"What do you want Me to do for you?" (Mark 10:36, 51)James and John's request to sit beside Jesus in His glory vs Blind Bartimaeus's request to simply see.
Were James and John's request one that is really blinded by their own desires? I had thought that this desire was a good one. Didn't the Bible also tell us that we would reign with Jesus? Maybe they sincerely wanted to be with Jesus in His glory? Don't we all want?
And when Jesus asked them, "Are you able....," they had answered straightaway, "We are able." It seemed to me that they have thought it before and had decided on their answer even before this. Which made me wonder, will I even dare to answer Jesus, "Yes, Lord, I am able."?
I also noticed another contrast made in today's chapter. The rich young ruler was reluctant to give up all his possessions, and went away sorrowful (Mark 10:22). Peter and the others left all and followed Jesus (Mark 10:28).
The disciples were astonished when Jesus commented that it is hard for the rich to enter the kingdom of God, and asked, "Who then can be saved?" (Mark 10:26) And then we have Peter, as though trying to make a claim, "See, we have left all and followed You." (Mark 10:28)
And Jesus, kind and compassionate, reassured them, that whoever left all to follow Him will receive a hundredfold in this time and eternal life in the age to come. (I really think that Jesus is wonderful.... He knows our weaknesses and comforts us in our weakness!)
But He also did not withhold the truth from us... that persecutions will come along as well in this life... and that we will never know what happen in the end... only those who endured to the end will be saved.
One question: when Jesus mentioned about taking up the cross (Mark 10:21; 8:34), what did the people understand then?
Did the cross meant something to the people back then? I always thought the cross was simply a mode of punishment used by the Roman government or something? If that is the case, what would "taking up the cross" mean to them?
One last question: How do we receive the kingdom of God as a little child? (Mark 10:15) I need to know otherwise I might not enter it! :O
(http://www.closerdaybyday.info/2011/01/mark-10/)
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