What Is Your Ambition? – Mark 10:32-52
10 (32) They were on their way up to Jerusalem, and Jesus was going ahead of them. The disciples were astonished; and those who followed them were afraid. Jesus again took the Twelve aside and began to tell them what was going to happen to him. (33) He said, Listen, we are going up to Jerusalem; but the Son of man will be betrayed to the chief priests and the scribes; they shall condemn him to death, and hand him over to the Gentiles. (34) The Gentiles shall mock him, and spit on him, and scourge him, and kill him; but after three days he shall rise again.
(35) Then James and John, the sons of Zebedee, came near to him and said, Teacher, we want you to do for us whatever we shall ask you. (36) He said to them, What do you want me to do for you? (37) They said to him, Grant that we may sit with you in your glory—one at your right hand and one at your left hand. (38) But Jesus said to them, You do not know what you are asking. Are you able to drink the cup that I am about to drink? Or to be baptized with the baptism with which I am about to be baptized? (39) They said to him, We are able. Then Jesus said to them, The cup that I drink, you shall drink; and the baptism with which I am baptized, with that baptism shall you also be baptized. (40) But to sit at my right hand or at my left hand is not mine to give; on the contrary, it is for those for whom it has been prepared.
(41) Now when the other ten disciples heard about this, they began to be indignant against James and John. (42) Then Jesus called them to himself and said to them, You know that those who are recognized as rulers among the Gentiles lord it over their subjects; and their high officials rule over them with tyranny. (43) But it must not be like that among you. On the contrary, whoever desires to be great among you, shall be your minister; (44) and whoever desires to be first among you, shall be servant of all; (45) for, indeed, the Son of man came not to receive ministry, but to minister, and to give his life a ransom for many.
(46) Then they came to Jericho. Now as Jesus was leaving Jericho, along with his disciples and a large crowd of people, a blind beggar, named Bartimaeus, (whose name means, the son of Timaeus), was sitting by the roadside. (47) When he heard that it was Jesus of Nazareth, he began to cry out, Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me. (48) But many people rebuked him, ordering him to keep quiet. But he cried out all the more, Son of David, have mercy on me. (49) Then Jesus stood still and said, Call him. So they called the blind man and said to him, Take courage. Get up; he is calling for you. (50) Throwing aside his garment, the blind man leaped to his feet and came to Jesus. (51) Then Jesus asked him, What do you want me to do for you? And the blind man said to him, Rabbi, I want to receive my sight. (52) Jesus said to him, Go your way; your faith has healed you. Immediately he received his sight, and followed him along the road.
Now proceed to the next section of this study, entitled, Exploring the Passage.
