What Jesus Did! 'Are You Able?!' — Mark 10:36-38

Sunday, July 28, 2024

"What is your request?" [Jesus] asked.

[James and John] replied, "When you sit on your glorious throne, we want to sit in places of honor next to you, one on your right and the other on your left."

But Jesus said to them, "You don't know what you are asking! Are you able to drink from the bitter cup of suffering I am about to drink? Are you able to be baptized with the baptism of suffering I must be baptized with?"

— Mark 10:36-38 NLT

Key Thought

Before we overestimate what we would actually do to serve the Lord, we had better look at some who failed him miserably. This retrospective is not to discourage us, but to humble us and remind us of how difficult it is to let faith triumph over fear and trust win over trial. We will not succeed on our own, but with the help of the Lord and the encouragement of each other and by God's grace, we can remain faithful even unto the point of death.

Today's Prayer

O God, I confess that I cannot serve you alone. My strength is not sufficient. Looking at the great heroes of faith who came before me and who paid the ultimate price, I'm sure that I don't have the strength to pay the ultimate price on my own. I sometimes have trouble even in my efforts to serve you and others. So, dear Father, I turn to you and the power of the Holy Spirit to sustain me. I ask that the encouragement and support of your people will help uphold me. I promise to do my best, but I also know that without your grace, my best is not sufficient. So please strengthen my courage and inspire my strength. In Jesus' name, I pray. Amen.

Related Scripture Readings

  • Mark 14:37-39
  • 1 Peter 5:6-11
  • Joshua 2:11

Have thoughts on this devotional? Leave a comment

3 Related Resources by Heartlight

A Favor Please
Devo: What Jesus Did!
"Then James and John, the sons of Zebedee, came over and spoke to [Jesus]. "Teacher," they said, "we want you to do us a favor." "What is your..."
You Will Share My Cup!
Devo: What Jesus Did!
"But Jesus said to [James and John], "... Are you able to drink from the bitter cup of suffering I am about to drink? Are you able to be baptized with...."
Cruciformed #5: The Power of Small
Article by Phil Ware
Jesus’ disciples were clueless. Even worse, they were unwilling to accept that the role of exaltation for Jesus and his followers involved the cross of Golgotha! Phil Ware continues his series on the Cruciformed disciple, focusing this week on the power of the small.

Illustration

Illustration of Mark 10:36-38 NLT — "You don't know what you are asking! Are you able to drink from the bitter cup of suffering I am about to drink? Are you able to be baptized with the baptism of suffering I must be baptized with?"

Other Devotionals from Heartlight for Sunday, July 28, 2024

Morning & Evening
The classic twice-daily devotional from Charles H. Spurgeon.
Evening Thought: Jeremiah 32:17
"At the very time when the Chaldeans surrounded Jerusalem, and when the sword, famine and pestilence had desolated the land, Jeremiah was commanded by...."
Unstoppable!
A one-year devotional guide through the book of Acts.
'The Encourager Sent to Encourage' (Acts 11:22-24)
"When the church at Jerusalem heard what had happened [with the spread of the Good News to both Jews and Gentiles], they sent Barnabas to Antioch...."
A Year with Jesus
A devotional to help reclaim Jesus as the daily Lord of our lives.
'Servants to the Nations'
"Dear Friend, Two powerful themes from the Bible converge in this one story in today's Scripture about Philip and the Ethiopian dignitary:After My..."
Praying with Paul
Features the apostle Paul's writings turned into daily, powerful prayers.
'Heirs of Abraham' (Ga. 3:1-14)
"Dear Father, Thank you for giving us your Spirit, not through works of law but through faith in our hearts. Even Abraham was saved by faith, for he....."

About This Devotional

What Jesus Did! is a series of one-year devotional guides through each gospel, using one short scripture passage each day and following the Gospel in sequential order. Each devotional consists of a scripture passage and a reflection and a prayer which open up the day's scripture and show how it challenges you to live for Jesus.

What Jesus Did! is written by Phil Ware and is available in book form.

Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright ©1996, 2004, 2007, 2013, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.

More What Jesus Did!