And James and John, the sons of Zebedee, came up to him and said to him, “Teacher, we want you to do for us whatever we ask of you.” And he said to them, “What do you want me to do for you?” And they said to him, “Grant us to sit, one at your right hand and one at your left, in your glory.” Jesus said to them, “You do not know what you are asking. Are you able to drink the cup that I drink, or to be baptized with the baptism with which I am baptized?” And they said to him, “We are able.” And 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 hand or at my left is not mine to grant, but it is for those for whom it has been prepared.” And when the ten heard it, they began to be indignant at James and John. And Jesus called them to him and said to them, “You know that those who are considered rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and their great ones exercise authority over them. But it shall not be so among you. But whoever would be great among you must be your servant, and whoever would be first among you must be slave of all. For even the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.”
Comment: We looked at the beginning of this passage yesterday. Seems as if James and John were only thinking of themselves. Jesus doesn’t directly chastise them although we would probably have done so! Rather He says. “You do not know what you are asking. Are you able to drink the cup that I drink, or to be baptized with the baptism with which I am baptized?” The two are confident and suggest that they could and would drink the cup and be baptized with what Jesus was to go through. But they didn’t see the future for themselves. James would be beheaded and John persecuted and imprisoned. Baptism means more than just saying a word, it meant going through wherever their commitment to Jesus would take them. There was a huge hiccough when they baulked at the time Jesus was crucified (they deserted Him in fear) but after the resurrection they acted like men and ‘persisted until their ends’ – James for a short period and a quick death; John for years of persecution, imprisonment and an old age death. Jesus told them that they weren’t to expect be empowered in a glorious future but faced a life of slavery and servitude. Jesus’ own perfect life was to become the ransom for all who believe on Him, in that life changing way which God requires. Biblical ‘belief’ isn’t only in the head and the brain but also in the heart and living!
Proverbs 3:5-6 -(ESV) Trust in the LORD with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths.
Prayer: May my faith and belief be of the right kind!
As I read it! 