MONDAY, JULY 2
Scripture: Mark 10:35-38

In Mark 10:35-38, we see another reference to a cup that takes us back to this core issue. In Mark 10:35-38 we are told, “Then James and John, the sons of Zebedee, came to Him, saying, ‘Teacher, we want You to do for us whatever we ask.’ And He said to them, ‘What do you want Me to do for you?’ They said to Him, ‘Grant us that we may sit, one on Your right hand and the other on Your left, in Your glory.’ But Jesus said to them, ‘You do not know what you ask. Are you able to drink the cup that I drink, and be baptized with the baptism that I am baptized with?’” James and John were asking for a position and found that Jesus answered them with a question about their ability concerning drinking the cup and experiencing a baptism. Jesus was called to the ultimate cup and baptism. Joseph’s call was practically as intense. James and John touch this core issue! It appears Jesus is referring to exactly such a preparational season based on their question. How many of us have asked for great, great things with little or no understanding of the core issue that God was after on the inside of us: “Will we be able to handle the level of evil that comes for our good?” Jesus refers to His own experience. “Can we drink the cup that Jesus drinks? Can we be baptized with the baptism that He was baptized with?” All we have to do is look at the evil that came at Jesus in two realms. One was physical, but the other was social, emotional and relational. The cup seems to refer to the social, emotional and relational and the baptism appears to be the physical. That is the real question that Jesus asked James and John. I am sure, from the text, that they did not get it. Their answer was flippant. But Jesus’ answer was not. They said, “We can,” He said, “You will.” Is that the God you know? It is the God I know. God has a purpose in creative miracles and part of that purpose comes from a platform of understanding His intent to offer good in the midst of great evil. God is looking for agents of good in the midst of great evil. The place to train for it is the church.