you to live a life of self-sacrifice?