For many parents (yours truly being one of them), one of the most memorable, and mortifying, demonstrations of their toddler’s new mastery of language is when the cute little tyke lets loose with some shocking expletive. Not knowing that the word they are singing out is foul and forbidden, our desperate attempts to shush them usually just results in a louder, more insistent repetition of the bad word(s).

The disciples in Mark’s three passion narratives are like that artless child. They keep repeating the same inappropriate, uncomprehending, and ultimately insulting requests to Jesus, even as he is trying to get them to hear the truth about his messianic mission and message. Twice the disciples had already heard Jesus’ passion prediction (8:31: 9:31). Twice the disciples had expressed com…