GREAT THINGS ENTERPRISE
CLAUDE BLACK
Mark 10:38
Know What You Are Asking For
The Israelites were often defeated during their reentry into Canaan and had to be rescued by charismatic leaders known as “judges.” They looked at other nations, saw them governed by powerful leaders, and decided that this was what they wanted. So they went to Samuel, the judge-leader at the time, and said, “Give us a king to lead us.” (1 Samuel 8:6) In response, Samuel said, “This is what the king who will reign over you will do …” (8:10). He explained that the people did not understand what they were asking for, since a king would take their sons, daughters, and servants for his own use and would claim a tenth of all their possessions. Samuel warned that they would grow weary of supporting a king and his demands: “When that day comes, you will cry out for relief from the king you have chosen, and the Lord will not answer you in that day.” (8:18). They did not know what they were asking for.
The most dangerous prayers are not selfish ones, but sincere ones offered without understanding. A familiar axiom warns, “Be careful what you ask for, because you may just get it.” Consider a young man who sought a promotion at work. He performed faithfully and eventually received it. The promotion brought a higher salary and a nicer office; however, the workload far exceeded his expectations. Or consider a young woman who wanted to marry a certain man. She sought his affection, and he eventually proposed. Yet he became a possessive, jealous, and demanding spouse—quite unlike what she had envisioned.
As Jesus and the disciples were on their way to Jerusalem to celebrate the Passover, the Pharisees questioned him about divorce. He then taught about becoming as receptive as little children. Later, a wealthy and prominent young man came to Jesus seeking eternal life but was unwilling to pay the price. Afterward, Jesus told the disciples what awaited him in Jerusalem: betrayal, judgment, mistreatment, and death. It was shortly after this sobering prediction that James and John asked if they could sit beside him in his glory. “But Jesus said to them, ‘You do not know what you are asking. Are you able to drink the cup that I drink or to be baptized with the baptism with which I am baptized?’” (Mark 10:38)
Jesus’ observation serves as a cautionary admonition for everyone: James suffered martyrdom, and John endured exile, imprisonment, and destitution. Take, for example, a coach who worked long, hard hours with his team, leading them through a strong winning streak. He was hired by a major league team, but when the team went through a losing streak, he was terminated after his first season. Or consider a young couple who worked hard and saved to purchase their first house, only to discover that mortgage payments, repairs, utility bills, and constant maintenance drained their limited financial resources.
Jesus never expected his disciples to stagnate, but rather to understand the consequences of their decisions—and to move forward with minds fully prepared and eyes wide open.
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