Mark 10:23–45

Possessions and the Kingdom

23 Jesus looked around and said to His disciples, “How hard it is for those who have wealth m to enter the kingdom of God!” n 24 But the disciples were astonished at His words. Again Jesus said to them, “Children, o how hard it is p to enter the kingdom of God! 25 It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich q person to enter the kingdom of God.”

26 So they were even more astonished, saying to one another, “Then who can be saved?” r

27 Looking at them, Jesus said, “With men it is impossible, s but not with God, because all things are possible with God.”

28 Peter t began to tell Him, “Look, we have left everything and followed You.”

29 “I assure you,” u Jesus said, “there is no one who has left house, brothers or sisters, mother or father, v children, or fields because of Me and the gospel, w 30 who will not receive 100 times x more, now at this time y—houses, brothers and sisters, mothers and children, and fields, with persecutions z—and eternal life a in the age to come. b 31 But many who are first will be last, and the last first.” c

The Third Prediction of His Death

32 They d were on the road, going up to Jerusalem, e and Jesus was walking ahead of them. They were astonished, but those who followed Him were afraid. f Taking the Twelve aside again, He began to tell them the things that would happen to Him. g

33 “Listen! We are going up to Jerusalem. The * Son of Man h will be handed over to the * chief priests and the * scribes, i and they will condemn Him to death. Then they will hand Him over to the Gentiles, j 34 and they will mock Him, spit on Him, flog k Him, and kill Him, and He will rise l after three days.” m

Suffering and Service

35 Then n James o and John, p the sons of Zebedee, q approached Him and said, “Teacher, r we want You to do something for us if we ask You.”

36 “What do you want Me to do for you?” He asked them.

37 They answered Him, “Allow us to sit at Your right and at Your left in Your glory.” s

38 But Jesus said to them, “You don’t know what you’re asking. t Are you able to drink the cup u I drink or to be baptized with the baptism v I am baptized with?” w

39 “We are able,” they told Him.

Jesus said to them, “You will drink the cup I drink, and you will be baptized with the baptism I am baptized with. x 40 But to sit at My right or left is not Mine to give; instead, it is for those it has been prepared for.” 41 When the other 10 disciples heard this, they began to be indignant with James and John. y

42 Jesus called them over and said to them, “You know that those who are regarded as rulers of the Gentiles dominate z them, and their men of high positions exercise power over them. 43 But it must not be like that among you. a On the contrary, whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant, b 44 and whoever wants to be first among you must be a * slave c to all. 45 For even the Son of Man d did not come to be served, but to serve, e and to give His life f—a ransom g for many.” h i