Suggestions for leading a study:
From First to Last
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.”
Discussion Questions
·
Leaders' Guide
This lesson explores the upside down nature of leading versus serving that Jesus teaches his disciples.
·
If
you could ask Jesus to do anything for you, what would it be?
A discussion
starter question.
·
How
do you feel about the attitude displayed by James and John in verse 35? Do you think people sometimes have a similar
approach to God?
James and John came
and basically demanded from Jesus whatever they wanted. It looks pretty arrogant on the face of
it. But the second half of the question
is meant to underscore that our own approach to God isn’t all that much
different sometimes, asking him for the things that we want with the
expectation that he should be giving them to us.
·
Look
at the give and take in verses 37-39.
Jesus tells them that they didn’t know what they were asking. Do you think they understood the
implications of how they answered?
Jesus asked them if
they could drink the cup he was going to drink, or undergo the baptism he was
about to. In Jewish thought, they
probably would have interpreted that as being willing to share his fate. All through the book of Mark Jesus keeps
trying to explain to the disciples what that fate would be, and they never seem
to get it. In spite of having just told
them what would happen to him (verses 32-34), they are still asking about sharing
in his glory, apparently expecting him to be the glorious, conquering messiah
Jews had been expecting.
·
The
“cup” and the “baptism” Jesus was referring to was his suffering and death and
taking on of our sins. Would you be
willing to sacrifice that much for the sake of your own glory?
No doubt the answer
here will be obvious and unanimous. Who
would be willing to do that for anything?
·
What
are some of the sacrifices people make in order to “reach the top” in this
world? Are they worth it?
Notwithstanding the
previous question, it is true that people make incredible sacrifices for
personal gain and glory. Many people
sacrifice their families, their health, etc.
Some members of your group might easily have a real life example or
two—try asking them for one.
·
According
to verses 42-45, how do you “reach the top” in the kingdom of God?
This is one of the
key passages underscoring the “upside down” nature of the kingdom of God: to be
great, you must serve and to be first, you must be willing to go as low as a
slave in your service to others.