Pre-Pentecost Questions

Psalms 121; Mark 9-10 

“’We are going up to Jerusalem,’ he said, ‘and the Son of Man will be betrayed to the chief priests and teachers of the law. They will condemn him to death and will hand him over to the Gentiles.’…Then James and John, the sons of Zebedee, came to him. ‘Teacher,’ they said, ‘we want you to do for us whatever we ask.’ ‘What do you want me to do for you?’ he asked. They replied, ‘Let one of us sit at your right and the other at your left in your glory.’”

Mark 10:33, 35-37

In the moment when Jesus clearly revealed his call to suffer and die, his closest disciples requested positional authority and honor in Christ’s kingdom. They believed the coming kingdom of God would be the restoration of Israel’s earthly kingdom (Acts 1:6). Jesus redirected his disciples to the path of suffering, servant-leadership, and the coming power of the Holy Spirit in order to be his witnesses.

Are we still distracted by positional authority in Christ’s kingdom, or have we found our identity in the Father’s love for us and the Spirit’s empowerment for mission?

The post-Pentecost disciples no longer asked Jesus positional and authority questions. Their lives were filled with a new value system and DNA.

Are we living in pre- or post- Pentecost values and reality?

“Lord Jesus, may your kingdom come, and your will be done, for your glory.”