To the Cross… vs. 17-19

• 1^st – Final Trip… vs. 17
  • Now Jesus going up to Jerusalem!
  • Jerusalem is about 750 meters above sea level – higher than everything else around…
  • So no matter where you are coming from – you always go UP to Jerusalem!
  • This no doubt seemed like an ordinary trip for the Disciples…
  • They were traveling to the Holy City to celebrate just as they did every year – Exodus 23:14-17
  • As they went to sacrifice their LAMB to remember how God delivered them from Egypt…
  • No doubt they went up SINGING the SONGS of ascent – Psalms 120-134
  • Psalm 122:1 – “I will lift up my eyes to the hills… My help comes from the LORD.”
  • What the DISCIPLES did NOT realize – this was the FINAL trip for Jesus…
  • Because He was going to be the LAMB that was sacrificed to set them free!
• 2^nd – The Plan… vs. 17-19
  • Nothing hidden… vs. 17-18
    • [Jesus] took the twelve disciples aside on the road and said to them: 
    • Behold we are going up to Jerusalem!
    • Jesus took the TWELVE aside – because He wanted them to UNDERSTAND…
    • LOOK [imperative] – they were going up to Jerusalem but this time would be DIFFERENT…
    • This is HUGE – because it means Jesus considered them as FRIENDS!
    • John 15:15 – “No longer do I call you servants – for a servant does not know what his master is doing – but I have called you friends for all things… I have made known to you.”
    • God does NOT leave us in the dark when it comes to His plans…
    • He calls us FRIENDS – and therefore tells us EVERYTHING…
    • The question is are we paying ATTENTION to what He says!
  • Crucified… vs. 18-19
    • The Son of Man will be betrayed to the chief priests and to the scribes.
    • And they will condemn Him to death.
    • Deliver Him to the Gentiles to mock and to scourge and to crucify!
    • Jesus KNEW He would be BETRAYED [παραδίδωμι] – and WHO would do it [Judas]
    • He KNEW the chief PRIESTS [Caiaphas] and SCRIBES would condemn Him to death…
    • They would BETRAY [παραδίδωμι] their KING – and turn Him over to PAGANS…
    • He KNEW those GENTILES would mock [Herod] and SCOURGE [Pilate] Him…
    • And He KNEW that in the END – they would CRUCIFY Him – Psalm 22:16
    • Yet in spite of all He KNEW – Jesus still was willing to go UP to Jerusalem!
    • Because He also KNEW there was NO other way for us to be SAVED…
    • We are all SINNERS – and it is IMPOSSIBLE for us to get to heaven – Matthew 19:26
    • Therefore the ONLY answer was for Him to be the LAMB who died to save us!
    • II Corinthians 5:21 – “God made Christ who never sinned – to be the offering for our sin – so that we could be made right with God.”
  • Resurrected… vs. 19
    • And the third day He will rise again!
    • But Jesus also KNEW – the story did NOT end with His CRUCIFIXION…
    • Because on the THIRD day – He would [indicative] RISE again!
    • The GOOD news is NOT that Jesus died – everybody does…
    • The GOOD news is the DEATH is NOT the end – through Jesus we have VICTORY!
    • I Corinthians 15:55-57 – “O Death where is your sting? Thanks be to God who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.”

• 2^nd – Becoming the Greatest… vs. 20-28
  • 1^st – Wrong question… vs. 20-22
    • Ulterior motive… vs. 20
      • Then the mother of Zebedee’s sons came to Him with her sons.
      • Kneeling down and asking something from Him!
      • Then the MOTHER of James and John [sons of Zebedee] came to Jesus…
      • She WORSHIPED [προσκυνέω] Him – because she wanting Him to do a FAVOR…
      • Her BOYS followed up by asking Jesus to do WHATEVER they asked!
      • Mark 10:35 – “Teacher we want You to do for us whatever we ask.”
      • Too often people come to Jesus with the wrong mindset…
      • They think if they WORSHIP – if they are at CHURCH on Sunday – then God owes them…
      • Then they can ask ANYTHING they want – and He has to say yes!
    • Selfish wish… vs. 21
      • [Jesus] said to her: What do you wish? 
      • She said to Him: Grant that these two sons of mine may sit.
      • One on Your right hand and the other on the left in Your kingdom!
      • Jesus asked her [and the BOYS] – what was their WISH [θέλω]
      • She [they] wanted to SIT [subjunctive] on the right and left hand of Jesus in the KINGDOM!
      • If we think of God as some kind of GENIE – rub the lamp we He will grant our WISH…
      • We are going to be very DISAPPOINTED with the results…
      • God does NOT grant WISHES – He is our LORD – we do what HE wants…
      • And if we come to Him with SELFISH desires – God make me RICH – silence will be His reply!
      • James 4:3 – “You ask [but] you do not get it because your motives are all wrong!” [NLT]
    • Missing the point… vs. 22
      • Jesus answered and said: You do not know what you ask!
      • Jesus was quick to point out the FLAW in their WISH…
      • They did not SEE [εἴδω] what their WISH would cost them!
      • We might acknowledge that SELFISH prayers do NOT get answered…
      • But what about SELFLESS prayers – healing a sick friend – why does GOD still NOT answer…
      • Yet that sick friend we want healed – might ONLY come to Jesus because of their TRIAL!
        
      • We do NOT know what will happen to tomorrow – we do NOT see the END…
      • That is why prayer is NOT about coming to God with our WISHES…
      • It is about us coming to the Lord [master] asking Him for His WISDOM!
  • 2^nd – Counting the Cost… vs. 22-23
    • The Cup…
      • Are you able to drink the cup that I am about to drink!
      • Jesus asked them if they had the POWER [δύναμαι] to do TWO things:
      • FIRST – take the CUP that Jesus was going to Jerusalem to DRINK…
      • The CUP that Jesus was talking about was the WRATH of God – Revelation 14:10
      • Because someone had to PAY the price for SIN!
      • When Jesus went to the Garden of Gethsemane to PRAY to the Father…
      • His simple request was for the LORD to take this CUP [wrath] from Him…
      • But in the end Jesus concluded with – NOT My will but Yours be done – Luke 22:42
      • He could have walked away at any point – and avoided death…
      • But Jesus was OBEDIENT to the WILL of God – and offered His life for our SINS!
      • Hebrews 5:8 – “He was a Son – yet He learned obedience by the things which He suffered.”
    • The Baptism…
      • And be baptized with the baptism that I am baptized with?
      • SECOND – did they have the POWER [δύναμαι] to be BAPTIZED…
      • The BAPTISM Jesus was talking about – was His DEATH on the cross!
      • The picture of BAPTISM is DEATH – being BURIED under the water…
      • But it is also a picture of new LIFE – coming up out of the water!
      • Romans 6:4 – “We were buried with Him through baptism into death, that just as Christ was raised from the dead… even so we also should walk in newness of life.”
    • Everything… vs. 22-23
      • They said to Him: We are able! So He said to them: 
      • You will indeed drink My cup – be baptized with the baptism that I am baptized with!
      • James and John were quick to foolishly reply – they had the POWER [δύναμαι]
      • But they were NOT thinking about WRATH [cup] and DEATH [baptism]
      • More likely they were thinking about DINNER [cup] and a BATH [baptism]
      • Yet Jesus ominously told them they would indeed choose [deponent] to DRINK His cup…
      • And in the end they would [passive] be BAPTIZED [die] for His name!
      • James would become the FIRST of the apostle to be MARTYRED – Acts 12:2
      • And although John would live to be an old man – he gave his life for the Lord!
      • We come to the Lord – NOT to get what we want [because we do NOT know what is best]
      • We come instead choosing to LAY down our will – and instead SUBMIT to His…
      • We come to DIE to ourselves – and chose to LIVE for Jesus…
      • Because we know that NEW life only comes when the Lord is the one in control!
  • 3^rd – Jealousy… vs. 23-24
    • The Father… vs. 23
      • To sit on My right hand and on My left is not Mine to give.
      • But it is for those for whom it is prepared by My Father!
      • Jesus does NOT choose who will SIT on His right and left…
      • Because it is the FATHER – who CHOSE [perfect] Jesus to SIT on His RIGHT hand!
      • Mark 16:19 – “Jesus… was taken up into heaven and sat down at the right hand of God.”
    • Not happy… vs. 24
      • When the ten heard it – they were greatly displeased with the two brothers!
      • When the other TEN disciples heard the conversation – they were DISPLEASED…
      • DISPLEASED [ἀγανακτέω] – to be VERY unhappy…
      • They were JEALOUS of the request of James and John…
      • Because they likely wished they had been the ones to ask it FIRST!
      • Do NOT miss the FOOLISHNESS of this whole conversation…
      • Jesus had just told the DISCIPLES that He is heading to the CROSS…
      • Which James and John completely missed – and instead started talking about THRONES [sit]
      • And in the END it caused JEALOUSY among the disciples…
      • All because they did NOT understand why Jesus was going to Jerusalem!
      • UNITY in the church comes from when we all LISTEN to Jesus…
      • DIVISION in the church comes from when we seek after what we WANT!
      • James 4:1 – “What is causing the quarrels and fights? They come from [your] evil desires!” [NLT]
  • 4^th – Called to Serve… vs. 25-28
    • Repeated lesson… vs. 25
      • Jesus called them to Himself and said: 
      • Jesus called the DISCIPLES to Him – seeing the opportunity to REPEAT an important lesson…
      • This is the SECOND of THREE times He had to teach this lesson…
      • The final time they would argue this would be AFTER the last supper – Luke 22:24
      • God is VERY patient with us – He is willing to REPEAT lessons [as many times as needed]
      • But there is WISDOM in paying attention to what God is trying to teach us…
      • Because we will NOT grow – until we grasp the lesson the Lord is trying to give to us!
    • Heavenly greatness… vs. 25-27
      • You know the rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them.
      • And those who are great exercise authority over them. Yet it shall not be so among you.
      • But whoever desires to become great among you let him be your servant.
      • And whoever desires to be first among you let him be your slave!
      • In the WORLD [ἔθνος] – those who RULE – will lord [κυριεύω] it over others…
      • And those who are GREAT [μέγας] – have POWER over others [ἐξουσιάζω]
      • But it must NOT [οὐ] be that way in the CHURCH…
      • If we want [θέλω] to be GREAT [μέγας] – we MUST [imperative] be a SERVANT [διάκονος]
      • If we want [θέλω] to be FIRST [πρῶτος] – we MUST [imperative] be a SLAVE [δοῦλος]!
      • GREATNESS in the world is like a PYRAMID – with the most powerful on TOP…
      • But GREATNESS to God – flips the PYRAMID upside down!
      • We do NOT relate a SLAVE with GREATNESS – we still think like the WORLD…
      • GREATNESS to us is MONEY – and POWER – telling others what to do…
      • GREATEST to God is the person who empties the trash – cleans the bathroom…
      • The question is do we want to be GREAT in the world – or in God!
    • The Greatest of all… vs. 28
      • Just as the Son of Man did not come to be served – but to serve.
      • And to give His life a ransom for many!
      • Jesus has every right to be SERVED [διάκονος] – He is God almighty…
      • But He did NOT [οὐ] come to be SERVED [passive] – but to SERVE [active]
      • He came to be our RANSOM [λύτρον] – pay the DEBT for our SIN…
      • Which is why Jesus is the GREATEST in the kingdom!

• 3^rd – Opening eyes… vs. 29-34
  • 1^st – Prideful city… vs. 29
    • Now as they went out of Jericho!
    • Jericho sits at the north end of the Dead Sea – near the Jordan River…
    • It was along the main road that led from the Galilee to Jerusalem!
    • It was a PROUD city – known for its formidable walls…
    • But those walls FELL – because in their PRIDE they refused to LISTEN to God – Joshua 6:20
    • It is NOT an accident that this PRIDEFUL debate of the disciples took place in this city…
    • Because when we do NOT listen – moved by PRIDE – it always leads to RUIN!
    • Proverbs 16:18 – “Pride goes before destruction – and a haughty spirit before a fall.”
  • 2^nd – Be quiet… vs. 29-31
    • Two men… vs. 30
      • A great multitude followed Him – and behold two blind men sitting by the road.
      • When they heard that Jesus was passing by cried out saying:
      • Have mercy on us – O Lord – Son of David!
      • Jesus was moving with the CROWD as they made their pilgrimage to Jerusalem…
      • Matthew tells us there were TWO blind men sitting [ignored] beside the road…
      • But Mark gives us the name of the ONE who spoke – BARTIMAEUS – Mark 10:46
      • BARTIMAEUS – His name means the son [בַּר] of the UNCLEAN [טָמֵא]
      • He cried out [κράζω] – begging [imperative] Jesus to have MERCY [ἐλεέω] on them…
      • He called Him Lord [κύριος] – and Son of David [Messianic title]!
    • Crying out…
      • Then the multitude warned them that they should be quiet.
      • But they cried out all the more saying: Have mercy on us – O Lord – Son of David!
      • The CROWD was NOT happy with them – and told them they should [subjunctive] be QUIET…
      • But all the more the CRIED out [imperfect] – asking for MERCY!
      • We are all UNCLEAN [טָמֵא] – and none of us have a RIGHT to call out to Jesus…
      • And the world will be quick to REMIND us of our FLAWS…
      • When we PRAY to Jesus – they question WHY would God answer us…
      • But all the MORE we should be CALLING out to Jesus – because He is MERCIFUL!
  • 3^rd – Following Jesus… vs. 32-34
    • The question… vs. 32-33
      • Jesus stood still and called them and said: What do you want Me to do for you?
      • They said to Him: Lord that our eyes may be opened!
      • Jesus STOPPED – and asked them what was their WISH [θέλω]
      • They did NOT want [θέλω] to SIT on His right hand or on His left…
      • All they wanted [θέλω] – was for the Lord [κύριος] to open their EYES so they could see!
    • Answered prayer… vs. 34
      • Jesus had compassion and touched their eyes. 
      • Immediately their eyes received sight – and they followed Him!
      • Jesus had MERCY [σπλαγχνίζομαι] on them – and touched their eyes…
      • IMMEDIATELY their eyes were opened – they could SEE Jesus…
      • And as a RESULT – they began to FOLLOW Him – to the CROSS!
      • Luke 9:23 – “If anyone desires to come after Me let him deny himself – and take up his cross daily – and follow Me.”
      • We do NOT come to Jesus so we can ask for ANYTHING we want…
      • We come to Jesus because we are UNCLEAN – we are BLIND – and we want to SEE…
      • We want to SEE Him – so we can DENY ourselves – and LIVE for God…
      • Because the Christian walk is NOT about being the GREATEST…
      • It is about showing people Jesus – who loves us so much – He died to SAVE us!