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Mark 10:35-45
Contemporary English Version
Mark 10:35-45
Contemporary English Version
The Request of James and John
(Matthew 20.20-28)
35 James and John, the sons of Zebedee, came up to Jesus and asked, “Teacher, will you do us a favor?”
36 Jesus asked them what they wanted, 37 and they answered, “When you come into your glory, please let one of us sit at your right side and the other at your left.”[a]
38 (A) Jesus told them, “You don't really know what you're asking! Are you able to drink from the cup[b] that I must soon drink from or be baptized as I must be baptized?”[c]
39 “Yes, we are!” James and John answered.
Then Jesus replied, “You certainly will drink from the cup from which I must drink. And you will be baptized just as I must! 40 But it isn't for me to say who will sit at my right side and at my left. This is for God to decide.”
41 When the ten other disciples heard this, they were angry with James and John. 42 (B) But Jesus called the disciples together and said:
You know that those foreigners who call themselves kings like to order their people around. And their great leaders have full power over the people they rule. 43 (C) But don't act like them. If you want to be great, you must be the servant of all the others. 44 And if you want to be first, you must be everyone's slave. 45 (D) The Son of Man did not come to be a slave master, but a slave who will give his life to rescue[d] many people.
Read full chapterFootnotes
- 10.37 right side … left: The most powerful people in a kingdom sat at the right and left side of the king.
- 10.38 drink from the cup: In the Scriptures a “cup” is sometimes used as a symbol of suffering. To “drink from the cup” would be to suffer.
- 10.38 as I must be baptized: Baptism is used with the same meaning that “cup” has in this verse.
- 10.45 rescue: The Greek word often, though not always, means the payment of a price to free a slave or a prisoner.
Mark 10:35-45
New International Version
Mark 10:35-45
New International Version
The Request of James and John(A)
35 Then James and John, the sons of Zebedee, came to him. “Teacher,” they said, “we want you to do for us whatever we ask.”
36 “What do you want me to do for you?” he asked.
37 They replied, “Let one of us sit at your right and the other at your left in your glory.”(B)
38 “You don’t know what you are asking,”(C) Jesus said. “Can you drink the cup(D) I drink or be baptized with the baptism I am baptized with?”(E)
39 “We can,” they answered.
Jesus said to them, “You will drink the cup I drink and be baptized with the baptism I am baptized with,(F) 40 but to sit at my right or left is not for me to grant. These places belong to those for whom they have been prepared.”
41 When the ten heard about this, they became indignant with James and John. 42 Jesus called them together and said, “You know that those who are regarded as rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and their high officials exercise authority over them. 43 Not so with you. Instead, whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant,(G) 44 and whoever wants to be first must be slave of all. 45 For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve,(H) and to give his life as a ransom for many.”(I)
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