主題---“十字架 耶穌基督的榮 耀” （星期五～日）

本週牧師證道經節: 馬可福音 十章 35 ~ 45

10:35 西庇太的兒子雅各、約翰進前來，對耶穌說：夫子，我們無論求你甚麼，願你給我們作。 10:36 耶穌說：要我給你們作甚麼？ 10:37 他們說：賜我們在你的榮耀裡，一個坐在你右邊，一個坐在你左邊。 10:38 耶穌說：你們不知道所求的是甚麼，我所喝的杯，你們能喝麼？我所受的洗，你們能受麼？ 10:39 他們說：我們能。耶穌說：我所喝的杯，你們也要喝；我所受的洗，你們也要受； 10:40 只是坐在我的左右，不是我可以賜的，乃是為誰預備的，就賜給誰。 10:41 那十個門徒聽見，就惱怒雅各、約翰。 10:42 耶穌叫他們來，對他們說：你們知道，外邦人有尊為君王的，治理他們，有大臣操權管束他們。 10:43 只是在你們中間，不是這樣。你們中間，誰願為大，就必作你們的用人； 10:44 在你們中間，誰願為首，就必作眾人的僕人。 10:45 因為人子來，並不是要受人的服事，乃是要服事人，並且要捨命作多人的贖價。

Cross, the Glory of Christ

Scripture: Mark 10: 35-45

35Then 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. 37They 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, 40but to sit at my right or left is not for me to grant. These places belong to those for whom they have been prepared."

41When the ten heard about this, they became indignant with James and John. 42Jesus 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. 43Not so with you. Instead, whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant, 44and whoever wants to be first must be slave of all. 45For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many."

Notes:

1. 大膽的去想 勇敢的去要求
Thinking Big, Asking Much (v.35-37)

In the Gospel accounts, the disciples James, John, Peter (and Andrew, to some extend) were considered as the inner circle of Jesus. They were the ones who saw the transfiguration of Christ (Matthew 17:1-8, Mark 9:2-8, Luke 9:28-36); they were the ones who were allowed to witness the raising of Jairus’ daughter (Mark 5:37, Luke 8:51); they were the ones whom Jesus had invited to pray with him in Gethsemane (Mark 14:32-42, Matthew 26:36-46, Luke 22:40-46). But James and John wanted more!

They came to Jesus with a bold request in a manner that is highly inappropriate, “Teacher, we want you to do for us whatever we ask.” (v.35) — a very open-ended request that Jesus is smart enough not to fall for (curiously, in Matthew 20:20-28, it was their mother who made this request — perhaps to relieve James and John of the burden of this act).

What was their request? They wanted to have seats of power to rule with Jesus. In fact they wanted the best seats – to the left and to the right of Jesus – seats of honour, power and authority. Notice also they wanted those seats “in your glory” (v.37). Evidently, they understand the current limitation of Jesus, and they envision the future possibility of Christ. Probably similar to what Isaiah had envisioned of God sitting in a heavenly throne room (Isaiah 6:1-8)

I think most people would be appalled by such a request, such a blatant ‘power grab’. But there is something that we can learn from – that is to think big and to ask much. Often the things that we ask from God is so trivial – better grade, health, or success in our careers. Do we dare to ask God what really matter? Do we dare to ask God to take part in God’s glory?

Reflection: What do I ask of God in my prayer?

2. 十字架是基督的榮耀
The Glory of Christ is the Cross (v.38-40)

Jesus replied to their request, “Can you drink the cup I drink or be baptized with the baptism I am baptized with?" (v.38). No more naïve words have ever been spoken as those found here coming from James and John, “We can.” (v.39) They said it with such confidence and ease, yet they had little clue as to what they were affirming. In the next sentence Jesus confirms that they will indeed suffer for his name. "You will drink the cup I drink and be baptized with the baptism I am baptized with.” (v.39)

Both the cup and baptism signify the rejection and suffering that Jesus was about to face. Evidently, Jesus regards the way of the cross as the road to his glory, and to sit by the left and right of such a glory is to share in the crucifixion on the cross. And indeed, such places “belong to those for whom they have been prepared." (v.40). Only God can grant such an honour, and ironically, they were granted not to the disciples but to two nameless robbers.

Reflection: How does the ‘cross as glory of Christ’ mean to our Christian faith? How do I respond to such an understanding of faith?

3.付出苦難代價的救贖
Redemptive Suffering (v.41-45)

After the first passion prediction in 8:31, Jesus rebuked Peter as having been used by Satan. After the second passion prediction in 9:31, the disciples were concerned about who would be the greatest in the kingdom. After the third passion prediction in 10:33 James and John asked for positions of honor and rulership in the kingdom, revealing their complete misunderstanding of the nature of the kingdom and exposing their inadequacy as true disciples of Jesus.

But Jesus only gathered the disciples to rebuke them after the other ten complained about Jams and John. It was an opportunity for Jesus to reiterate the true nature of lordship, “Instead, whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant, and whoever wants to be first must be slave of all. (v.43-44) Not only that, Jesus also revealed what he came to earth to do – “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." (v.45)

A ransom is a price to be paid to redeem something. In this case, the price to be paid is the suffering and death of Christ, and what was redeemed was humanity, it is you and I. We don’t really know why the suffering of Christ is redemptive. We don’t really know why God chose to use such a method to demonstrate God love for humanity. Theologians have been debating about this for a long time. Perhaps, allow me to suggest, it was in the manner that Jesus Christ submit under God, accepted his calling, and embraced the way to the cross.

Reflection: When we encounter suffering while serving, how do I take it? How should we take it?