"James and John, the sons of Zebedee, came to him and said to him, “Teacher, we want you to do for us whatever we ask of you.” He replied, “What do you wish [me] to do for you?” They answered him, “Grant that in your glory we may sit one at your right and the other at your left.” Jesus said to them, “You do not know what you are asking. Can you drink the cup that I drink or be baptized with the baptism with which I am baptized?” They said to him, “We can.” Jesus said to them, “The cup that I drink, you will drink, and with the baptism with which I am baptized, you will be baptized; but to sit at my right or at my left is not mine to give but is for those for whom it has been prepared.” When the ten heard this, they became indignant at James and John. Jesus summoned them and said to them, “You know that those who are recognized as rulers over the Gentiles lord it over them, and their great ones make their authority over them felt. But it shall not be so among you. Rather, whoever wishes to be great among you will be your servant; whoever wishes to be first among you will be the slave of all. For the Son of Man did not come to be served but to serve and to give his life as a ransom for many (Mk. 10:35-45).”
Peter, James and John form an ‘inner circle’ among the disciples. James and John make a request of Jesus to have primary status, one on the right and one on the left of the king in the coming kingdom. Jesus addresses the request in three ways – A place in the kingdom means suffering and yes, to suffer and die for the kingdom. even though they did not fully understand what Jesus was telling them at the time. Their status in the coming kingdom will not be determined by him but by the Father. Status or leadership among the disciples and within the community is based on service. Those who are of the world crave power to exercise over others. Those who want status in the kingdom to come must be subservient to all even to the point of dying for others.
Almighty God, grant us the wisdom not to seek what is beyond our grasp, and the understanding to serve all who are in spiritual or physical need. In poverty of spirit we turn to you with the hope that the Holy Spirit will fill us with your Divine love as we wait with joyful hope for the fullness of your kingdom. This we ask through Christ our Lord. Amen!
References:
Raymond E. Brown, Joseph A. Fitzmyer, & Roland E. Murphy, (Eds.). (1990, 1968). The New Jerome Biblical Commentary. Englewood Cliffs, New Jersey: Prentis Hall, Inc.
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