35 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." 36 And he said to them, "What do you want me to do for you?" 37 And they said to him, "Grant us to sit, one at your right hand and one at your left, in your glory."
A Request
As Jesus and his disciples journey to Jerusalem where Jesus would undertake the cross, two of his disciples make a request, and the other disciples become angry at the request. Both the request and the anger show they didn't yet understand his kingdom. Jesus has just announced his death to them, and two of his disciples’ response is dense and out of touch. "Teacher," they said, "We want you to do for us whatever we ask of you" (35). We know you are about to die in Jerusalem, but we have something we want you to do for us, just a small request. Let us sit at the positions of highest honor when you come into glory (37). They wanted the highest positions of honor in Jesus' kingdom–to sit at the right and left hand of the King. Perhaps they thought they had a chance–they were often in Jesus' inner circle. Maybe Peter had said enough awkward things to bump him out of the top two. Maybe they could get the positions of honor. Now, we mustn't berate these men too harshly. They did, after all, still believe Jesus would be glorified (37). Right after he tells them of his coming death, they talk to him of his coming glory. They believe in their Messiah. But the timing and content of this request are terrible. I think they knew as much because Matthew tells us their mother was involved in asking for this favor (Matthew 20:20-21). Their mother! This is a bad prayer.
Out Of Touch Prayers
Looking back, James and John would agree with us that their request was woefully out of touch. We might castigate them for such a request, but aren't our prayers often out of touch with Jesus' mission? He has already died and risen, but now he seeks and saves that which is lost (Luke 19:10). He is working to make disciples of all nations (Matthew 28:18-20). And, though we should cast all our anxieties on him (1 Peter 5:7), we must also guard against asking amiss for our own desires (James 4:3). Instead, we should consider Jesus' mission and pray accordingly. But Jesus wouldn't ridicule his men for their request. Instead, he interviewed them.
38 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?" 39 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, 40 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." So Jesus told them they didn't know what they were asking (38). Can you drink my cup and partake in my baptism? Both terms -- the cup and baptism -- speak of times of difficulty. The cup was often an emblem of God's wrath. And the baptism Jesus spoke of here was not the one he received at the Jordan River from cousin John. It is the deluge of pain, the flood of tragedy Jesus would endure on the cross. They didn't know what he meant, so they said, "Yes, we are able" (39). And they were right. Jesus said they would partake of his cup and baptism. Both James and John would suffer for Christ. James was the first apostle to die–he was martyred by Herod (Acts 12:1-5). John was the last to die–but he suffered much along the way, and his final days were spent as a persecuted prisoner on the isle of Patmos (Revelation 1:9). Still, the positions of honor in glory were not Jesus' to grant (40). He would defer to his Father for that decision. Incidentally, many have wondered if James and John thought back to the events of the cross with their immature request echoing in their minds. As they looked at the two criminals flanking Jesus on crosses of their own, did James and John realize the folly of their request? We can be thankful for the lesson taught in this exchange. Their superficial request, even at a time like this, was true to our nature as humans in a fallen world. Jesus would go on to teach them a lesson on servanthood, as we’ll see next.