Mark 10:35-4035And James and John, the sons of Zebedee, come unto him, saying, Master, we would that thou shouldest do for us whatsoever we shall desire. 36And he said unto them, What would ye that I should do for you? 37They said unto him, Grant unto us that we may sit, one on thy right hand, and the other on thy left hand, in thy glory. 38But Jesus said unto them, Ye know not what ye ask: can ye drink of the cup that I drink of? and be baptized with the baptism that I am baptized with? 39And they said unto him, We can. And Jesus said unto them, Ye shall indeed drink of the cup that I drink of; and with the baptism that I am baptized withal shall ye be baptized: 40But to sit on my right hand and on my left hand is not mine to give; but it shall be given to them for whom it is prepared. (Mark 10:35‑40).
JAMES and John, the two sons of Zebedee, had a favor to ask of Jesus. They desired to be permitted to sit, the one on the right hand, and the other on the left hand of Jesus in His glory.
Was not this a selfish request? Why should these two disciples seek for themselves the best place? Did they think themselves more deserving than any of the other disciples? If not, why should they not wish for others equally as good a place as for themselves?
Scripture says: “Let nothing be done through strife or vain glory; but in lowliness of mind let each esteem other better than themselves.” If we did this, we would not be trying to get the first place, but would be content to let others have better places: than ourselves; and we would be content to get just the place that Jesus will give us in His glory.
But these two disciples loved Jesus, and when He, asked them if they could drink of the cup that He drank of, and be baptized with the baptism that He was baptized with, they said, “We can.” They were willing to suffer with Jesus, so as to have a place with Him in glory. And Jesus told them that they should do so. He was rejected in this world, and was about to be put to death by those that hated Him; and they were willing to drink of the same cup, so as to be in the same glory. But Jesus did not tell them that they should sit on His right hand and on His left. This privilege He could give only to those for whom it was prepared. And if Jesus has so loved us as to lay down His life for us, do you not think we can trust Him to give us the best place He can, when He takes us to glory?
Dear young reader, do you love Jesus? Are you willing to drink of His cup? Are you willing to be an outcast in this world so as to have a place with Him in glory? Well Jesus has died for you, and if you trust Him, you will not only be saved, but Jesus will give you a place with Himself in glory.
ML 04/20/1902