Luke wrote the book of Acts, and he started it this way:

"In the first book...I have dealt with all that Jesus began to do and teach," (Acts 1:1, ESV)

Luke knew Jesus' mission had begun with his life, death, burial, and resurrection -- but that he is still on his mission. His cross saves, and now he urges his church on by his Spirit, that we might engage in his mission.

Our passage today portrays Jesus on that mission. It begins with Jesus on the road to Jerusalem, the place the powers of darkness would converge to crucify him. He knew he had to go. On the way, two of his disciples make a request, and the other disciples become angry at the request. Both the request and the anger show they didn't yet understand his kingdom. In response, Jesus will teach them about how his service should motivate them to serve. He will explain why he came. Then they continue on their journey, and Jesus made a new disciple named Bartimaeus. The passage will end with Jesus -- and Bartimaeus -- back on his road, heading to his death.

It is a beautiful passage because it shows us Jesus right before his last week near Jerusalem. Death loomed, and Jesus rushes towards it. His time had come. He had to engage his mission; this is why he'd come.

In studying this section, we should long to be part of Christ's ongoing mission. As we follow him through this text, I hope we will become more strongly persuaded to follow him in our everyday lives.

Let's read.

His Road (32-34)

32 And they were on the road, going up to Jerusalem, and Jesus was walking ahead of them. And they were amazed, and those who followed were afraid. And taking the twelve again, he began to tell them what was to happen to him, 33 saying, "See, we are going up to Jerusalem, and the Son of Man will be delivered over to the chief priests and the scribes, and they will condemn him to death and deliver him over to the Gentiles. 34 And they will mock him and spit on him, and flog him and kill him. And after three days he will rise."

The Walk

Here, Mark portrays Jesus on his journey. From the valley below, Jesus and his disciples had to climb 3,500 feet to get up to Jerusalem (32). It was a solitary journey for the Lord; he walked alone ahead of the disciples (32).

Speaking of the disciples, they were amazed and afraid while on this journey. Isaiah foretold how Jesus would set his face like a rock on this journey (Isaiah 50:7). Jesus' determination and focus was ominous to these men. Intuition told them this journey to Jerusalem would be like none of their previous ventures into the holy city.

The Revelation

Mark tells us Jesus prepared his disciples for what would happen in Jerusalem. He had told them of his death twice earlier, but this time he gave them even more details. He told them the religious leaders would condemn him to death (33). He told them those religious leaders would deliver him to the Gentiles, something they had to do because they could not legally execute him -- that was Rome's purview (33). And he told them they would mock him and spit on him, and flog him (34). Then he would die and rise from the dead -- details he'd already given them.

Jesus Knew

This detail shows us the dedication of Jesus. He knew the precise details of what he was about to endure. As the Son of God, God the Son, and he knows exactly what is coming. And -- still -- he determined to go. He set his face toward the cross.

This detail shows us the courage of Christ. There is the type of courage that responds in the moment of emergency. There is no premeditation in that type of courage. Then there is the type of courage that sees the pain and heartache and cost a long way off but still heads towards it. Jesus, from eternity past, knew that even the act of creation would cost him his life. The Son was courageous, willing to suffer and die.

This detail showed the disciples -- and shows us today -- the sovereignty of God. He was in control. I don't know if you've ever read Psalm 22 before, but the detail is astounding. Many years before crucifixion had been invented, and many years before Jesus came, the psalmist laid out the details of Jesus' death.

God was in control then, just as he is in control now. Without these details, the disciples might have become convinced God's plans had been disrupted. The death of the Son of God would appear, at first glance, to be a victory for darkness. And Jesus wanted his disciples to know of God's sovereignty before chaos reigned down on him -- and them -- in Jerusalem.

Thankful

Let us be thankful. First, let us be grateful for a God who is in control. Even in chaos, he reigns supreme and is unfolding his kingdom and plan. Second, let us be thankful for a God who knowingly rushed to the cross for us. This is love. You are loved.

His Disciples (35-40)

35 And James and John, the sons of Zebedee, came up to him and said 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 And they said to him, "Grant us to sit, one at your right hand and one at your left, in your glory."

A Request

Here, we find two of Jesus' disciples respond to Jesus' announcement about his death. Their response is dense and out of touch. "Teacher," they said, "We want you to do for us whatever we ask of you" (35). We know you are about to die in Jerusalem, but we have something we want you to do for us, just a small request. Let us sit at the positions of highest honor when you come into glory (37).

They wanted the highest positions of honor in Jesus' kingdom -- to sit at the right and left hand of the King. Perhaps they thought they had a chance -- they were often in Jesus' inner circle. Maybe Peter had said enough awkward things to bump him out of the top two. Maybe they could get the positions of honor.

Now, we mustn't berate these men too harshly. They did, after all, still believe Jesus would be glorified (37). Right after he tells them of his coming death, they talk to him of his coming glory. They believe in their Messiah.

But the timing and content of this request are terrible. I think they knew as much because Matthew tells us their mother was involved in asking for this favor (Matthew 20:20-21). Their mother! This is a bad prayer.

Out of Touch Prayers

Looking back, James and John would agree with us that their request was woefully out of touch. We might castigate them for such a request, but aren't our prayers often out of touch with Jesus' mission? He has already died and risen, but now he seeks and saves that which is lost (Luke 19:10). He is working to make disciples of all nations (Matthew 28:18-20). And, though we should cast all our anxieties on him (1 Peter 5:7), we must also guard against asking amiss for our own desires (James 4:3). Instead, we should consider Jesus' mission and pray accordingly.

But Jesus wouldn't ridicule his men for their request. Instead, he interviewed them.

38 Jesus said to them, "You do not know what you are asking. Are you able to drink the cup that I drink, or to be baptized with the baptism with which I am baptized?" 39 And they said to him, "We are able." And Jesus said to them, "The cup that I drink you will drink, and with the baptism with which I am baptized, you will be baptized, 40 but to sit at my right hand or at my left is not mine to grant, but it is for those for whom it has been prepared."

They Didn't Know What They Were Asking

So Jesus told them the didn't know what they were asking (38). Can you drink my cup and partake in my baptism?

Both terms -- the cup and baptism -- speak of times of difficulty. The cup was often an emblem of God's wrath. And the baptism Jesus spoke of here was not the one he received at the Jordan River from cousin John. It is the deluge of pain, the flood of tragedy Jesus would endure on the cross.

They didn't know what he meant, so they said, "Yes, we are able" (39). And they were right. Jesus said they would partake of his cup and baptism.

Both James and John would suffer for Christ. James was the first apostle to die -- he was martyred by Herod (Acts 12:1-5). John was the last to die -- but he suffered much along the way, and his final days were spent as a persecuted prisoner on the isle of Patmos (Revelation 1:9).

Still, the positions of honor in glory were not Jesus' to grant (40). He would defer to his Father for that decision.

Incidentally, many have wondered if James and John thought back to the events of the cross with their immature request echoing in their minds. As they looked at the two criminals flanking Jesus on crosses of their own, did James and John realize the folly of their request?

His Message (41-45)

41 And when the ten heard it, they began to be indignant at James and John. 42 And Jesus called them to him and said to them, "You know that those who are considered rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and their great ones exercise authority over them. 43 But it shall not be so among you. But whoever would be great among you must be your servant, 44 and whoever would be first among you must be slave of all. 45 For even the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many."

They Needed To Serve

After hearing of their special request, the ten were angry at James and John (41). They weren't angry at their insensitivity towards Jesus or their misplaced desire for honor. They were angry to have been undercut for the positions they also craved.

So Jesus gave them yet another lesson on servanthood. This was his constant teaching for these men. He did not mind their desire to be great or first -- he was happy they wanted to excel (43, 44).

But they hadn't the first clue on how to get there in Jesus' kingdom. They needed to become servants and slaves of all (43, 44).

He had taught them about servanthood before, and he would teach them again. Even during the last supper, he took the household servant's position and washed the feet of his disciples.

"If I then, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another's feet. For I have given you an example, that you also should do just as I have done to you." (John 13:14–15, ESV)

Jesus Served

45 "For even the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many."

Jesus Served

The big example of service they needed to follow was Jesus. Even the Son of Man -- the Messiah himself -- came not to be served (45). He came, he stepped out of eternity, the glory of heaven, and did not expect to be served. He came to serve.

And his service was to give his life (45). He knew we needed his death so we might live. He gladly gave his life.

And he served humanity by giving his life as a ransom for many (45). We usually reserve the word "ransom" for paying off a kidnapper or terrorist. But it means to pay the price. Jesus' life was the price to purchase us out of our slavery to sin. His death sets us free from ours. His life is our life.

We Must Serve

With all this in mind, it must be assumed that a hallmark of Christ-followers today is service. Jesus served by laying down his life. He told his disciples to be great by serving. So it is a mark of true Christianity when we serve today.

We need to serve. Why? Because all too often we read books and collect preachers who tell us it's all about us, and their messages are designed to help "empower" us -- all this comes from a culture drunk on power. But is that what Jesus came to teach? Instead, he promotes a power from above that embraces weakness and expresses itself in love.

But how are we to serve? How are we to reject the patterns of power often found in the world? Jesus was conscious of how the "Gentiles" did things. How can we serve, Jesus-style?

First, consider Jesus. He came as the slave and servant of all, but he did not attempt to do everything there was to be done. He left the earth with people unhealed and nations unreached. He had his role to play, and he would not be distracted from the mission the Father gave him. These disciples followed this pattern in the early days of the church, refusing to involve themselves in tasks that took them away from prayer and teaching (Acts 6). Like Jesus and these disciples, we must know who we are and what we're meant for on earth. Then, serve humanity by doing those things.

Second, have a broad vision of service. We too often read passages like these and assume we must sign up for Calvary Kids. But we would be mistaken if we confined Jesus' commission to a life of service only to Sunday mornings or our church-life. Instead, you should see everything you do as an act of service to others. If you're a golf-professional, serve the people around you. If you're in finance, serve. If you're in education, serve. If you're in the military, serve our nation. And, by all means, in every relationship, take a posture of service.

Third, serve in Calvary Kids -- or other church-related ministries. To lead a life group, to serve the next generation, or to help the congregation congregate, is a joy. Serve.

His New Disciple (46-52)

46 And they came to Jericho. And as he was leaving Jericho with his disciples and a great crowd, Bartimaeus, a blind beggar, the son of Timaeus, was sitting by the roadside. 47 And when he heard that it was Jesus of Nazareth, he began to cry out and say, "Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!" 48 And many rebuked him, telling him to be silent. But he cried out all the more, "Son of David, have mercy on me!" 49 And Jesus stopped and said, "Call him." And they called the blind man, saying to him, "Take heart. Get up; he is calling you." 50 And throwing off his cloak, he sprang up and came to Jesus.

51 And Jesus said to him, "What do you want me to do for you?" And the blind man said to him, "Rabbi, let me recover my sight." 52 And Jesus said to him, "Go your way; your faith has made you well." And immediately he recovered his sight and followed him on the way.

The Meeting

As they journeyed, they passed through Jericho (46). On their way out of town, a crowd gathered around them. It was almost time for the Passover, and many priests lived in Jericho, so the road would have been packed with travelers and well-wishers. And there was a buzz surrounding this Galilean rabbi.

A blind beggar named Bartimaeus sat on the roadside, collecting anything he could from the travelers. When he heard Jesus of Nazareth was passing by, he called out to him (46).

The Title

The title Bartimaeus gives Jesus is central to the story. "Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!" (47). He believed Jesus was the Son of David. It's the only time in the gospel of Mark someone gives Jesus that title. It is messianic. It indicates Jesus is the King they all waited for, the one who descended from David!

It is a remarkable confession. And Mark does little things to let us know he felt it was significant. This is the last recorded healing miracle of Jesus. It is the only time the person's name is recorded. And it the last event before the passion week. Mark knew it was important.

All through Mark, Jesus silenced people. Why? Because they hadn't really understood him. Religious leaders, the crowds, and even the disciples didn't get it. But Bartimaeus gets it. He knows Jesus is the Son of David.

In other words, the blind man saw, he understood, while the sighted were actually blind. They could not see.

The Request

So Jesus calls the man over and asks him the same question he'd asked James and John earlier on the road: "What do you want me to do for you? (51).

I love that Bartimaeus didn't hesitate. He knew what he wanted from the Lord. Immediately, he asked for his sight. He didn't want wealth or power, but his vision.

Now, some of you might wonder what the difference is between his request and the James and John's? Jesus asked both of them, what do you want me to do for you?

One difference is found in Bartimaeus' response. He had already cast aside his beggar's garment -- he wouldn't need that anymore! And Jesus said he had faith Jesus would heal him. But then, after receiving his sight, he followed Jesus on the way (52). Our passage today began with Jesus on his road to the cross, and now Bartimaeus decides to follow him there.

This guy was a new follower of Christ. He would follow the Servant-Savior. He would join Jesus on his ominous trek to Mt. Calvary. The others might have been afraid and amazed, but Bartimaeus was ready for the ride.

So his request wasn't meant for personal glory, but personal discipleship. He wanted to better devote himself to the Son of David and join his team.

What about you? What requests do you have for Jesus? Are they veiling desires for personal prestige and power? Or are they meant with the hope you'll be able to follow him better? Let's get on that road with Jesus!