Cup and the Baptism

Mark 10:35-45

Verse 35, And James and John, the sons of Zebedee, come unto him, saying, Master, we would that thou shouldest do for us whatsoever we shall desire.

I.    It is good to have a desire like this.

A.  Their desires had turned away from temporal earthly pleasures to eternal heavenly preference.

1.   There ought to come a time in our lives when the things of this earth no longer give pleasure.

2.   It is at that point that we ought to seek eternal heavenly preferences.

B.   They sought eternal things together.

1.   It is always better to have friends in the faith.

2.   Deut. 32:30 - We can be 10 times as strong if we have somebody to stand with us.

3.   Mark 6:7 - Jesus sent the disciples out two by two.

4.   God gave men a help meet (suitable) so they better could stand for the truth.

Verse 36, And he said unto them, What would ye that I should do for you?

Verse 37, They said unto him, Grant unto us that we may sit, one on thy right hand, and the other on thy left hand, in thy glory.

I.    The Bold Request.

A.  The blame revealed in this request.

1.   They had great selfishness.

2.   An intense desire for preeminence in the coming glory.

3.   A coveting of the best gifts over and above what everybody would receive.

4.   A desire to be exalted above their brethren.

B.   The praise revealed in this request.  (See their great faith in Christ.)

1.   They believed Jesus Christ to be the eternal king.

2.   They believed He will come in power and great glory.

3.   They do not see anything wrong with their request.

a.   They do not believe they are being too bold.

b.   They believe Christ has various positions of honor and authority in His future eternal kingdom.

c.   They believe Christ has the authority to give those places of honor to whomsoever He desires.

C.   Let us condemn ourselves instead of condemning them.

1.   They went directly to Jesus Christ and asked for the best He had.

2.   They did not stand back in the shadows, hoping Christ would see them and give them the best He had.

3.   Let us never ask Christ for the smallest thing He has.

4.   As far as the church building on Meyer Road, if it is God's will that we have it, it is certainly not wrong to ask Christ to give it to us!

Verse 38, But Jesus said unto them, Ye know not what ye ask: can ye drink of the cup that I drink of? and be baptized with the baptism that I am baptized with?

I.    The gentle rebuke.

A.  Jesus didn't sternly rebuke them, but gently asked them if they understand what they were asking.

1.   He speaks to them of the way of life to obtaining the position they desire.

2.   II Tim. 2:12 - If we suffer with Him, we shall also reign with Him.

3.   Luke 19:11-27 - The parable of the pounds.

a.   Some have authority over ten cities.

b.   Some have authority over five cities.

c.   Some lose everything.

II.   The significance of the cup and baptism.

A.  These are two definite experiences that we must have in order to rise to a  prominent position in God's kingdom of glory.

II.   The significance of the cup.

A.  The cup of His Father's will.

1.   Ps. 40:8 - The delight of Jesus Christ is to do the will of God.

2.   John 4:34 - Jesus said his meat (the life sustaining food) is to do the will of His Father.

B.   The cup of patient suffering at the hand of wicked men.

1.   I Peter 2:21-25 - The example of Christ is that we suffer without threatening, being reviled without reviling again.

2.   Heb. 12:3 - Consider Jesus, who received much contradiction of sinners against Himself, lest we be wearied and faint in our minds.

C.   The cup of obedience unto death.

1.   Phil 2:8 - Let our minds be like the mind of Christ, who being in the form of man, humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross.

2.   Matt. 26:42 - Jesus prayed in the Garden of Gethsemane that Satan be repelled so He could die the death of the cross for the sins of the world.

III. The significance of baptism.

A.  Humiliation.

1.   Matthew 3:15 - Jesus told John the Baptist, Suffer it to be so now, that all righteousness will be fulfilled.

B.   Consecration.

1.   When Christ was baptized, he showed to the world that He was completely submitting Himself to the will of His Father, regardless of the consequences.

2.   Did we show that to the world when we were baptized?

C.   Anointing.

1.   The Holy Spirit descended upon Christ declaring that God was well pleased with His Son.

2.   Note: The holy anointing of God upon our lives comes only after total obedience to the Father's will.

Verse 39, And they said unto him, We can. And Jesus said unto them, Ye shall indeed drink of the cup that I drink of; and with the baptism that I am baptized withal shall ye be baptized:

I.    The ready reply.

A.  Their faith in the possibility.

1.   By thy grace we shall live, and achieve these things.

2.   Note their ready desire to yield themselves to God's will.

B.   Willingness to possess it.

1.   They didn't hesitate at the suggestion of suffering to come.

2.   They didn't take time to consider the pro's and con's of their decision.

3.   Daniel 3:16 - Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego were not careful to "reconsider" King Nebuchadnezzar's request that they reconsider their decision to not bow down and worship the golden image he had set up.

4.   This is the way we should be.

II.   The assuring answer.

A.  They shall indeed.

1.   They had already received the baptism of John the Baptist.

2.   They will receive the Baptism of the Holy Spirit on the Day of Pentecost.

3.   They will suffer for Christ, even to the point of death.

4.   James was the first martyr, the last hasn't died yet.

Verse 40, But to sit on my right hand and on my left hand is not mine to give; but [it shall be given to them] for whom it is prepared.

I.    Authority is not gained by good works.

A.  Many believe a life of good works entitles one to sit on a place of authority.

1.   We are saved by grace through faith, and we live by grace through faith.

Verse 41, And when the ten heard [it], they began to be much displeased with James and John.

Verse 42, But Jesus called them [to him], and saith unto them, Ye know that they which are accounted to rule over the Gentiles exercise lordship over them; and their great ones exercise authority upon them.

It is a real shame, but "Christian circles" have lowered their standards from God's Holy Word to the worlds.  They now consider some preachers over others, and some churches over others.  God didn't intend it to be like this.

Verse 43, But so shall it not be among you: but whosoever will be great among you, shall be your minister:

It would be very good if preachers and church members alike would remember this verse.

Verse 44, And whosoever of you will be the chiefest, shall be servant of all.

Verse 45, For even the Son of man came not to be ministered unto, but to minister, and to give his life a ransom for many.