Lesson 44

background notes

doctrinal / teaching points

1. The Lord Jesus was omniscient during His earthly life.

2. There are future rewards, but they are earned.

3. The death of Christ was substitutionary.

 

practical applications

1. Don't let fear keep you from following Christ.

2. How mature is your faith?

 

questions

1. Why were Jesus' disciples amazed and afraid? Did being afraid keep the disciples from following Christ?

2. Define "omniscient." Was Jesus omniscient during His earthly life?

3. What did James and John ask from Jesus? What was wrong with this request?

4. How did the other disciples feel about their request? What does this tell us about them?

5. What is the cup? What is the baptism?

6. Did Jesus' prediction come true?

7. What was it that the Lord was teaching in this passage?

 

answers

1. Because the Lord was determined to go to Jerusalem, knowing that He was going into a danger zone. And so were the disciples, but regardless of their fear, they followed Him.

2. All-knowing. Yes, because He was and is fully God. There were times, however, when He chose not to use His omniscience.

3. They asked Him to let one of them sit on His right hand and the other on His left hand in glory. It was selfish and ambitious, and made at the expense of the other disciples.

4. They were greatly displeased. It showed that they were not free from selfish ambitions, either.

5. They refer to the Lord's imminent cup of suffering and the baptism of death.

6. Yes. James was martyred (Acts 12:2) and John was exiled (Revelation 1:9).

7. That greatness in the kingdom is determined by serving others. This is not the world's concept of greatness, but it is the Lord's.

 

discuss / consider

1. Have you ever been selfish and ambitious in your desires and requests? How are positions of honor given in the kingdom of God?

2. How was the death of Christ substitutionary? Contemplate what this means to you.

 

challenge

Have you ever been fearful when following Christ? If so, list some of these times. Did you overcome this fear? If not, how could you overcome it?

memorize

• "The Son of man will be betrayed...He will be condemned to death and delivered to the Gentiles; and they will mock Him, and scourge Him, and spit on Him, and kill Him. And the third day He will rise again." Mark 10:33-34)

• "Whoever desires to become great among you shall be your servant. And whoever desires to be first shall be slave of all. For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life a ransom for many." (Mark 10:43-45)