Mark 10:38
Context10:38 But Jesus said to them, “You don’t know what you are asking! Are you able to drink the cup I drink or be baptized with the baptism I experience?” 1
Luke 12:50
Context12:50 I have a baptism 2 to undergo, 3 and how distressed I am until it is finished!
Matthew 20:22
Context20:22 Jesus 4 answered, “You don’t know what you are asking! 5 Are you able to drink the cup I am about to drink?” 6 They said to him, “We are able.” 7
1 tn Grk “baptism I am baptized with.” This same change has been made in v. 39.
2 sn The figure of the baptism is variously interpreted, as some see a reference (1) to martyrdom or (2) to inundation with God’s judgment. The OT background, however, suggests the latter sense: Jesus is about to be uniquely inundated with God’s judgment as he is rejected, persecuted, and killed (Ps 18:4, 16; 42:7; 69:1-2; Isa 8:7-8; 30:27-28; Jonah 2:3-6).
3 tn Grk “to be baptized with.”
4 tn Grk “And answering, Jesus said.” This is somewhat redundant in English and has been simplified in the translation. Here δέ (de) has not been translated.
5 tn The verbs in Greek are plural here, indicating that Jesus is not answering the mother but has turned his attention directly to the two disciples.
6 tc Most
7 sn No more naïve words have ever been spoken as those found here coming from James and John, “We are able.” They said it with such confidence and ease, yet they had little clue as to what they were affirming. In the next sentence Jesus confirms that they will indeed suffer for his name.