Expositor's Bible Commentary Commentary Mark 10:38

"But Jesus said unto them, Ye know not what ye ask. Are ye able to drink the cup that I drink? or to be baptized with the baptism that I am baptized with?" — Mark 10:38 (ASV)

Jesus’ answer is sharp and penetrating. The two disciples did not really know what they were asking. The way to privileged position in the messianic kingdom is not by grabbing for power but by relinquishing it through suffering and death. Jesus explained this to them by using the analogies of the cup and baptism. The cup, symbolizing trouble and suffering, is found in the OT (Psalms 75:8; Isaiah 51:17; Jeremiah 49:12; Ezekiel 23:31–34 [see comment on 14:35–37]). Baptism is a symbol of a deluge of trouble (cf. Pss 18:16; 69:1–2).