Matt 20:20 - 28
Here we read of how the sons of Zebedee came together with their
mother to Jesus with a special request for them. Their mother came to pay Jesus homage and
worship Him, but she had another agenda. She actually wanted Jesus to do her sons a favour
- to have them exalted above the other disciples. She wanted to keep it secret, but Jesus
refused to be caught in this trap and He openly asked her what she wanted. He saw through
her worship and exposed her request, so that she was forced to ask it openly.
We do not know if it was her or her sons' scheme, but she made the
request on their behalf. Some commentators even believe that she was the sister of Jesus'
mother, so then they would even have been close family.
Women are a strong force in this world and can be used powerfully
either in the hand of God or in the hand of the devil.
Jesus discussed this matter of position already earlier with His
disciples in Ch. 18, but it's as if they did not hear or were not satisfied with what He
said.
Here again Jesus had to instruct them and said unto them,
"you know not what you ask; can you drink the cup I will drink, and be baptised with
the baptism I am baptised with?" They replied that they were able. Jesus answered
that they will indeed drink His cup and be baptised with His baptism, but still, to sit on
His right hand and on His left hand is not for Him to give, but for those for whom it is
prepared by His Father. Both of them suffered for their faith and drank Jesus' cup and
were baptised with His baptism. James was one of the first Christian martyrs, and John
suffered greatly for Christ's sake on the isle of Patmos.
They fight and kill in the world for position, but it is awful
when the children of God do that and fight for position. You must be saved from the
craving for position, else it will destroy you.
Jesus said, "...but whoever desires to become great among
you, let him be your servant. 27And whoever desires to be first among you, let
him be your slave-- 28just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to
serve, and to give His life a ransom for many."
