NOTES for Mar 10:32-52
"Going up to Jerusalem," Jesus again speaks of His sufferings and His resurrection; until now the disciples had not understood His words, and Peter had even argued with Him. Now He describes everything that must happen to Him. The disciples are horrified; but have they now understood the Teacher's words?
James and John ask Jesus to give them the most honorable places in His Kingdom. According to the customs of that time, the king's chief adviser sat at his right hand; the place at the left hand was considered second in importance. Christ answers the brothers, "You do not know what you are asking," and invites them to share with Him the cup of suffering. This is what happened to the brothers: John endured persecution (see Rev. 1:9), and his brother James was killed (Acts 12:2).
Wanting to restore peace among the disciples, Christ reveals to them that requests like this make no sense: in the Kingdom of God there is no pyramid of power such as exists in every earthly kingdom, no domination in the familiar sense. Who is greatest in the Kingdom of God? The one who serves most. And the One who serves most of all is the King Himself (cf. Phil. 2:7).
Perhaps for contrast, the Evangelist Mark tells about the request of blind Bartimaeus, to which the Lord responded with the miracle of healing. How was Bartimaeus's faith shown? He calls Jesus by the messianic title "Son of David" (not everyone liked this address; many order the blind man to be silent). As he goes to Jesus, he throws off his cloak - if he had remained blind, he would never have found it again. Finally, when he receives his sight, he follows Jesus.
The Lord responded to the plea of blind Bartimaeus, but rejected the request of two of His disciples. Let us ask ourselves: "What are my prayers like?" Perhaps Jesus is saying to me too, "You do not know what you are asking"?