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JESUS PREPARES TO DIE (I)
THURSDAY, AUGUST 21
Mark 10:32-45

Philippians 3:7-11

 

“…Behold, we go up to Jerusalem;
and the Son of man shall be

delivered unto the chief priests.…”

 

JESUS PREPARES TO DIE (I)
 
The situation had become very solemn and grave. It was time to go up to Jerusalem. “Going up” to Jerusalem in pilgrim language meant not just the walking up to the hill-top city, but also the offering up of a sacrifice in God’s temple there (Ps 122). Jesus was going up to Jerusalem to offer Himself up as a Sacrifice for the sins of the world (Isa 53:10; John 1:29). Jesus in perfect obedience was all set to accomplish His Father’s redemptive mission as foretold by the Old Testament prophets.
 
Jesus told the disciples exactly what would happen to Him in Jerusalem: “…the Son of man shall be betrayed [and] shall be delivered unto the chief priests, and unto the scribes; and they shall condemn him to death, and shall deliver him to the Gentiles: [to be] spitefully entreated: And they shall mock him, and shall scourge him, and shall spit upon him, and shall kill [crucify] him: and the third day he shall rise again.”
 
Here we find the sons of Zebedee with their mother requesting from Jesus the two highest positions in His kingdom. They pictured Jesus sitting on the throne of His glory, and desired the left and right seats of power. In other words, when Jesus becomes Prime Minister of Israel, they would like to be first and second deputy prime ministers respectively. This was requested in the presence of their fellow disciples. What audacity! It is no wonder that the ten, when they heard it, were seething with indignation.
 
THOUGHT: “Ambition is the mother of dissensions.” (Calvin)

PRAYER: Father, I would rather be a doorkeeper in Thy house.

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