Mark 10:32-52 New Revised Standard Version
A Third Time Jesus Foretells His Death and Resurrection
32 They were on the road, going up to Jerusalem, and Jesus was walking ahead of them; they were amazed, and those who followed were afraid. He took the twelve aside again and began to tell them what was to happen to him, 33 saying, “See, we are going up to Jerusalem, and the Son of Man will be handed over to the chief priests and the scribes, and they will condemn him to death; then they will hand him over to the Gentiles; 34 they will mock him, and spit upon him, and flog him, and kill him; and after three days he will rise again.”
The Request of James and John
35 James and John, the sons of Zebedee, came forward to him and said to him, “Teacher, we want you to do for us whatever we ask of you.” 36 And he said to them, “What is it you want me to do for you?” 37 And they said to him, “Grant us to sit, one at your right hand and one at your left, in your glory.” 38 But Jesus said to them, “You do not know what you are asking. Are you able to drink the cup that I drink, or be baptized with the baptism that I am baptized with?” 39 They replied, “We are able.” Then Jesus said to them, “The cup that I drink you will drink; and with the baptism with which I am baptized, you will be baptized; 40 but to sit at my right hand or at my left is not mine to grant, but it is for those for whom it has been prepared.”
41 When the ten heard this, they began to be angry with James and John. 42 So Jesus called them and said to them, “You know that among the Gentiles those whom they recognize as their rulers lord it over them, and their great ones are tyrants over them. 43 But it is not so among you; but whoever wishes to become great among you must be your servant, 44 and whoever wishes to be first among you must be slave of all. 45 For the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life a ransom for many.”
The Healing of Blind Bartimaeus
46 They came to Jericho. As he and his disciples and a large crowd were leaving Jericho, Bartimaeus son of Timaeus, a blind beggar, was sitting by the roadside. 47 When he heard that it was Jesus of Nazareth, he began to shout out and say, “Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!” 48 Many sternly ordered him to be quiet, but he cried out even more loudly, “Son of David, have mercy on me!” 49 Jesus stood still and said, “Call him here.” And they called the blind man, saying to him, “Take heart; get up, he is calling you.” 50 So throwing off his cloak, he sprang up and came to Jesus. 51 Then Jesus said to him, “What do you want me to do for you?” The blind man said to him, “My teacher,[Aramaic, rabbouni] let me see again.” 52 Jesus said to him, “Go; your faith has made you well.” Immediately he regained his sight and followed him on the way.
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The beginning of Mark chapter 10 officially marks the beginning of Jesus' journey to Jerusalem. Significantly, it's the "rest of the story" which is what Jesus is really all about; and "the beginning of the end", which goes from Mark 10:1 to Mark 16:8.
From a literary point of view, the situation has been established:
+ Jesus is the Son of God (God himself said so).
+ Not everybody understands what's happening (but Mark makes sure WE know).
+ Jesus came from God to proclaim the kingdom of God (not for the incidental but significant things he does such as heal, forgive sins, calm storms, feed huge crowds with practically nothing).
+ Jesus is coincidentally the long awaited Messiah.
+ Jesus is also the Son of Man from Daniel 7.
+ The Messiah's mission is not at all as everyone had anticipated.
+ Those closest to Jesus don't get it.
+ NOBODY in the story understands what God has predestined to happen, much less WHY.
+ It's going to happen now, so keep reading.
Folks in my midweek bible seminars and adult Sunday school classes over the years know that Mark chapter 10 is one of my favorite places to "get to" in the Bible. Because it's in Mark 10 that we always pause and discover "Secret Mark". It's too outrageous, I can't resist. Outrageous but also fills in blanks, suggests reasonable answers to several questions, those questions being,
+ why that empty space at verse 46? they came to Jericho and they left Jericho? that's it?!
+ who was that lad in the garden when Jesus was arrested, the young man wearing nothing but a sheet, who when the authorities tried to arrest him broke loose and ran away naked? Why does Mark even mention him?
+ who the heck is Salome who shows up at the Cross but we never heard of her before?
+ why is it that only Gospel John knows about Jesus raising Lazarus?
You aren't going to like this, which bothers me not at all, and I'm going to spell it out anyway.
In the middle of the twentieth century, an academically recognized American Bible scholar doing research in an old repository in the MiddleEast came across an ancient document, since then analyzed and checked and double-checked and rechecked and checked again, and independently concluded by many of good repute as genuine. Nevermind names and dates and places, you can look that up yourself, here's a link or two:
The document inserts text in Mark chapter 10 between verses 34 and 35, and more in verse 46 after the words "and they arrived at Jericho", so:
... after "And they were in the road going up to Jerusalem" and what follows, until "After three days he shall arise", the secret Gospel brings the following material word for word:
"And they come into Bethany. And a certain woman whose brother had died was there. And, coming, she prostrated herself before Jesus and says to him, 'Son of David, have mercy on me.' But the disciples rebuked her. And Jesus, being angered, went off with her into the garden where the tomb was, and straightway a great cry was heard from the tomb. And going near, Jesus rolled away the stone from the door of the tomb. And straightaway, going in where the youth was, he stretched forth his hand and raised him, seizing his hand. But the youth, looking upon him, loved him and began to beseech him that he might be with him. And going out of the tomb, they came into the house of the youth, for he was rich. And after six days Jesus told him what to do, and in the evening the youth comes to him, wearing a linen cloth over his naked body. And he remained with him that night, for Jesus taught him the mystery of the Kingdom of God. And thence, arising, he returned to the other side of the Jordan."
After these words follows the text, "And James and John come to him", and all that section. ...
And after the words, "And he comes into Jericho," the secret Gospel adds only, "And the sister of the youth whom Jesus loved and his mother and Salome were there, and Jesus did not receive them." ...
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It may be clear why the early church might have removed these passages from what Mark wrote. At any event, "signs" of Mark are there, the constant use of "and" and of the word "euthos" translated "immediately" or "straightway"; and the so-called Historic Present is there twice, at the beginning.
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