Mark 10:35-45--The Request of James and John

Mark 10:35-45
English Standard Version

The Request of James and John​
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.” 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.” 41 And when the ten heard it, they began to be indignant at James and John. 42 And Jesus called them to him and said to them, “You know that those who are considered rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and their great ones exercise authority over them. 43 But it shall not be so among you. But whoever would be great among you must be your servant, 44 and whoever would be first among you must be slave of all. 45 For even the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.”

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Jesus has just tried to teach His disciples a lesson that whoever wants to be the greatest must be like a little child, and then He told them how He was going to Jerusalem to suffer and die at the hands of the Jews and the Gentiles, but He would rise again on the third day.

It seems obvious the disciples weren't understanding what Jesus was trying to teach them because once again they start arguing about who would be the greatest in the coming kingdom--specifically who would sit at the right hand of Jesus and who would sit at His left hand when He was on the throne.  James and John were brothers, and their mother got involved in making this request on behalf of her sons (though this text makes it clear that James and John also were involved in the request asking Jesus to do for them whatever they asked).  James and John were two of the three disciples that were closest to Jesus--the other being Simon Peter.

Jesus replies to James and John asking (I think rhetorically, but they answered anyways) if they were ready to drink from the cup that Jesus is about to drink from and be baptized with the baptism He was about to be baptized.  I don't think they were supposed to answer--they were supposed to realize the answer was, "No," but they replied anyways with, "We are able."

Jesus then tells that that they will indeed drink the same cup and be baptized with the same baptism (both of them would suffer like He suffered.  We know from the book of Acts that James was the first of the apostles to die and we think John was the last of the original Twelve to die, so he had to see all his friends die before him).  However, Jesus does not promise them a seat at His right hand or left hand because He cannot give those positions to anyone--those positions have been prepared ahead of time for those that will be seated there (Jesus doesn't exactly say "No" to them either so there's still a chance that they may be the ones that these seats have been prepared for but if we go with the teaching of Jesus, it might be someone that we least expect who humbled themselves greatly who is highly exalted in the kingdom).

As expected, all the other disciples were indignant when they heard the request made by James and John (most likely because they were revealing what was in their own hearts that they thought they deserved to sit in one of these seats of chief importance).  Hadn't any of them been listening?  It would seem the lesson on "the last being first and the first being last" would need to be repeated for them again.

Jesus tells them to not act like the rulers of the Gentiles that lord their power and position over everyone by making sure everyone knows how important they are--they demand to always sit in the best seat.  No, Jesus says that anyone who wants to be great in His kingdom must be a servant to all.  Jesus will demonstrate this for them at Passover meal they shared together before Jesus' arrest, trial, and crucifixion.  During that time, we'll see Jesus take off his robes, wrap Himself in a towel and wash the disciples' feet (including Judas who would betray Him).  He will tell them that He has given them an example to follow.  This is one of the greatest, most important lessons that He wanted His disciples to learn--to be selfless.  So, they saw that even Jesus, the Son of Man, came not to be served, but to serve, and to give His life as a ransom for many.  Could they really drink from that cup and be baptized with that baptism?  Maybe not yet, but we'll see how they will be changed in the book of Acts when the Holy Spirit comes upon them.