What does Mark 10:38 teach about the cost of discipleship? Setting the Scene • Jesus has just foretold His death (Mark 10:33–34). • James and John ask for places of honor (Mark 10:35–37). • In response, verse 38 confronts their ambition and redirects them to the reality of discipleship. Verse Under the Microscope Mark 10:38: “You do not know what you are asking,” Jesus replied. “Can you drink the cup I drink, or be baptized with the baptism I undergo?” • “You do not know” – a loving rebuke that exposes ignorance of the true path to glory. • “Drink the cup” – an Old Testament picture of God’s wrath and suffering (Psalm 75:8; Isaiah 51:17). • “Baptized with the baptism” – immersion into overwhelming trial, ultimately His crucifixion. The Cup and Baptism: Symbols of Suffering • Both metaphors point to the same reality: identification with Christ’s sufferings. • For Jesus, the cup culminates at Gethsemane (Mark 14:36) and Calvary. • For disciples, the cup means a willingness to accept hardship, rejection, and loss for His sake. Supporting Scriptures • Luke 14:27 – “And whoever does not carry his cross and follow Me cannot be My disciple.” • John 15:20 – “If they persecuted Me, they will persecute you as well.” • Acts 14:22 – “We must endure many hardships to enter the kingdom of God.” • 2 Timothy 3:12 – “Indeed, all who desire to live godly lives in Christ Jesus will be persecuted.” • Philippians 1:29 – “It has been granted… not only to believe in Him, but also to suffer for Him.” • 1 Peter 4:12-13 – “Rejoice that you share in the sufferings of Christ…” • Romans 8:17 – “If indeed we suffer with Him, so that we may also be glorified with Him.” Implications for Today’s Disciple • Discipleship is costly: it entails surrender of personal ambition and acceptance of opposition. • Glory is preceded by suffering; the pathway for the Master is the pathway for the servant. • Assurance is embedded in the call: shared suffering leads to shared glory (Romans 8:17). Practical Takeaways • Expect hardship as normal rather than exceptional in Christian life. • View trials as participation in Christ’s mission, not random misfortune. • Exchange self-promotion for self-sacrifice, trusting God to exalt in His time (1 Peter 5:6). • Draw strength from Christ’s example and promise: suffering now, glory later (2 Corinthians 4:17). |
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