Mark 10:38-40

Those who share Jesus’ honor in the kingdom must also share His sufferings in this age. The cup often is a symbol of trouble and suffering in the Old Testament (Psalms 75:8; Isaiah 51:17; Jeremiah 25:15-28; Jeremiah 49:12; Jeremiah 51:7; Ezekiel 23:31-34; Habakkuk 2:16; Zechariah 12:2). Likewise baptism, being under water, pictures inundation with trouble (Job 22:11; Psalms 18:16; Psalms 69:1-2; Psalms 69:15; Isaiah 43:2).

James and John confidently affirmed that they could endure all the trouble and suffering that Jesus might have to endure because they had not understood what He had predicted about His passion. They would indeed experience a measure of suffering themselves as Jesus’ disciples but not as much as Jesus would have to endure. James was the first apostle to experience martyrdom (Acts 12:2), and John may have been the last. [Note: See Lane, p. 381, footnote 87.] However, God the Father would determine who would receive the positions of authority and honor in the messianic kingdom (cf. Matthew 20:23).