Mark 10:37-41: a reflection

37They said to him, “Grant to us that we may sit, one at your right hand and one at your left hand, in your glory.” 38But Jesus said to them, “You don’t know what you are asking. Are you able to drink the cup that I drink, and to be baptized with the baptism that I am baptized with?” 39They said to him, “We are able.” Jesus said to them, “You shall indeed drink the cup that I drink, and you shall be baptized with the baptism that I am baptized with; 40but to sit at my right hand and at my left hand is not mine to give, but for whom it has been prepared.” 41When the ten heard it, they began to be indignant toward James and John.

James and John ask Jesus for the places of honor at his right and left in his glory. Jesus responds not by granting or simply refusing, but by pointing to the path that leads there: Are you able to drink the cup that I drink? They say they are able; and Jesus tells them, You will indeed drink the cup that I drink. The way to share in Christ's glory, he shows them, is to share in his cup, the cup of suffering; there is no shortcut to glory that goes around the cup.

Notice what Jesus tells James and John about the path to glory: it runs through the cup. They wanted the glory, the places of honor; and Jesus does not simply deny them, but points them to the cup, the suffering that the path to glory involves. You will drink my cup, he says; sharing his glory means sharing his suffering. There is no path to the glory of Christ that avoids the cup of Christ; the way up runs through the way of the cross.

That is a truth we would often rather avoid: that following Christ to glory involves sharing his cup of suffering. We want the glory, the reward, the honor; but we would rather not have the cup, the suffering, the cross. Yet Jesus tells his disciples plainly: you will drink my cup. Sharing in Christ's glory means sharing in his sufferings; the path to glory runs through the cup, not around it. Do not seek a following of Christ that has the glory without the cup, the reward without the suffering; there is no such path. Be willing, as James and John would be, to drink the cup that Christ drank, to share in his sufferings, knowing that this is the path to sharing in his glory. The way to glory runs through the cup; do not seek to avoid the cup while grasping for the glory, but be willing to share Christ's sufferings, which are the path to sharing his glory.

Lord Jesus, when James and John asked for the places of honor in your glory, you pointed them to the path that leads there: are you able to drink the cup that I drink? and you told them, you will indeed drink my cup; the way to share your glory is to share your cup of suffering. Show me that truth I would often rather avoid: that following you to glory involves sharing your cup of suffering. I want the glory, the reward, the honor; but I would rather not have the cup, the suffering, the cross. Yet you tell your disciples plainly: you will drink my cup. Sharing in your glory means sharing in your sufferings; the path to glory runs through the cup, not around it. Keep me from seeking a following of you that has the glory without the cup, the reward without the suffering; there is no such path. Make me willing, as James and John would be, to drink the cup that you drank, to share in your sufferings, knowing that this is the path to sharing in your glory. The way to glory runs through the cup; keep me from seeking to avoid the cup while grasping for the glory, Lord, and make me willing to share your sufferings, which are the path to sharing your glory.