A third Prophecy Mk 10:32-40

GOSPEL OF MARK SERIES

The Bible: Gospel of Mark Series Icon.

During 2019, each week, I will write a weekly post about the Gospel of Mark, as I review and explore each of the 16 chapters and how it may be applied in our daily lives. If you are following this series for the first time, you will find this series under Scripture- New Testament- Gospel of Mark. 

Click here to read the first post in the series. I have written this series in different years (2012, 2015, 2018) with some irregularity, but am determined to complete this series this year since I am more than half way through this Gospel.

My goal is to understand and pray the Gospel of Mark. I hope you will join me on this journey as we travel through the liturgical season.  In today's post we explore chapter 10:32-40 which is called A third Passion.

A THIRD PASSION ( MK 10:32-40)

The third passion foretells His suffering, death and final vindication by Jesus and is in the context of a journey- not just any journey but to Jerusalem.  He walks in front of His disciples, but they follow, shocked and fearful.

As in the other two prophecies of His passion, (8:31 and 9:31), Jesus describes himself in the third person as the Son of Man a mysterious title which He alone uses of Himself. It underpins the human solidarity Jesus shares with His disciples, yet points to a mystery in Him which stirs questions about His true identity.

HOW IS THIS PROPHECY DIFFERENT FROM EARLIER ONES?

This prophecy is more detailed and more terrible than the two earlier ones.  Mark probably adds details from hindsight at the time he wrote, but it is clear once again that Jesus expects shameful treatment, fearsome sufferings and condemnation to death from the leaders of His own people and from the foreign occupying power before He is finally vindicated by God.

The disciples again fail to grasp what Jesus is trying to share with them, as they twice did earlier (8:32 and 9.32).  We even find the two brothers, James and John coming to Jesus to ask fro themselves the top places beside Him, when He comes to rule int the world glory and secular power they still expect for Him as the Messiah.

Jesus challenges them by asking them were they able to drink the cup of suffering He wold drink, or to be immersed in the baptism of a passion and death with which He would be baptised.

In their ignorance and arrogance, the two think they can.  Jesus assures them that if they faithfully follow Him as disciples, they will certainly experience this cup and this baptism.  The places in the glory of the kingdom, however, when the kingdom is fully revealed at some future time, are only for God to give.

JOURNAL REFLECTION

In our journal and/or our discussion group we may wish to reflect on this passage as follows:

• Name the key points that you have learnt about the person of Jesus in this passage of scripture?

• Imagine that you are one of the disciples- What do you see and hear and feel. What can I learn from this?

• Imagine being Jesus telling the disciples and knowing that they did not understand- what would you have felt?  

• What is reading the Gospel passage with the eyes and ears of disciple mean to me?

• What does this incident teach about the way along which Jesus wants to lead His disciples?
• Recall an example you know of the effect of selfish in a group? What feelings does it sir in you now?
• How does Jesus example of obeying His Father and not granting James and John their request impact on my life?
• What factors stop me from being obedient to God-  does having free will give me the right to choose to ignore obedience of God?

• Am I willing to look into myself with honesty and ask how much do I grasp what it means to be a true disciple of Jesus in the light of this teaching? 

• Is my faith in the divine power of Christ, whom we follow, large enough to make us ready to follow the teachings of Jesus and in particular this passage?

• In the light of this passage, how will you respond to Jesus as a true disciple?

• If a fellow parishioner had read this passage, what might he/she say about this passage?
  
  
• Think of a time I may have harmed other people by not sharing my wealth/abundance?

• In the light of this Gospel passage what positive change will you adopt in your life and in your spiritual life.  How will you implement these changes?