At Home With Jesus: The Bold Request

Mark 10:35–45 NIV

35 Then James and John, the sons of Zebedee, came to him. “Teacher,” they said, “we want you to do for us whatever we ask.” 36 “What do you want me to do for you?” he asked. 37 They replied, “Let one of us sit at your right and the other at your left in your glory.” 38 “You don’t know what you are asking,” Jesus said. “Can you drink the cup I drink or be baptized with the baptism I am baptized with?” 39 “We can,” they answered. Jesus said to them, “You will drink the cup I drink and be baptized with the baptism I am baptized with, 40 but to sit at my right or left is not for me to grant. These places belong to those for whom they have been prepared.” 41 When the ten heard about this, they became indignant with James and John. 42 Jesus called them together and said, “You know that those who are regarded as rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and their high officials exercise authority over them. 43 Not so with you. Instead, whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant, 44 and whoever wants to be first must be slave of all. 45 For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.”

James and John freely asked Jesus a very bold request.

In Matthew’s account Zebedee’s wife, James and John’s mother made this bold request on behalf of her son’s.

This Bold request… they asked Jesus to grant them the positions of sitting on Jesus’ right and left.

James and John gave Jesus a bold request.

“We want you to do for us what we ask.”

There was no… could you please… no beating around the bush… no I would love it Jesus if you could…

No, they gave a direct and quite demanding request from Jesus.

The way they asked Jesus was just as shocking as the request but also Jesus’ response was also a surprise.

“What do you want me to do for you?”

Jesus wants us to ask HIM, even if HE says no, or not yet, or yes… Jesus