Mark 10:32-52   Mark brings us upon another scene.. "and they were on the road, going up to Jerusalem.."  

There was something about the way Jesus was walking that "amazed" the disciples and made the followers all "afraid".   Mark tells us that Jesus "was walking on ahead of them."   Luke 9:51 tells of Christ setting "his face to go to Jerusalem".. and this is what we see in Mark's scene..  A determination; a firmly fixed resolution.. a steadfast confirmation seen in His countenance.  It was both amazing and frightening to His followers. 

Jesus took aside the 12 and once again explained to them what was about to happen.  He would be delivered up.. He would be condemned to death.. He would be mocked and spit upon and scourged.. He would be killed.  And.. He would rise again on the third day! 

James and John, at least realized that something great was about to happen.  Whether or not they were sure of all the Jesus said.. they believed He was about to "sit in [His] glory.."  And.. they wanted to be part of that!  They went to Jesus to ask for Him to do what they wanted Him to do for them... to give them the privileged seats at His right and left side.  Jesus said to them, " You do not know what you are asking for. " 

They didn't know that they were asking to drink the cup that Jesus was about to drink.. to be baptized with the baptism He was about to experience. They thought they could.. but they didn't know how hard it would be.  Jesus did grant them the privilege of suffering for Him.. but He did not promise them the privilege that they wanted of sitting on His right and left side.. for those positions were given to those "for whom it has been prepared."  James was one of the first apostles killed for preaching about Jesus.  John was perhaps the last.. after being exiled to Patmos for the same reason.  They drank the cup.. they were baptized by the fire of persecution.. all for the name of Jesus.   We do not know where they are sitting now.. but  we do know that it is in His glory!

The other disciples didn't like James and John asking for recognition from Jesus for eternity.. but before an argument could break out again, Jesus repeated what He had already taught them.. In His Kingdom the greatest are those who are the servants.. not the lords.  "And even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life a ransom for many." 

One more scene on the road to Jerusalem comes in verses 46-52.  Bartimaeus... a blind beggar was sitting along the road when Jesus came by.  As soon as he heard that Jesus of Nazareth was coming "he began to cry out and say,  'Jesus, thou Son of David, have mercy on me.' "  Even when others tried to quiet him, Bartimaeus continued to cry out. even more.. until Jesus called for him.  "And he, casting away his garment, rose and came to Jesus. "  When Jesus asked him what he wanted Him to do for him.. there was no hesitation, "Lord, that I might receive my sight." 

Jesus did not touch Bartimaeus.. he simply said, "Go your way, your faith has made you well. "  Bartimaeus received his sight that day.. and then he followed Jesus. 

The disciples asked for privileged positions, the blind man asked for mercy.  Jesus called for His disciples to serve.. and they did.. with their whole lives. . He told Bartimaeus to go his way and he received sight to follow Jesus. 

Father in heaven, we come to You, asking for spiritual sight and hearts to serve.  Teach us Your way..  each of us individually.. and grant us faith to keep walking on Your path until that day when are also at the feet of Jesus sitting in His glory! Thank You for having mercy on us.. calling us out of darkness and into Your Light. May Your will be done in us today, Lord. Amen.