“And they were on the road, going up to Jerusalem, and Jesus was walking ahead of them. And they were amazed, and those who followed were afraid. And taking the twelve again, he began to tell them what was to happen to him, saying, “See, we are going up to Jerusalem, and the Son of Man will be delivered over to the chief priests and the scribes, and they will condemn him to death and deliver him over to the Gentiles. And they will mock him and spit on him, and flog him and kill him. And after three days he will rise.”
And James and John, the sons of Zebedee, came up to him and said to him, “Teacher, we want you to do for us whatever we ask of you.” And he said to them, “What do you want me to do for you?” And they said to him, “Grant us to sit, one at your right hand and one at your left, in your glory.” Jesus said to them, “You do not know what you are asking. Are you able to drink the cup that I drink, or to be baptized with the baptism with which I am baptized?” And they said to him, “We are able.” And Jesus said to them, “The cup that I drink you will drink, and with the baptism with which I am baptized, you will be baptized, but to sit at my right hand or at my left is not mine to grant, but it is for those for whom it has been prepared.” And when the ten heard it, they began to be indignant at James and John. And Jesus called them to him and said to them, “You know that those who are considered rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and their great ones exercise authority over them. But it shall not be so among you. But whoever would be great among you must be your servant, and whoever would be first among you must be slave of all. For even the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.”
And they came to Jericho. And as he was leaving Jericho with his disciples and a great crowd, Bartimaeus, a blind beggar, the son of Timaeus, was sitting by the roadside. And when he heard that it was Jesus of Nazareth, he began to cry out and say, “Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!” And many rebuked him, telling him to be silent. But he cried out all the more, “Son of David, have mercy on me!” And Jesus stopped and said, “Call him.” And they called the blind man, saying to him, “Take heart. Get up; he is calling you.” And throwing off his cloak, he sprang up and came to Jesus. And Jesus said to him, “What do you want me to do for you?” And the blind man said to him, “Rabbi, let me recover my sight.” And Jesus said to him, “Go your way; your faith has made you well.” And immediately he recovered his sight and followed him on the way.”
Jesus and His disciples are on the road to Jerusalem, and for the third time, Jesus tells them exactly what awaits Him there. He will be betrayed, condemned, mocked, beaten, killed, and after three days rise again.
Then James and John approach Him with a request. They want the best seats in His kingdom.
The contrast is striking. Jesus has just described His suffering, and they are thinking about their status. They understand that Jesus is a king, but they still misunderstand what kind of King He is.
Jesus explains that the rulers of this world use their positions to exercise authority over others.
“But it shall not be so among you.”
Then He tells them why.
“For even the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.”
This is one of the clearest statements in Mark about why Jesus came.
A ransom is a price paid to set someone free.
Jesus is going to Jerusalem to give His own life as that price. Humanity is trapped by sin and unable to free itself. Jesus does not come merely to teach us how to become better people. He comes to rescue us by taking our place.
The King becomes the servant. And the servant gives His life for us.
Mark then introduces one more person before Jesus reaches Jerusalem: a blind beggar named Bartimaeus.
When Bartimaeus hears that Jesus is passing by, he cries out,
“Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!”
Others tell him to be quiet, but Jesus stops.
The man who is walking toward His own suffering takes time for a beggar beside the road.
Jesus restores his sight, and Mark tells us that Bartimaeus follows Him “on the way.”
That is a fitting picture of discipleship. Bartimaeus can now see, and he follows Jesus on the road.
Jesus is the King who humbles Himself and comes to us. We are blind to see Him and can only cry out for mercy, but mercy is something Jesus gives out freely and abundantly. He opens our eyes to see Him as He truly is, our Lord and Savior who gave His life to ransom ours. Then calls us to follow Him and His way.
He has come to you and generously offers you mercy. I pray your eyes are opened to see Him.
Let’s pray…
Lord Jesus,
You came not to be served but to serve and to give Your life as a ransom for me. Open my eyes to see You clearly. Teach me to trust Your saving work and to follow You by serving others in love.
Amen.
As part of your devotion time, I encourage you to also pray for at least some of the following:
After praying for these people, you may want to finish your devotion time with the Lord’s Prayer…
Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come. They will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread and forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us. Lead us not into temptation but deliver us from evil. For Thine is the kingdom and the power, and the glory, forever and every. Amen.
In Christ’s Service,
Pastor Kurt
