Mar 10:38-40 | TNotes | STEP | 10:38 The two brothers didn’t know what they were asking: To share in his glory, they must share in his suffering as servants. • to drink from the bitter cup: Drinking from a cup is often associated with suffering and death (Ps 75:8 ; Isa 51:17 , 22 ; Jer 25:15 ; 49:12 ; Lam 4:21 ; see also Mark 14:24 , 36 ). • The baptism of suffering recalls Jesus’ total commitment to God’s calling at his baptism, and it speaks of the believer’s own baptism into Jesus’ death, burial, and resurrection (Rom 6:3-5 ; Col 2:12 ).

a10:38►

bPs 75:8►

cIsa 51:17►

d22►

eJer 25:15►

f49:12►

gLam 4:21►

hMark 14:24►

i36►

jRom 6:3-5►

kCol 2:12►

l10:39►

mActs 12:1-5►

nMark 10:45►

o15:34►

p10:40►

q13:32►

‏ Mark 10:38-40

10:38 ^a The two brothers didn’t know what they were asking: To share in his glory, they must share in his suffering as servants.

• to drink from the bitter cup: Drinking from a cup is often associated with suffering and death (Ps 75:8 ^b; Isa 51:17 ^c, 22 ^d; Jer 25:15 ^e; 49:12 ^f; Lam 4:21 ^g; see also Mark 14:24 ^h, 36 ⁱ).

• The baptism of suffering recalls Jesus’ total commitment to God’s calling at his baptism, and it speaks of the believer’s own baptism into Jesus’ death, burial, and resurrection (Rom 6:3-5 ^j; Col 2:12 ^k).
10:39 ^l James and John did indeed drink a bitter cup ... of suffering for Jesus. James died for his faith (Acts 12:1-5 ^m). John died an old man, having experienced persecution (Tertullian, The Soul 50; Jerome, Commentary on Galatians 6, 10). Yet the death of James and John was not the same as that of Jesus—no believer can die Jesus’ death as a vicarious sacrifice for the sins of the world (Mark 10:45 ⁿ) or experience the divine wrath as he did (15:34 ^o).
10:40 ^p Whatever James and John would experience, Jesus did not have the authority to grant their request. Only God the Father could (see also 13:32 ^q).