What Do You Do with Sin
Read Mark 10
Today’s Truth
What is the most audacious request you have ever heard asked?
In Mark 10:35, the request from James and John might rank high on the list. We see James and John pull Jesus aside—as if to rub their personal genie bottle—and say to Jesus, “Teacher, we want you to do for us whatever we ask of you.” Can you not hear the overflowing self-interest dripping from the disciples’ statement? They had seen Jesus as all-powerful, as the one who could turn water to wine, heal the paralytic, restore a withered hand, cast out demons, and countless examples
Discussion Questions
- What does this request from James and John reveal about their understanding of Jesus’ mission at this point? Does your lifestyle make people want to know Jesus or run from Him?
- What does this passage teach us about the difference between selfish ambition and godly desire?
- What can we learn from Jesus’ patience and invitation to dialogue, even when the request was misguided?
Application
Jesus in his sage wisdom responds by telling them, “You do not know what you are asking...” (verse 38). He continues by saying to them that they have no idea the suffering that awaits both him and them.
Finally, he responds to them by extolling what type of life he was calling them to, a life of upside-down leadership in their own eyes, but right-side up in God’s eyes. “…but whoever would be great among you must be your servant, and whoever would be first among you must be slave of all.
