These small group studies of the gospel of Mark 10:28-45 contain commentary, cross-references, Bible study discussion questions, and applications to encourage life change. Visit our library of inductive Bible studies for more practical studies on this and other books of the Bible you can use in your small group.
Mark 10:28-45 Bible Study – Persecution, Rewards, and Serving
Outline
I. Making sacrifices for Christ will be rewarded (28-31)
II. Jesus reminded His disciples of the suffering He was going to face (32-34)
III. Be a servant of all (35-45)
I. Making sacrifices for Christ will be rewarded (28-31)
Discussion Questions
• Was Peter accurate when he said they left all for Christ? What had they left for Him? What does this show about them?
• How did Jesus respond to this?
• What do we need to give up for Christ in general?
• Is there anything specific God is calling you to give up for Him?
• What would the disciples’ reward be?
• What does verse 30 mean?
• What other consequences would there be for following Christ?
Cross-References
On Rewards:
James 1:12 – Blessed is the man who remains steadfast under trial, for when he has stood the test he will receive the crown of life, which God has promised to those who love him.
Colossians 3:23-24 – Whatever you do, work heartily, as for the Lord and not for men, knowing that from the Lord you will receive the inheritance as your reward. You are serving the Lord Christ.
Matthew 16:27 – For the Son of Man is going to come with his angels in the glory of his Father, and then he will repay each person according to what he has done.
On Persecution:
2 Timothy 3:12 – Indeed, all who desire to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted.
John 15:18 – “If the world hates you, know that it has hated me before it hated you.
Matthew 5:10 – Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
2 Corinthians 4:8-12 – We are afflicted in every way, but not crushed; perplexed, but not driven to despair; persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed; always carrying in the body the death of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus may also be manifested in our bodies. For we who live are always being given over to death for Jesus’ sake, so that the life of Jesus also may be manifested in our mortal flesh. So death is at work in us, but life in you.
Verse by Verse Commentary
1. We have left everything and followed you –
This passage immediately follows Jesus’ encounter with the rich young ruler who valued his possessions more than a relationship with Christ.
Peter once again spoke up. The rich man had been unwilling to give up his material possessions in order to follow Jesus. While the disciples didn’t have as much, Peter points out they had been willing to give up what they had for Jesus. Notice Peter doesn’t say “I,” but “we.” This shows that he is acting as the spokesman for the disciples, which he often did.
Peter was accurate in his statement. They had given up everything for Jesus. They left their jobs as fishermen. They left their homes to travel about the region preaching. They left behind the comforts of their life as they encountered many hardships traveling with Jesus.
They gave up the admiration and respect of many people, who now persecuted them for their faith in Jesus and would persecute them even more after Jesus’ ascension. They gave up their careers and earthly ambitions. While most were unwilling to give up everything and follow Jesus, this is exactly what the disciples did. They were willing to follow Jesus wherever it led them. Eventually, it led them across much of the known world and into many dangers and persecutions. Finally, it cost many of them their lives.
This is one of the best qualities of the disciples. Yes, they had many weaknesses. They were sometimes slow to learn. Their faith was often weak. But they followed Jesus when few would.
A Chinese idiom says that the first person to eat a crab must have been very brave. As the first people to follow Jesus, the disciples were bold.
Ephesians 2:19-22 – So then you are no longer strangers and aliens, but you are fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God, built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Christ Jesus himself being the cornerstone, in whom the whole structure, being joined together, grows into a holy temple in the Lord. In him you also are being built together into a dwelling place for God by the Spirit.
Paul says that the church was built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets. It is largely because of their faith in Jesus and work for Him that the foundation of the church was laid, which allowed us to one day become part of it.
Reflect – What have you given up for Jesus? Is there anything in your life that He is calling you to give up for Him now?
2. The reward of sacrificing for Jesus –
Mark 10:29-30 – Jesus said, “Truly, I say to you, there is no one who has left house or brothers or sisters or mother or father or children or lands, for my sake and for the gospel, who will not receive a hundredfold now in this time, houses and brothers and sisters and mothers and children and lands, with persecutions, and in the age to come eternal life.
Jesus tells Peter that everyone who makes sacrifices in order to follow after Him will be rewarded. These rewards don’t only come after death like we so often think. Some of these rewards happen now on Earth.
Those who lose their relationship with their families to follow Christ will gain a larger spiritual family. Their faith would gain them entrance into the family of God.
I have met believers from around one hundred different countries. Some of them I barely knew. Other times, we could hardly communicate because of the language barrier. Yet, we had something in common that united us. We called each other “brother” and “sister.” Our spiritual family spreads all around the world.
Galatians 3:28 – There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is no male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus.
This promise is very true. Believers have a link, which is our common faith in Christ. This link means that we have more in common with a stranger from across the world who follows Christ than we do with our own family member who doesn’t. We have a new and much bigger family who will understand the issues, temptations, and decisions we face. Their spiritual insights will help them to comfort, encourage, strengthen, and pray for us when our physical families cannot comprehend how we feel or why we feel that way (1 Corinthians 2:9-16).
Unbelievers cannot understand us on a deep level because their eyes haven’t been opened by the Spirit.
Applications
A. Share the gospel with your families so that they can be part of the family of God and have their spiritual eyes opened.
B. Act like a family member towards other believers. Do not treat them like strangers. Get to know them. Form closer relationships and friendships. Visit the sick. Help the needy. Care for the elderly.
Galatians 6:10 – So then, as we have opportunity, let us do good to everyone, and especially to those who are of the household of faith.
Do good, especially to the household of faith. Do you have close relationships with other believers? If not, don’t wait until others take the initiative. Invite someone out for a meal or to an activity. Make an effort to reach out and form close relationships which can help encourage and strengthen both sides. God teaches each of us from His Word and through the circumstances and trials which we face. Do not keep what you learn to yourself. Share it with others.
2 Corinthians 1:4 – Who comforts us in all our affliction, so that we may be able to comfort those who are in any affliction, with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God.
Use the things that God teaches us to help others in the family of God.
C. Show special consideration for believers who are being persecuted by their families. Encourage them and strengthen them. Their physical families have to some extent abandoned or rejected them so the body of Christ needs to make them feel welcome.
Reflect – Do you treat other believers as a “brother” and “sister?”
3. The one who gives up houses and land to follow Christ will receive even more –
The “family” aspect of the body of Christ is easy to understand. This promise is a bit harder. It seems that Jesus is saying that although we might not be welcome in our own house after believing in Christ, we will be welcomed into thousands of others by believers across the world.
In the early New Testament period a Jew coming to Christ might be kicked out of her home. Jesus comforts those who would be so persecuted by reminding them that their spiritual family would take care of them.
One example of this happening is Sadhu Sundar Singh. He was born in 1889 to a wealthy Sikh family in Punjab, India. Sadhu was deeply religious and read Hindu and Sikh Scriptures. He even burned pages of a Bible in front of his friends. However, at the age of 16, he was contemplating suicide and had a vision of Jesus. He became a believer. Sadhu was expelled from his home by his furious parents, who even held a funeral to mark the occasion. His brother attempted to poison him multiple times. But Sadhu was taken in by Christian missionaries who cared for him. He went on to become one of the most well-known Christian missionaries. Many believers would welcome him into their own homes.
In the early church period, believers took these words of Jesus seriously. Many sold their houses and land and shared the proceeds with the church which would then share it with those who were needy.
Reflect – Would you take in and help a believer who was being persecuted by his own family?
4. Persecution – Do not think believing in Christ is like a paradise on earth. Yes, there are many very real, tangible benefits that we receive on Earth. But there are also difficulties, even to the point of persecution. Family and friends may turn against you. The government may punish you. Schools and teachers may laugh at you or cast you out.
The CEO of Firefox, Brendan Eich, lost his job for supporting a pro-traditional marriage bill. S
The Benham brothers lost their house renovations television reality show for joining a pro-life rally.
Although US Christians may face some persecution in other places around the world it is much worse.
Asia Bibi is a Pakistani mother of five. She was on death row from 2009 to 2018. She has filed an appeal and five different hearings have been scheduled. The judges kept failing to show up. What is her crime? She offered water to fellow agricultural laborers. Because she was a Christian, her touch was said to defile the water. The Muslims launched a verbal attack on her faith and when she defended her faith in Christ she was accused of blasphemy, which is a crime punishable by death in Pakistan. In 2018, her case was finally overturned and she was granted asylum in Canada.
Silas Rabbani and Amin Khaki are Iranian believers who are currently in prison there. They have been violently beaten and tortured for their faith, which the Iranian government says is “threatening the security of the state.”
Meriam Yehya Ibrahim, 27, is eight months pregnant. She is currently being detained with her 20-month-old son in Sudan. A court recently upheld her death sentence. Her crime? So-called apostasy because she refused to recant her Christian faith.
Interestingly enough, all of the top results about the persecution of Christians were blocked in China and needed a special app called a virtual private network to visit. This in itself is a form (albeit a much milder than above) type of persecution.
Many have given their lives for their faith. It has happened in the past. It is happening now. And it is still going to happen, likely with greater and greater frequency. But it is worth it. Jesus saved the best for last. In addition to all the benefits we receive while on earth, salvation means eternal life.
Romans 8:18 – For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory that is to be revealed to us.
II. Jesus reminded His disciples of the suffering He was going to face (32-34)
Discussion Questions
• Where were they going?
• Why were some fearful?
• What did Jesus want to tell them before they arrived in Jerusalem? Why?
Cross-References
Hebrews 12:3 – Consider him who endured from sinners such hostility against himself, so that you may not grow weary or fainthearted.
Verse by Verse Commentary
1. Going up to Jerusalem – Jesus’ time had come. This would be the culmination of His time on earth and His ministry. He knew what He would suffer there. He knew the agony and the pain, the betrayals and the hate. Yet He went anyway. This was His mission. Jesus’ obedience and resolve are highlighted here. He didn’t come to be served but to serve. All of His thoughts were about others, not about Himself. He embodied humility, compassion, and self-sacrifice.
Application – Think about what mission God has given to you. Are you steadfastly working toward completing it?
2. Jesus again told His disciples what was going to happen to Him –
Mark 10:33-34 – The Son of Man will be delivered over to the chief priests and the scribes, and they will condemn him to death and deliver him over to the Gentiles. And they will mock him and spit on him, and flog him and kill him. And after three days he will rise.
This prophecy was amazingly detailed. Jesus Himself knew clearly what was coming. At the same time, He wanted the disciples to know so that they would be prepared. This is much the same reason why the Bible says that all believers will face persecution. If we know it is coming, we are more likely to be prepared and stand up without compromising when it comes.
Jesus also knew that the disciples had a hard time grasping what was going to happen.
Considering they had seen Jesus as a hero who could perform miracles without breaking a sweat, it is not surprising they still didn’t get it. This is the fourth time in Mark we have seen Jesus warn them what He would suffer.
III. Be a servant of all (35-45)
Discussion Questions
• What did James and John originally say to Jesus?
• Did He agree to do it? What did He first find out? Why did He not just agree? What lesson can we learn from this?
• What did they ask? Why do you think they wanted to sit on each side? What was their core motivation?
• What did it mean to drink the cup which He drank and be baptized with the baptism with which He would be baptized?
• Did Jesus agree?
• Why were the others upset?
• What lesson did Jesus teach them during this teachable moment? Is this a new lesson for them? Why did He have to keep discussing it again and again?
Cross-References
Philippians 2:5-7 – Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus, who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied himself, by taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men.
Ephesians 5:21 – Submitting to one another out of reverence for Christ.
Ephesians 6:7 – Rendering service with a good will as to the Lord and not to man.
1 Peter 4:11 – Whoever speaks, as one who speaks oracles of God; whoever serves, as one who serves by the strength that God supplies—in order that in everything God may be glorified through Jesus Christ. To him belong glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen.
Verse by Verse Commentary
1. James’ and John’s request –
Mark 10:35-37 – “Teacher, we want you to do for us whatever we ask of you.” And he said to them, “What do you want me to do for you?” And they said to him, “Grant us to sit, one at your right hand and one at your left, in your glory.”
If you needed any evidence that the disciples didn’t yet get what Jesus was talking about, here it is. The warnings about Jesus’ sufferings went in one ear and out the other. It seems James and John thought Jesus was going to Jerusalem to take His throne. James and John made a big request of Jesus. They first said, “Teacher, we want You to do for us whatever we ask you.” Wow! Basically, “Grant us one wish and promise to do it before we even tell you what the wish is!” While they were misguided, they certainly didn’t lack confidence!
2. Jesus asked a clarifying question –
“What do you want me to do for you?” Jesus didn’t make the mistake of agreeing without hearing first the specific favor they were asking. Remember Herod promising Herodias’ daughter to give her anything up to half the kingdom? Rash promises like that come back to bite you. Jesus gives us a good blueprint to avoid getting ourselves into similar dilemmas.
Application – If someone comes up and says, “Will you do a favor for me?” ask what it is before agreeing. Get the facts. Do not agree to favors for people without knowing clearly what is involved. If someone asks you to check a paper for them, first see how long it is and how difficult it will be. If someone asks you to help them with a project, find out what the project is and how long it will take.
In addition, to protecting ourselves from rash promises, this can help us manage our time well. One of the core problems most people with poor time management have is that they say “yes” to too many things and regret it later on. Feel free to say, “no.” If you need to think about it, tell them so. Do not say “yes” just so that someone won’t be disappointed. We are responsible to God for how we use our time, not the person asking the favor. I am not proposing being self-centered and unwilling to help, but rather being clear about the facts and not agreeing to things that God wouldn’t have us to do just to satisfy people.
Acts 5:29 – But Peter and the apostles answered, “We must obey God rather than men.
Galatians 1:10 – For am I now seeking the approval of man, or of God? Or am I trying to please man? If I were still trying to please man, I would not be a servant of Christ.
3. Grant that we may sit, one on your right and one on Your left –
James and John were certainly confident. It seems that they thought Jesus was going to Jerusalem to set up His kingdom. Whatever Jesus’ kingdom was and whenever He set it up, they wanted to be front and center. They were asking Jesus for the places of honor sitting on “little thrones” on each side of Him.
Reflect -Was it good that they asked this?
There are some positives to take from it.
• They were willing to identify with Christ. They weren’t secret disciples or following him in the dark. They were willing for everyone to see it.
• They cast their lot with Christ no matter what would happen.
• They weren’t afraid to make big requests of Christ. They were confident enough in their relationship with Jesus and in His power to ask it.
• They were straightforward and clear. They weren’t trying to be manipulative. They didn’t try to trick Jesus into granting their request. They just came straight out and asked him. When you want to ask for something, this is the way to do it. Don’t beat around the bush and hint. Just say it.
But there were also some negatives from it:
• It seems that they were motivated by desiring status.
• They wanted to have power.
• They wanted the first and best position for themselves.
• They hadn’t listened well to Jesus when He said that He was going to Jerusalem to suffer.
4. Jesus’ reply –
As Jesus often does, He first replies by asking them a question back.
Mark 10:38 – Are you able to drink the cup that I drink, or to be baptized with the baptism with which I am baptized?
This question basically means, “Are you willing to follow me to the end? No matter what the cost?” This was what Jesus required of His disciples. He didn’t promise material benefits. He didn’t promise prosperity or power. What He offered was the living water, the bread of life, the way to the Father.
And He wanted faithful, committed followers who would follow Him to the end. In fact, this is what it would cost. Jesus knew the persecutions these disciples would face and wanted them to be ready.
5. We are able – James and John might not have realized at the time exactly what this decision would cost them. Nonetheless, it is still admirable that they publicly declared their willingness to follow after Christ to the end no matter what it cost them.
Reflect – Are you willing to follow Jesus to the end? Are you willing to face public ridicule for rejecting the world’s model of child education? Are you willing to change jobs if your job demands so much of your time and energy that you have no time left for serving God? Are you willing to take a stand for Christ when the world hates everyone associated with Him and beats, imprisons, or kills believers?
6. You will – They answered they were able to suffer like Jesus and He told them that they will. We know that James was martyred (Acts 12:2) and John suffered exile (Revelation 1:9). Here is another clear passage that refutes the prosperity gospel. Jesus promised His most faithful disciples that they would suffer like Him. And they did. Jesus wasn’t tricking them or misleading them. He was very upfront that the cost of following Him would include persecution.
A salesman would call this a “hard sell.” Who would sign up for this? The good news is that Jesus made another promise seen here, eternal life (Mark 10:30). That hope makes all the suffering in the world worth it.
7. To sit on My right or left, this is not Mine to give –
As to their request, Jesus did not grant it. He doesn’t emphatically say “no,” but it appears that is the answer. There is an important lesson here. God does not always say “yes” to our prayers. If we go into our Christian life expecting God will always say “yes” to our prayers we will be very disappointed and start to question God and our faith in Him.
If you have a relative who is sick and you believe and pray very hard, will God heal your relative? If it is His will, then He will. But you can’t make God do it. He may have His own reasons for answering “no.” Maybe that relative is a believer and God wants to take them home to be with Him and away from their pain sooner. Or maybe that is an unbeliever who would never believe in Him, but their death with be used by God to touch someone else with the gospel. We just don’t know. Real faith is not that God will do what we want Him to do.
Reflect – What is real faith?
Real faith is that God will do what is best. It is trusting that His answer, “yes” or “no,” is for the best. It is humbly submitting ourselves to God as our sovereign King of Kings and trusting Him to do what is right.
8. It is not mine to give –
The implication is that the Father would decide. Here is another example that within the Trinity Jesus submits Himself to the Father’s authority.
9. The ten began to feel indignant with James and John –
The other ten wanted the position that John and James were asking for. They were probably partially upset with James and John while being annoyed with themselves that they didn’t think of it first.
Jesus’ teaching on humility and letting others go first hadn’t taken hold yet. They still desired to be the greatest, to be the top disciple.
We could judge them for this. Yes, it was a wrong attitude. Or we could learn from them. This attitude is human nature. As humans, we like to get the glory. Even the best and most faithful disciples of Jesus, sometimes fall into this trap.
Reflect – How about you? Do you hope others will see you when you serve God? Do you serve so that they will see you? Do you like the roles that are more public? What should motivate us to serve? We should serve out of a desire to serve and glorify God, nothing else.
10. The Gentiles lord it over them –
Worldly leadership is about commanding others what to do. The one who gives instructions the loudest and fastest is the best. You even make those under you know it by treating them like inferiors.
Jesus said, “It is not this way among you.” This model of top-down, “I’m in charge, you WILL listen to me “is completely wrong.
Ephesians 5:21 – Submitting to one another out of reverence for Christ.
We are to practice mutual submission.
God wants His people who are leaders to lead by example, to lead by serving, to put others first, and to do it with no desire for personal credit. Greatness is not making others feel small to build ourselves up. Greatness is building up and helping others.
Reflect – Do you want to be great? What does Jesus tell us is the secret to greatness?
This seems to be the recipe for a bestseller. Write a book titled, “Become Great in One Simple Step.” Inside simply write “Serve.” That is all there is to it. It’s a simple step, but it is not easy. It is counter-intuitive. It is completely the opposite of our human nature.
11. Jesus is our example –
Jesus’ words were not empty ones. He is the perfect example of this philosophy to life (Philippians 2). Jesus is God. In fact, He had the right to demand that others serve Him. He had the right to make others feel inferior because they were. He had the right to say “I am more important than you. Stop wasting my time.” He had the right to stay in heaven forever and leave our sin problem to us. But He didn’t do that. He gave His life to serve us. He served us in life. And He served us in death.
Think back to what we have read in Mark so far. In what ways did Jesus serve people? How did He inconvenience Himself to serve? What are some things He did for others out of the public eye?
Application – What specifically will you do to apply what we have learned today?
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