Mark 10:32-41 records a very interesting interplay between Jesus and the apostles. While they were walking together up to Jerusalem, Jesus begins to tell them what will happen to Him.
Behold, we are going up to Jerusalem, and the Son of Man will be delivered to the chief priests and the scribes; and they will condemn Him to death and will hand Him over to the Gentiles. They will mock Him and spit on Him, and scourge Him and kill Him, and three days later He will rise again.
-Mark 10:33-34
Jesus seems to attempt two things here. First, He is trying to prepare the twelve for what is ahead. The crucifixion was going to be a pivotal moment. The chief priests were going to have Him executed in the cruelest way possible in hopes of squashing whatever following He had. The twelve would be incomplete. The remaining eleven would cower in fear. However, Jesus also wants them to know that His death is not the end. God’s plan included raising Jesus from the dead. This resurrection won’t be at the end of time but on a deadline-three days. He wants the twelve to take courage in this. He wants them prepared when the Jewish bitter herbs hit the fan.
Second, Jesus may also wish to be comforted and encouraged. Death is a tough event to deal with, especially a proverbial death sentence in the prime of life. There is one major exception here though. Jesus was facing an actual death sentence for crimes He did not commit! While He knew the cross (and resurrection) was the purpose of His earthly existence, to assume this thrilled Him would be misguided. Consider the prayer in the Garden of Gethsemane before the arrest, mock trial, and crucifixion.
And He went a little beyond them, and fell to the ground and began to pray that if it were possible, the hour might pass Him by. And He was saying, “Abba! Father! All things are possible for You; remove this cup from Me; yet not what I will, but what You will.” -Mark 14:35-36
Here is the problem. The apostles are not listening. They are in “la-la” land. There are more important things on their minds than hearing what their Master has to say. James and John are too concerned with their own power, authority, and dominion. The other ten are consumed with indignation possibly because they wanted the positions of power for themselves and were too coy to ask.
Are we too much like the apostles? Do we listen to what Jesus has to tell us, or are we too self-absorbed and arrogant to really pay attention? Jesus has left us commands to follow. Jesus has set us a perfect example of how to please the Father. Jesus has given us the magnificent promises of God to aid us through the temptations and struggles of life.
I am the door; if anyone enters through Me, he will be saved, and will go in and out and find pasture. The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I cam that they may have life, and have it abundantly. -John 10:9-10
Are we listening? We should be.