Read Matthew 29:17-28, Mark 10:32-45 and Luke 18:31-34. Jesus has started back toward Jerusalem to celebrate Passover. This has caused some amazement and fear on the part of His disciples. They were well aware that the religious leaders were very opposed to our Lord and wished to have Him put to death. And yet Jesus went right back into their stronghold! The disciples also believed Him to be the Messiah meaning they expected Him to overcome His enemies and set up the glorious kingdom over which He would rule. But He showed no sign of raising an army yet. They were afraid, but because they knew His power having witnessed the miracles he performed, they began to believe that now was the time He would perform some miracle and claim the throne driving out all opposition. Perhaps they discussed this among themselves as they traveled.
1. What did Jesus warn them about as they journeyed?
He warned them that He was going to Jerusalem, and there he would be put on trial, tortured and put to death.
2. According to Luke’s account, how well did they understand this warning?
They did not understand at all.
3. Why, in your opinion, did they not understand what was stated in plain language?
What they heard went directly counter to what they believed the Messiah would do. The Messiah would be the King of kings; therefore, He could not die. Therefore the words of Jesus did not mean anything to them.
4. What request did James and John make of Jesus?
They wanted to sit, one at His right side and the other at His left when He became the King of kings.
5. What do you think it meant to sit at His right and left sides when He sat on His throne?
This meant they would be His right hand (and left hand) men in the kingdom. They would be second and third in command.
6. Why do you think James and John had their mother ask Jesus for this for them?
The request would carry more weight if it came from their mother. Perhaps too, they were a bit ashamed to be asking for the most important positions ahead of the other ten disciples.
7. Jesus begins to answer James and John by telling them something and then asking them a question. What did He tell them? What did He ask them?
a. He told them, “You do not know what you are asking for?”
b. He asked them, “Can you drink of the cup that I drink of, and be baptized with the baptism with which I am baptized?”
8. What do you think Jesus meant by the statement He made to them?
The route Jesus was taking to be king meant His death. If they were asking to sit as sub-kings with Him, this would mean their deaths as well. To rule, they must first serve and give their lives as their Master was going to do. They sure did not know they were asking for this!
9. What was the answer of James and John to the question Jesus asked them?
Yes, we can drink of your cup and be baptized with your baptism.
10. Look up Luke 12:50 and 22:42. What do you think Jesus meant by baptism and the cup? What do you think James and John understood Him to mean?
a. Jesus meant His death. Yes, they could share this (and would)!
b. The disciples probably thought He was talking about a literal cup or being baptized in water.
11. What was the reaction of the other ten disciples when they found out what James and John had asked?
They were quite upset at James and John.
12. Why did they react like this?
They probably wanted those important positions just like James and John did. They wanted to be second and third in charge as well.
13. What did the Lord try to teach these twelve at this time?
He tried to teach them that in order to rule, they must become servants. A ruler serves His subjects.
14. Did Jesus grant their request? Why or why not?
a. No
b. This was not something that was His to give; it was the Father’s authority to do this.
15. Would James and John ever get to sit with our Lord and Rule? (See Luke 22:29-30.)
Yes
Read Matthew 20:29-34, Mark 10:46-52 and Luke 18:35-43. On the way to Jerusalem, they crossed the Jordan River and passed through or by Jericho. As they were leaving the city, two blind men were seated by the road. Mark and Luke only mention one of these men; Matthew tells us there were two. When they heard Jesus was passing, they made a request much like the mother of James and John had made. In both cases, Jesus asks, “What do you want Me to do for you?”
16. What was the request of these two blind men?
That they may regain their sight
17. Did Jesus grant their request?
Yes
18. Do you see any differences in motivation between the request of the two blind men and the request of the two disciples?
James and John’s was probably selfish. They asked before the other disciples did. They wanted to be above the others. The blind men did not want to be better than anyone; they wanted something most people already had.
The Applications:
What are the applications of these passages to our lives today? Identify as many as you are able.
1. If Jesus asked you today, “What do you want Me to do for you?” what would your request be? I asked myself this question. As I pondered what I might ask for, several things immediately ran through my mind: another job in which I did not have to be on my feet all day; one which paid more so I would only have to work part-time rather than full time; better yet, coming into some money making it possible for my wife and me to retire without having to work; a position teaching the Bible somewhere where my abilities would be better recognized and used and so forth. But as I thought about these requests, it did not take me long to realize they were self-centered, serving only my comfort, my pride. Like James and John, I truly did not know what I was asking, nor like them at this point in their lives, were my motives what they should be.
I had chosen not to seek a position on the staff of a local church because I felt that for me personally, I should not take pay for ministering, teaching the truth of God’s Word. I was to give it freely without charge or obligation. This means I had to have a job to support myself in order to teach the Word. Now I wanted to make that easier, to give up the work involved! What did our Lord give up when He came to be one of us? Certainly not the hard work and labor, the fatigue and the frustration with people, the long days and short nights! My Lord asks me, “What do you want Me to do for you?” Before I answered Him now, I have had to think through what I might ask and, more importantly, why I would be asking for these things. There are things I have requested and continue to request, yet they are far different than the initial lists that ran through my mind at the first.
2. Our culture has the typical concept of leadership. This concept embodies the “I’m the boss; I have people do the work for me!” idea. It draws upon the “I tell you what to do; you do it.” mentality. It is founded on the principle that “You’re labor; therefore, you do the labor. I’m management; therefore, I will manage (to watch). I get the credit if it works, and it’s your fault if it fails!” Leadership today employs the “lead from behind” strategy; it is more pusher-ship than leadership. It uses external motivation rather than internal, favoring the strong use of the whip over the carrot on a stick. However, if it is cost-effective, the carrot on a stick (bribery) works too. It is Stalinistic in its approach to difficult workers; that is to say, if a worker causes trouble, raises questions, points out problems or disagrees with the system, the solution is simple. Make the worker disappear!
Biblical leadership, however, is totally the opposite. It is based upon the principle that if you want to lead, you do so by serving. A leader in the Biblical sense is one who does all that is in his power to better those that work for him. They seek to help the worker do their job more effectively, providing all that they may need. Biblical leadership employs internal motivation. Those who work do so out of love and respect for their leader, rather than what they might gain or avoid. The Biblical leader is out front. They are leaders, not pushers. Those who work for such a leader are treated as people, not human resources. The Biblical approach to problem workers is to transform them rather than transfer them. They do not chuck them but change them into dedicated workers.
These kinds of leaders are rare and hard to find. This kind of leadership is difficult and requires sacrifice. That is why it is not the kind found in government or in business today. In God’s kingdom, if you wish to be a leader, you must first learn to be a servant.