The Cup And Baptism Of Jesus

Mark 10:35-41

In our text James and John (along with their mother as recorded in Matthew) come to Jesus seeking him for position and power in the coming kingdom. Jesus responds to them with a two answers: “Can you drink of the cup that I drink of? Will you be baptized with the baptism that I am baptized with?” The answers to these questions seem easy and obvious. “We can!” Jesus then said “You shall indeed drink of the cup that I drink of: and with baptism that I will be baptized with. But to sit at my right hand and on my left hand is not mine to give, but shall be given to them for whom it is prepared.”

They obviously didn’t know what they were asking and would later realize that what they thought the baptism and cup were was nothing like they imagined. Their idea of the messiah at first was completely misunderstood and so their aspirations were misguided. It was only after the cross that they come to realize that Jesus came to overthrow the devil and his power and position over mankind through sin and death instead of conquering Rome with its power and position over the nation of Israel.

Following Jesus in his kingdom is more about service than it is rule. The disciples were constantly arguing about who would be the greatest among them not having a clear understanding about what Christianity is all about. It’s not pomp and circumstance but it is about following. It is about serving. Not one following and serving his or her selfish goals and ideas, but it’s about suffering (the cup) and death (the baptism).

In this answer that Jesus gives we have a glimpse into two precious sacraments that we as Christians hold dear: The Lord’s Supper and Water Baptism. We eat of the bread and drink the cup of the fruit of the vine not only as a means of remembering and longing, but actually partaking of his sufferings on the cross in the spirit. That’s why it’s important that we do so in a “worthy manner.” 1 Corinthians 11:27,28 When rightly done in the spirit we imagine ourselves with and in Christ on the cross that day dying to sin that we may be like him in the power of his resurrection. Philippians 3:10

In Baptism we are identifying with his resurrected life as well. When we come to Christ in faith we know that there has been a heart change. There has also been a change of mind and attitude and this is an inward work of the Spirit. Jesus called it being born again. John 3:3 But this inward change it demonstrated outwardly by the sacrament of water baptism as a message to all the world that one is now a follower of Jesus and had died to sin and now “walking in the newness of life.” (Read Romans 6:1-6)

There has been a great misunderstanding and representation of Christianity in the west over the last 50 years. Men and woman have paraded themselves on the stage bragging about their prosperity and blessings they have gain in material things. It has been known as the health, wealth, prosperity movement and has done more harm to Christianity than good. It has introduced a Jesus and a gospel that is simply not found in the Bible. The reality of it all is when you become a Christian you may lose instead of gaining. You may have to quit your job, leave your hometown, travel to foreign lands, and lose things things that are precious to you. In fact you may lose your life! The true blessing and the fullness of joy is not in things but in a relationship with Jesus!

This is what James and John came to understand. After living a life with Jesus and for Jesus they would not have not traded the cup and baptism for position and power. They learn that to suffer for him is to reign with him and to die for him is to live with him forever! They may or may not be sitting next to him on his throne but I bet they see him on his throne!

Pastor Robby