Pentecost Season · Proper 24 · Year B
Mark 10:35-45
The Request of James and John
October 17, 2027
Overview & Insights
“For even the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.” (Mark 10:45)
This is the final set of events in Jesus’s public ministry, as the rest of Mark will cover the passion week, crucifixion, and resurrection. The “road to Jerusalem” has centered on two things: the passion predictions (the final and most detailed of the three is here) and discipleship (Jesus calling his followers to join him on the path of servanthood and suffering). So this passage sums up the emphases of 8:31–10:52 and prepares the way for the passion events to follow (the complex prediction in vv. 32–34 points forward to those events).
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Commentary
Working Preacher: Commentary on Mark 10:35-45 Working Preacher
Lutheran lectionary commentary on the request for glory and the call to servant leadership in Year B.
Enduring Word: Mark 10 Enduring Word · David Guzik
David Guzik's verse-by-verse evangelical notes on the whole chapter.
Precept Austin: Mark 10 Commentary Precept Austin
Deep study page gathering many conservative commentators on Mark 10.
BibleHub: Commentaries on Mark 10:35 BibleHub
Parallel classic commentaries keyed to the request of James and John.
CEP: Mark 10:35-45 Commentary Center for Excellence in Preaching
Reformed preaching commentary on the ransom saying and greatness through service.
Background & Word Study
Enter the Bible: Mark Enter the Bible
Luther Seminary's scholarly introduction to Mark's structure and themes.
BibleProject: Gospel of Mark Overview BibleProject
Animated overview of the message and structure of Mark's Gospel.
BibleHub: Mark 10 Interlinear BibleHub
Greek-English interlinear for word-level study of Mark 10.
Worship & Prayers
Questions preachers ask
What does Jesus teach James and John?
When the brothers ask for the places of honor, Jesus overturns the world's order: whoever would be great must be a servant, for he himself came to serve and to give his life as a ransom for many.
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