Light on the Lessons
Isaiah 53:4-12; Hebrews 5:1-10; Mark 10:35-45
Twenty-first Sunday after Pentecost (Pr. 24, L 29); Cycle B; October 18, 2015
Leader Guidance
Materials Needed
+ Bibles for everyone (variety of translations often useful)
+ Lectionary sheets (very convenient if you use them in worship)
+ Chalkboard, newsprint, overhead, or another means for displaying information and recording thoughts
+ Basic reference books for use as needed: Bible dictionary, Bible atlas, concordance, a one-volume Bible commentary
+ Red an article on Melchizadek in a Bible dictionary. Also read Hebrews 7 (part of which is covered next week) to
get an idea of how this writer develops the theme.
I Getting Started
Read the lessons aloud before discussing them, either in advance or as they are studied. Ask participants to share prayer
concerns. Then turn to the questions in “Getting Started.”
1. Responses will vary. See if “servant” or “suffering servant” are mentioned.
2. Mention that these were the “anointed” offices, and the word for “anointed” can be “Christ” or “Messiah.” Jesus spoke for
his Father to the people about justice and truth (prophet), offered himself in atone for our sins (priest, the theme in Hebrews), and
reigns in the Kingdom of God (king). Check that participants have at least a general idea of these three functions.
3. Responses will vary. Basically, such a lifestyle pays close attention to the needs of others and does not let self-interest
overwhelm other concerns.
II Check the Texts
1. Isaiah 53:4-12
A. Collect all suggestions for titles on newsprint or chalkboard. Then let the group select or combine to develop final titles.
These are possibilities: The Servant Saves, The Servant Suffers, and The Servant Triumphs.
B. We are imagining this Servant Song as a dialogue. The LORD speaks in 52:13-15, addressing the nations, verse 15a. Then
the nations (Gentiles) respond in verses 4-6. Verse 4b reflects the way the nations held Israel in low esteem. They were defeated
and exiled; where was their vaunted God? But now, verses 5, the nations see a much larger purpose for Israel’s sufferings; they
have brought healing to the nations. Verse 6 becomes a confession of sin. Clearly, this passage outlines in poetic form the meaning
of Jesus’ death as Christians understand it. Also, the reference to God’s deliverance of “nations” or Gentiles would speak to an
increasingly Gentile church.
C. Perhaps they were silent because they felt God was punishing them and they didn’t want to rebel against God. But the three
references hint that God may have overdone his punishment, acted too harshly. So, verse 8a can call the exile a “perversion of
justice,” but one which had redeeming impact. “My people” refers to the people of the Gentile nations; in effect, the whole world.
God redeems the world, in verse 8b! (How well John 3:16 fits in here.)
D. Verse 10a declares that God willed this redemptive suffering. Verses 11-12 speak of the exaltation of the Servant. (Christ,
too, followed the humiliation-suffering/death-exaltation pattern; compare Philippians 2:5-11.
E. Use this exercise to help participants recall incidents from Jesus’ last days. (Remember: Second Isaiah did not picture Jesus
when he wrote these words! But he expressed a theology of God’s redemptive activity which Jesus unfolded. The early Church
used Isaiah 53 and other passages from their Bible to interpret the meaning and significance of Jesus’ life and death.)
2. Hebrews 5:1-10
A. Genesis 14 describes Melchizedek as “priest of God Most High” and as “King of Salem” (renamed Jerusalem after David’s
conquest; se Psalm 76:2). He blesses Abram and Abram gives him his tithe. Psalm 110:4 bestows some priestly functions on the
king; Melchizedek was a priest-king. See 2 Samuel 6:12-15 for an example from David’s reign and 1 Kings 3:3-4 for an example
from Solomon’s era.
B. Verse 1 describes the functions of a priest. Being human, the priest can sympathize with human failings. Exodus 28:1-3
described God’s call to Aaron, the first priest; see “called by God” in verse 4.
C. Jesus was “appointed” to the priesthood by the Father, verse 5. “Appointed” parallels “called,” verse 4. In the first century,
rules for biblical interpretation were loose by modern standards. If a word or phrase seemed useful, it was quoted regardless of its
original context. What God told the kings of old could be applied as needed to the new King, Jesus. Psalm 2:7 uses “son” in a
generic sense, to say that Israel’s king ruled as God’s agent. Hebrews gives the noun a special meaning, reflected in the capital “S”.
C. Verse 7 may allude to Jesus in the Garden of Gethsemane. Jesus’ suffering taught him obedience, verse 8. In verse 9,
“obey” refers to believers. Jesus’ obedience perfected him; he thus became our salvation; therefore we obey him. “Perfect” might
describe the fact that in Jesus everything came together to equip him uniquely for the role of Savior.
3. Mark 10:35-45
A. The question sounds pretty impulsive, even arrogant. It resembles Herod’s impulsive statement to his dancing daughter.
The right hand was the highest position of honor, with left hand coming next. “Glory” refers to the time of Jesus’ triumph, when the
disciples were to take the role of judges (rulers) of the twelve tribes of Israel, Matthew 19:28 and Luke 22:28-30.
B. “Cup” can picture both joy and suffering, but suffering is intended in verse 38. The reference to baptism could, for Mark’s
readers, recall their own baptism into Christ (Luke 3) and, in their persecutions, would remind them of sharing Jesus’ sufferings
(Luke 12). In verse 39, Jesus makes it clear that the disciples’ road will be rocky like his own.
C. Mark 14 reports that all the disciples deserted Jesus at the time of his arrest. When he died, two criminals hung on crosses
to his left and right.
D. Verses 42-44 emphasize servanthood at the disciples’ lifestyle, which connects this Gospel with the Suffering Servant
theme in the First Lesson. To ransom means to buy back someone or some thing that has been taken from you by another. Ransom
became one of the metaphors used to discuss Jesus’ atoning work. (Jesus in his suffering and death ransomed, paid the price, to buy
back sinful humanity from the clutches of the Evil One, or the power of sin.)
III What Does It All Mean?
1. Responses will vary. Take “suffering” in its widest meaning, to include self-denial and doing for others at some cost to
oneself. In this sense, parents suffer for their children quite often, and spouses for spouses, friends for friends. But paying the price
for another person’s wrongs offends our innate sense of justice. Contemporary Jews are often uncomfortable with the notion of
Israel suffering for the sins of the (Gentile) nations; given their long persecution culminating in the Holocaust.
2. Responses will vary. Our natural sense is to save ourselves. The Gospel of grace often offends us. But God’s salvation goes
beyond the category of justice; it is founded on grace, unmerited redeeming love. Once we appreciate the depth of the chasm that
sin dug between us and God, we realize we could never bridge it on our own.
3. Responses will vary. 1 Peter 2:18-25 echoes the themes of Isaiah 53. However, verse 18 shows that these wonderful words
are used to encourage a slave to accept mistreatment. This is a reminder that we need to exercise caution when relating the idea of
unjust suffering to daily life. The “good news” here is verse 24, but what we celebrate in Jesus may not be something to celebrate
when it applies to people. In New Testament times, the oppressed had no viable alternative to simply enduring their suffering. 1
Peter would give them spiritual comfort in their plight. But that was then and this is now, as they say.
4. Responses will vary. Humility does not mean self-abasement. As Paul points out, it simply means a realistic view of who
one is and what one can accomplish, what gifts one has to offer and what gifts one does not have. A humble person would focus on
the strong gifts that God has given him or her. At the same time, lack of some gift does not affect his or her sense of self-worth.
5. Responses will vary. Basically, servanthood means being of use to others, contributing more than we take. It involves a
commitment to listen to, support, uplift, and help others, which means not letting self-interest consume one totally. It does not mean
becoming the other person’s door mat.
IV Into the Week
Talk about last week’s suggestion. What justice issues did they define? Has some action or concern emerged which the whole
group can address? Has anyone taken steps on their own to address an issue? Encourage the group to continue with this work
because it is important to connect Bible study with both personal and social action.
Encourage devotional meditation on the wonders of God’s grace, item #2.
Copyright © 2015, Lutheran Bible Ministries. All rights reserved. Permission is granted to make photocopies for use in church-related study groups.