2024_11_15 Insight Post- Michael Thayer
This week’s reading- Matthew 20:20-28, Matthew 27:56, Mark 10:35-45, Mark 15:40-41, Mark 16:1-8
In the books of Matthew and Mark, Jesus asks the question of James and John “Can you drink from the cup I drink or be baptized with the baptism I am baptized with?” With the benefit of the full story of the gospel and Jesus’s life, death, and resurrection, we still cannot fathom the incredible suffering and pain Jesus endured on behalf of all of us. When James and John responded in Mark 10:38 with an unequivocal “We can,” no questions asked (such as “Could you please tell us what that means, exactly?”), they could seem to us, possibly naive and lacking humility.
However, having lived and literally walked with Christ, they knew they were ready to follow Him anywhere He would lead. With their unmeasured “We can” reply, it seems that they were prepared to do anything He would ask, including drink from the cup without knowing its contents or their ability to stomach the implications. We know that Jesus is the only one, sinless and blameless, who could have made that sacrifice for all of us.
While James and John’s request first looked to me to be a play for power, after some review and study, I can also view their request as an expression of their faith and devotion to Christ and their desire to remain close to him. Am I, are we, as faithful? Those who know me well know that if I were in the position of James and John, I would have likely asked a series of questions to clearly understand what Jesus meant before I would have answered “I can!”
Lord, help me to follow you without knowing what is next and what you will require of me.
Michael Thayer
Leadership Team Member