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Two Followers Ask Jesus a Favor(A)

35 Then James and John, sons of Zebedee, came to Jesus and said, “Teacher, we want ·to ask you to do something for us [you to do whatever we ask].”

36 Jesus asked, “What do you want me to do for you?”

37 They answered, “Let one of us sit at your right side and one of us sit at your left side in your glory [C the messianic kingdom].”

38 Jesus said, “You don’t understand what you are asking. Can you drink the cup that I must drink? And can you be baptized with the same kind of baptism that I must go through?” [C Both “cup” and “baptism” symbolize suffering, and perhaps God’s judgment experienced by Jesus on the cross; Jer. 25:15–29.]

39 They answered, “Yes, we can.”

Jesus said to them, “You will drink the same cup that I will drink, and you will be baptized with the same baptism that I must go through. 40 But ·I cannot choose [it is not for me to grant/say] who will sit at my right or my left; those places belong to those for whom they have been prepared.”

41 When ·the other ten followers [L the ten] heard this, they began to be ·angry [indignant] with James and John.

42 Jesus called them together and said, “You know that the rulers of ·other nations [the Gentiles] love to ·show their power [lord it] over the people, and their ·important leaders [high officials; L great ones] love to ·use [exert] their authority [L over them]. 43 But it ·should not be [must not be; is not to be] that way among you. [Instead, L But] Whoever wants to become great among you must ·serve the rest of you like a servant [L be your servant]. 44 Whoever wants to become the first among you must ·serve all of you like a slave [L be your slave]. 45 In the same way, the Son of Man did not come to be served. He came to serve others and to give his life as a ransom for many people [Is. 53:12; John 11:49–50].”

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35 [a](A)James and John, the two sons of Zebedee, *came up to [b]Jesus, saying to Him, “Teacher, we want You to do for us whatever we ask of You.” 36 And He said to them, “What do you want Me to do for you?” 37 They said to Him, “[c]Grant that we (B)may sit, one on Your right and one on Your left, in Your glory.” 38 But Jesus said to them, “You do not know what you are asking. Are you able (C)to drink the cup that I drink, or (D)to be baptized with the baptism with which I am baptized?” 39 They said to Him, “We are able.” And Jesus said to them, “The cup that I drink (E)you shall drink; and you shall be baptized with the baptism with which I am baptized. 40 But to sit on My right or on My left is not Mine to give; (F)but it is for those for whom it has been prepared.”

41 (G)Hearing this, the other ten began to feel indignant with [d]James and John. 42 Calling them to Himself, Jesus *said to them, “You know that those who are recognized as rulers of the Gentiles domineer over them; and their [e]people in high position exercise authority over them. 43 But it is not this way among you; (H)rather, whoever wants to become [f]prominent among you shall be your servant; 44 and whoever wants to be first among you shall be slave of all. 45 For even the Son of Man (I)did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His [g]life as a ransom for many.”

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Footnotes

  1. Mark 10:35 Or Jacob
  2. Mark 10:35 Lit Him
  3. Mark 10:37 Lit Give to us
  4. Mark 10:41 Or Jacob
  5. Mark 10:42 Lit great ones
  6. Mark 10:43 Lit great
  7. Mark 10:45 Or soul