Mark 10:32-34

There are two emotions mentioned in the passage that are interesting. The disciples were “amazed” and those following were “fearful”. These emotions cover two ends of the same spectrum. Amazement both contains and embraces the emotion of fear. While fear or phobia is on the spectrum of amazement but more of a negative view. The notation of these emotions demonstrates that the disciples were not blind to the political tension that was developing between the religious authorities and Yeshua. Going to Jerusalem for the Passover was like walking into a war zone. Yeshua validated their fears and concerns by telling them exactly what was going to take place. This is the third and most detailed of recent warnings (Mark 8:31; 9:31).

Mark 10:35-41

Matthew offers more information on this event. The mother of Jacob (James) and John was the one who made the request along with them (Matt 20:20-24). The difference in the Matthew account is a referral to “Your kingdom” instead of “Your glory”. The notation is significant. Remember, the current scene is that they were going up to Jerusalem for the Passover. Everyone was certain that something was going to happen at this Passover. Tension was extremely high.

Jacob and John were garnering for position in the coming kingdom. They believed that Yeshua was going to usher in the millennial kingdom where the Messiah would rule with an iron fist. They thought Jesus was going to set up an earthly kingdom within the next few days. This is not far removed from what Judas was soon to do. He would soon try to force Yeshua’s hand by turning him over to the chief priests. The motivation for his move appears also to be for accelerating the implementation of the earthly kingdom. Jacob and John were being proactive in making a request for position.

As a note, the word “baptism” or “baptized” is used six times in this passage. It is transliterated from the Greek into English but never translated. The word means simply “immersion”. The Complete Jewish Bible is one version that I found that translates this passage correctly:

Mark 10:37–40 (CJB)

³⁷ They replied, “When you are in your glory, let us sit with you, one on your right and the other on your left.” ³⁸ But Yeshua answered, “You don’t know what you’re asking! Can you drink the cup that I am drinking? or be immersed with the immersion that I must undergo?” ³⁹ They said to him, “We can.” Yeshua replied, “The cup that I am drinking, you will drink; and the immersion I am being immersed with, you will undergo. ⁴⁰ But to sit on my right and on my left is not mine to give. Rather, it is for those for whom it has been prepared.”

Yeshua is clearly teaching that the coming persecution will be intense. The immersion into the passion story is staggering because it blends many concepts. It includes the concepts from the Passover and intimately will fulfill each and every small detail that is involved in the Passover Seder, The Feast of Unleavened Bread, The Feast of First Fruits and The upcoming Feast of Shavuot. This is probably the most intense phase of the life of the Messiah and the most detailed. Every aspect of the above holidays will be fulfilled in minute detail. The Passover Seder will actually change meanings to turn from a deliverance from Egypt to the deliverance from the bondage of sin through Yeshua. Intense immersion is the best way to describe the upcoming events.

Mark 10:42-45

Yeshua refocuses the disciples. The coming kingdom would not be like Gentile kingdoms. He was gently letting them know that He was not setting up an earthly kingdom. His purpose was to offer his life as a ransom for many. The nature of His life was that of a servant. By redirecting the disciples, he was teaching them that to be a part of His kingdom means that they must take on His attitude of servanthood. Yeshua served man to the extreme point of offering His life as a sacrifice.

Mark 10:46-52 Sneak preview of my upcoming book! I copied and pasted from the book that I am writing on healing for the next section. The concepts from this healing are intimately involved in the nature of the Messiah. To understand the full meaning of the passage, we must take into account who the Servant Messiah was and what was expected of Him. Refocusing the disciples meant turning them back to the purpose of the Messiah:

10: Two blind men (Mt 9:27-31).

The blind men in this story are quick to call out to Yeshua as Messiah. They recognized that as the “Son of David” Yeshua was actually the “branch of David” that was prophesied (Jer 14:17).  Jeremiah said that the Messiah will cause Israel to live in righteousness.  That the Messiah will “save” Jerusalem.  Let’s consider whether or not this is the attitude actual scripture that the blind men were alluding to is beyond our ability to discern. The characteristic of the time and understanding about the Messiah scripture carries forth in their request.

The scriptures foretold that YHVH will bear the name “Yeshua” (Ps 96:2).  The mighty deeds of Yeshua are spoken of by David (Ps 71:15).  These bind men connected the dots which established that Yeshua was certainly the promised “son of David”. This led them to believe that this “son” was extraordinary, and they concluded that this was the foretold savior (Yeshua) that the scriptures spoke of.  When Yeshua questioned the Pharisees concerning the Messiah:

Matthew 22:41–46 (KJV) — “41 While the Pharisees were gathered together, Jesus asked them, 42 Saying, What think ye of Christ? whose son is he? They say unto him, The Son of David. 43 He saith unto them, How then doth David in spirit call him Lord, saying, 44 The LORD said unto my Lord, Sit thou on my right hand, till I make thine enemies thy footstool? 45 If David then call him Lord, how is he his son? 46 And no man was able to answer him a word, neither durst any man from that day forth ask him any more questions.”

The Pharisees understood that the Messiah (Christ) would certainly be the Son of David. Yeshua clarified this further by establishing that the Messiah will certainly be a Son of David (Ps 110).  However, He will be much more than a “son”, He will also be a priest according to the order of Melchizedek.  Psalm 110 is a powerful messianic Psalm. The point being that the people of the time understood clearly that the Messiah would certainly come from the lineage of David.  You can almost be certain that the reason Yeshua questioned the Pharisees concerning the Messiah was because they clearly understood and taught that the Messiah would be from the lineage of David. Yeshua gave the Pharisees a trick question that demanded an answer. The nature of question pointed to His role as Messiah, the office of Messiah was to be filled with a “son of David”, therefore if they answered, they would have to consider further that Yeshua was the Messiah.  The Pharisees quickly saw the direction of the interrogation and chose not to answer.

Blind people are often more perceptive than sighted people realize.  Their interpretation of the events around them gave them enough conviction that they were willing to shout out for healing.  These men did not remain silent but spoke out declaring what they knew to be true after the healing. This is the essence of the word “faith”. They heard of the healing of many various diseases and of the little girl being raised. Connecting the dots drew them to the conclusion that He was the promised Messiah: “Son of David”.  They acted upon the faith that they had by calling out. Faith is a verb and they were actually “faithing”.  Yeshua touched their eyes and healed them.

For the purpose of our study, these men did have faith to be healed. Blindness can be a functional issue, but in most cases, it is due to organic causes.

11: Two blind men who desired healing (Matt 20:29-34; Mk 10:46-52; Lk 18:35-42).

This story is very similar to the previous one. Yeshua’s ministry had progressed for an unknown time. The previous story took place at the beginning of His earthly ministry while this story takes place near the end of His earthly ministry. The previous story and the Bartimaeus story are almost like book ends. The elements of the story are the same with one exception. Yeshua does not command the healed men to be quiet like He did the first time..

These two men embraced the knowledge that Yeshua could heal, moved on the knowledge and were healed. They demonstrated faith in their lives that brought about healing. Their faith was so strong that they were not willing to bow to the pressure from the crowd to keep silent.

Specifically named by Mark and Luke narrow the story down to one man: Bartimaeus for loudly calling out to the Messiah for healing. Matthew does not name him and places a fellow blind man with him.  The elements of the story demonstrate that in the three synoptic Gospels, this is most likely the same event.  The reasoning for this is because it is placed just prior to the triumphal entry into Jerusalem (Matt 21:-9; Mk 11:1-10; Lk 19:29-38).

The story is incredibly similar to the previous discussion regarding the two blind men who called out to Yeshua (MT 9:27-31).. Matthew’s account carries the testimony that there was two blind men in this story while Mark and Luke only record Bartimaeus. The records of these four stories are so similar that the repetition it is compelling. Why do we have four events that are almost exactly the same?  Could it be possible that all the events are the same event. However, since Matthew records the event twice, I am more inclined to hold that the important factor involved was that the two blind men recognized that Yeshua was the promised “son of David” that was prophesied to set men free.   On this same token. Rather than reiterating what has already been said in the previous section, the blind men acted boldly upon the knowledge of who Yeshua was and believed in the fact that He could certainly heal them.  These men were certainly healed perceptive enough to realize that the Messiah was in their midst (Mk 10:52; Lk 18:42).

Yeshua healed them of their blindness according to their faith.  This was most likely an organic healing since no cause for blindness is listed.

Thanks for reading, all comments are welcomed.

Joe Turner.