A Mother's Request
Scripture
Matthew 20:20-28
Mark 10:35-45
Key Difference
Matthew records that the mother of James and
John came to Jesus to request that her sons be placed at His
right and left in His kingdom. Mark states that James and
John themselves asked this of Jesus. Obviously their
mother spoke to Jesus for them and the idea was not just her
own. In both accounts, when Jesus responds, He speaks
directly to James and John.
Additional Commentary
The disciples believe and understand that Jesus
is the Messiah that they have been waiting for. What they
do not understand is the nature of His kingdom. The
disciples expected Jesus to overthrow the Roman government and
to reestablish Israel as its own independent nation.
Because of this, the disciples are jockeying for key positions
within His government.
James and John do not realize what they are
asking and Jesus warns them that they are not ready to endure
what will be necessary for them to gain a position of authority
in His kingdom - but they will be and they will suffer for God's
kingdom. The book of Acts tells us that James is the first
of the disciples to be martyred and it is his beheading that
causes the church to scatter and spread from Jerusalem.
According to church history, John was the only disciple who was
not martyred but he did not live an easy life. He was
boiled alive in oil but managed to live and was sent into exile
on the island of Patmos. This is where he wrote the book
of Revelation.
The way to be first in the kingdom of God is
through service. Jesus repeats instructions that the last
shall be first and the first shall be last. People who
strive for authority are not the kind of people that God will
give authority to. Instead, He is looking for people with
a servant's heart.
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