To better understand the almost comical requests made by James and John this week, it helps to look at how Mark has crafted his text. As Jesus moves inevitably towards Jerusalem, he reveals more and more as the disciples seemingly comprehend less and less. Between Mark 8-10, the gospel writer has Jesus and his disciples play out a similar exchange three separate times. In 8:31; 9:30-32; and 10:33-34, Jesus articulates clear predictions of his approaching rejection, his debasement and death, and his resurrection from the dead. Each of these passion predictions are then followed by some of the most ignorant, wrong-headed comments made anywhere by the disciples.

In 8:32-33 Peter rebukes Jesus; in 9:33-34 all the disciples start clamoring about who is the greatest; and in 10:35-41 James and Jo…