- Did you have opportunity this past week to struggle with Jesus’ idea that wealth is an impediment to entering the kingdom of God?
- Read the text aloud to each other.
- Why are the disciples amazed, and the crowds afraid as Jesus led the way to Jerusalem?
- Spend a bit of time discussion Jesus’ third prophecy about his coming suffering, death, and resurrection. Try to put yourself into the perspective of the disciples, or the followers. Who does the betraying/delivering over? What is the role of the Jewish leaders? The Gentile leaders? How does the promised rising strike you?
- When have James and John been mentioned specifically so far in Mark’s narrative? Discuss what they ask of Jesus, and why they are making their request in private, apart from the other ten disciples? What is James and John’s understanding of Jesus’ ‘glory’?
- What do we learn about Jesus ‘glory’, or his kingdom, by his response to James and John?
- Why were the ten so indignant?
- Discuss the contrast Jesus draws between Gentile rulers, and his expectations for the way he intends his followers to exercise authority.
- How does Jesus himself live out his description of kingdom authority and servanthood?
Application reflections
- What is our experience with authority? How was authority exercised in your family when you were a child? In your family now? How is authority exercised where you work? How do you see authority being exercised in our church?
- Have you ever experienced someone serving you in the way Jesus describes? Please share this experience. Have you ever served someone else in the way Jesus describes? Please share this experience.
- How would our families, work, social life, our church, our community be transformed if we practiced Jesus’ command that “It shall not be so among you. But however would be great among you must be your servant…”.
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