A Lesser Known Mother of Scripture

The Mother of James and John: Mrs. Zebedee

A mother in the Bible who is very rarely talked about is the wife of Zebedee, the mother of James and John. We first read about her in Matthew 20. She went to Jesus with James and John and asked him for a favor. “Grant that one of these two sons of mine may sit at your right and the other at your left in your kingdom” (v. 21).

Later we find her at the crucifixion:

“Many women were there, watching from a distance. They had followed Jesus from Galilee to care for his needs. Among them were Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James and Joseph, and the mother of Zebedee’s sons” (Matthew 27:55, 56, emphasis added).

This woman was thinking about the well-being of her sons. She, like any parent, surely wasn’t purposely being selfish but was instead trying to help her sons. Jesus responded by telling her it wasn’t his place to choose who would sit at his right or left. Instead, the Father would decide.

What I love about this mother is that even though she made a mistake by trying to gain fame and power for her sons, she learned from it. It might have taken her a while, but eventually she learned that the most important thing in life was not success or popularity or power or fame but service.

The reason I believe she learned from her mistake is because of what she did when Jesus died on the cross. She didn’t run away from the conflict for fear of being punished herself. She didn’t continue to seek glory for her sons. Instead she stayed beside Jesus until the end.

“Many women were there, watching from a distance. They had followed Jesus from Galilee to care for his needs. Among them were Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James and Joseph, and the mother of Zebedee’s sons” (Matthew 27:55, 56, emphasis added). This mother reminds us that there’s always time to fix a mistake. As parents, we are going to make mistakes. The question is not if but when. The mother of James and John was wrong to seek glory for her sons, but she was right to seek glory for Jesus.

These mothers in the Bible might not be well known. In fact, their names are not even recorded in Scripture. Nonetheless, the lessons from their stories are life changing.

Of the Twelve was more in need of tempering than the often zealous, outspoken, fervent, and even thunderous sons of Zebedee, James and John, who Jesus affectionately, perhaps even admonishingly, nicknamed the Sons of Thunder.

These men, as youngsters, may have been quick & hot tempered, difficult to parent,

She is in such a relationship with Jesus that she is able to approach the Lord, and speak openly with him about her desires!

“Many women were there, watching from a distance. They had followed Jesus from Galilee to care for his needs. Among them were Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James and Joseph, and the mother of Zebedee’s sons” (Matthew 27:55, 56, emphasis added).

Hendricksen, Commenting on Matthew: One might be inclined to ask, “How was it possible that in spite of all this teaching about humility and service, teaching constantly reinforced by the example of Christ himself (12:15-21*- Luke 22:27), the mother of these two disciples comes to Jesus with her two sons, and asks him to assign to them, next to himself, the two highest positions in the kingdom?” But is it not true that, speaking in general, more than nineteen hundred Years of gospel proclamation have not succeeded in teaching men the lesson of self-denial and willingness to be least in the kingdom? Besides, it would be unfair to this mother if we failed to grant that in some respects her request was credit.

It would seem therefore, that the request of this mother -was soon after the third lesson on the cross had been delivered and very shortly previous to the week of the passion. From Mark 10:35-41 it is very clear that the request which this mother is about to make is definitely also the request of her sons. In Mother and sons were in perfect agreement. Together they came to Jesus. respectfully she waits until Jesus encourages her to state her request, to Her request is evidence of her faith. It was a remarkable faith. The basis for it may well have beer saying of Jesus reported in 19:28 according to which he promises that day he would be seated on the throne of his glory, and that each of The Twelve would then also be seated on a throne. She believes that this is actually Going to happen. She is convinced of this in spite of the fact that at this moment there is very little to show that events are moving in that direction.

She was guilty of confusing earthly realities with heavenly, as what generally happens on earth, when men who, after a tremendous struggle,have finally reached the top, will then from their lofty perch look upon and hold down all those below them, also applied to the Kingdom of heaven. She wanted her sons, and not Andrew or Philip-not Peter-no, no one but her two sons James and John, to occupy the two pre-eminent positions, She probably thought that her request must be made now, without any delay, because the kingdom of God in all its glory might established at any moment (Luke 19:11). Besides, if our assumption that she was probably Jesus’ aunt should be correct this family relationship may also have encouraged her to make her request.

Are your able to drink the cup that I am about to drink? As original indicates, and as is also clear from the A.V., but not from not modern translations, He uses the plural, which means that either he is now speaking to James and John (cf. Mark 10’3 8), or to these two and their mother. Since the two apostles were in full agreement with their mother, so that they themselves had actively supported her request, making it also their own petition, and since these two were most directly concerned with its gratification it is understandable that Jesus in answer should especially have them in mind. Jesus then, reminds them that they do not understand what their request really involves. They forget that a prayer for glory is a prayer for sufferings in other words, that it is the way of cross that alone, that leads home.

“Many women were there, watching from a distance. They had followed Jesus from Galilee to care for his needs. Among them were Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James and Joseph, and the mother of Zebedee’s sons” (Matthew 27:55, 56, emphasis added).

This woman was thinking about the well-being of her sons. She, like any parent, surely wasn’t purposely being selfish but was instead trying to help her sons. Jesus responded by telling her it wasn’t his place to choose who would sit at his right or left. Instead, the Father would decide.

Hendricksen, NT COMM., MATTHEW, says, these are women of courage. These women had given evidence of their hearts filled with love and sympathy towards Christ. The third woman mentioned was the mother of Zebedee’s sons (James and John; cf. 20:20–21). These women were given the honor of being mentioned among those who stood by Jesus through his crucifixion. They were also Matthew’s first and primary witnesses of the empty tomb and the resurrected Jesus. They also served as Jesus’ messengers to the disciples about his resurrection (28:10).

In a culture where women were largely seen and not heard, Matthew gave unusual honor to women. He mentioned women in Jesus’ genealogy (1:1–17, the opening narrative), and now here in the latter part (the closing narrative) of the story. The disciples were absent probably because of the possibility of their being identified as his associates and therefore presumed revolutionaries.

Weber, Stuart K. 2000. Matthew. Vol. 1. Holman New Testament Commentary. Nashville, TN: Broadman & Holman Publishers. This mother reminds us that there’s always time to fix a mistake. As parents, we are going to make mistakes. The question is not if but when.

The mother of James and John was wrong to seek glory for her sons, but she was right to seek glory for Jesus.

The preeminence of these faithful women in the account of the death of Jesus, taken alongside the shameful absence of the disciples, is a powerful warning against chauvinism in the community of Jesus’ disciples (cf. 23:8–12; Gal 3:28).

Turner, David, and Darrell L. Bock. 2005. Cornerstone Biblical Commentary, Vol 11: Matthew and Mark. Carol Stream, IL: Tyndale House Publishers.

What we can appreciate about this mother is that even though she made a mistake by trying to gain fame and power for her sons, she learned from it. It might have taken her a while, but eventually she learned that the most important thing in life was not success or popularity or power or fame but service.

The reason I believe she learned from her mistake is because of what she did when Jesus died on the cross. She didn’t run away from the conflict for fear of being punished herself. She didn’t continue to seek glory for her sons. Instead she stayed beside Jesus until the end.

Mothers, parents- you are not perfect. You will want the better for your children. At times we will stumble in the process- but do not run away, Run to Jesus. Stay with Jesus. As Orland says, “you will bring Jesus happiness by your coming to him.”