On the way to Jerusalem … that’s the way Mark begins this passage. If for no other reason, than to remind us “where” Jesus is headed…
He is determined. His face is set like flint. He is man who is driven. A showdown lies ahead and Jesus does not back down. He heads directly for the Holy City…he will not be deterred. Everyone starts to get emotional, although they are not sure why. They’re surprised and scared. The tenor has changed. The air is heavier with each and every step. What does it all mean? They secretly hoped Jerusalem was a forever journey away.
The disciples are unsure…what to do…how to react…what to say…what exactly to think…how to feel…
So Jesus makes the attempt to make things “plain and uncomplicated for them.”
He almost just spits it out. His words come tumbling out of his mouth.
Jesus pauses and reminds his disciples in private—for the third and final time—that he will suffer, die, and be raised when they get “you know where.” This is not going to be pretty, either. It will be messy. But if there is any good news at all, it will end well. Just be faithful and follow me.
So, they start out again. They stop, they pause, they start out again. It is repetitious. So far, this has been their story. Jesus does a lot of talking in between. There has been a lot of stopping…and a lot of talking. He is not stalling mind you. These he says are necessary stops.
That’s what Jesus does. He stops and he talks. And he does so, a lot.
But evidently, James and John don’t hear a word of what Jesus has to say – because they immediately ask Jesus, “if they can sit next to him in glory.”
You know, all comfy and cozy. Elevated would be good. They are expecting thrones. Gold thrones. Big thrones. Bigger than Caesar’s. In a glorious kingdom, a huge kingdom, with lots and lots of servants…and soldiers…and weapons…and God Almighty on their side.
Yep, one wants the right hand side and the other one wanted the left hand side. The hands or the sides represented authority on the right and power on the left…
James, no doubt was the “authority guy,” while John was the “brute force kung fu dude.” No wonder they were called “the sons of thunder!”
In ancient times, a person with “high or highest rank” stood to the king’s right side. Even today, a person may be called someone’s “right hand man” or a “wingman” when he or she serves as “the closest person” to another leader.
James wanted the “high or the highest rank” possible for himself…after all, he was the older of the two. The right hand therefore, is a reference to both a place of proximity and a position of authority above all other powers.
Yep that was James…
As for John, he was the younger son of Zebedee, he would always listen to his older and far wiser brother. He would sit where he was told. At least, at very least, they were getting the jump on the other disciples…that…was important!
You know the other ones wanted these positions, too! They were just too slow. If you snooze, you lose. James and John made their requests known first. The early bird gets the throne!
Sorry guys! You gotta be quicker next time!
So Jesus paused again, temporarily. He need to address this one, he needed to stop again. The two brothers drew near.
So, Jesus responded that this depends on whether they can “walk his walk” and “talk his talk.” He’s pretty much asking in “a veiled way” whether they’re prepared “to suffer like he will.”
They don’t get it, and respond, “We are able”
Um, suffer, who said anything about suffering, man, we just want to sit, you know, in those two seats of power and authority. We want to rule with you. We want to help you out. We got your back…but suffering, um, no one said anything about suffering did they?
Messiahs don’t suffer.
Surely you are not going to suffer…
And as for us, we want simply want to rule victoriously with you, forever! Command an army or two, take on the Romans, defeat them and make a name for ourselves.
Jesus assures them that they are indeed “able,” but it’s not his “prerogative” to divvy out the seats of honor.
It doesn’t work that way.
Jesus doesn’t play favorites. He doesn’t pick and choose. He doesn’t dole out seating. He is no maitre D!
The “other ten” all of a sudden get wind of things. Oh no, this is not going to be pretty. This is going to be “more than a momentary delay” on their journey. This could actually end in a rumble…or a fight.
To say the other ten disciples are “perturbed” that James and John are jockeying for power in this way, is to say little…Perturbed doesn’t quite cover it!
You could say the “other ten” were angry…but far closer to the truth would be: mad, enraged, livid, irate, furious, indignant, resentful and irritated.
An apostolic brawl was a real possibility, here.
So, one more time, Jesus had to set them all straight. He had to take charge. He had to be the adult among children.
They’re all behaving like “mudslinging politicians,” who desire power and want to boss everybody around. That’s not how it works!
Disciples are supposed to march to the tune of a “different drummer.” Their greatness lies in “servitude.”
Jesus cites himself as an example to imitate. He came to serve and to give his life “for many…” And, they (and we) are to do likewise.
Go, be a servant to others.
Amen!