Ambition of James and John
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Mk 10:32-45
32[Jesus and his disciples] were on the way, going up to Jerusalem, and Jesus went ahead of [his disciples]. They were amazed, and those who followed were afraid. Taking the Twelve aside again, he began to tell them what was going to happen to him. 33“Behold, we are going up to Jerusalem, and the Son of Man will be handed over to the chief priests and the scribes, and they will condemn him to death and hand him over to the Gentiles 34who will mock him, spit upon him, scourge him, and put him to death, but after three days he will rise.”
35Then James and John, the sons of Zebedee, came to him and said to him, “Teacher, we want you to do for us whatever we ask of you.” 36He replied, “What do you wish [me] to do for you?” 37They answered him, “Grant that in your glory we may sit one at your right and the other at your left.” 38Jesus said to them, “You do not know what you are asking. Can you drink the cup that I drink or be baptized with the baptism with which I am baptized?” 39They said to him, “We can.” 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; 40but to sit at my right or at my left is not mine to give but is for those for whom it has been prepared.” 41When the ten heard this, they became indignant at James and John. 42Jesus summoned them and said to them, “You know that those who are recognized as rulers over the Gentiles lord it over them, and their great ones make their authority over them felt. 43But it shall not be so among you. Rather, whoever wishes to be great among you will be your servant; 44whoever wishes to be first among you will be the slave of all. 45For the Son of Man did not come to be served but to serve and to give his life as a ransom for many.”
Reflection:
His life as a ransom for many. Jesus has just told the disciples that in Jerusalem the Son of Man will be handed over, mocked, scourged, and put to death. The thoughts of James and John, however, are elsewhere: on personal ambition, reward, and distinction.
The other ten are angry at James and John. They probably have similar ambitions, and they are irritated that the two have beaten them to the draw.
Jesus patiently corrects their idea of greatness. True greatness lies in their ability to suffer with him and for him. Being at the right or at the left of Jesus means their availability to accept and carry his cross.
Greatness is the ability to serve and the openness to help. Greatness is doing what Jesus did, serving and giving his own life as a ransom for many.
32[Jesus and his disciples] were on the way, going up to Jerusalem, and Jesus went ahead of [his disciples]. They were amazed, and those who followed were afraid. Taking the Twelve aside again, he began to tell them what was going to happen to him. 33“Behold, we are going up to Jerusalem, and the Son of Man will be handed over to the chief priests and the scribes, and they will condemn him to death and hand him over to the Gentiles 34who will mock him, spit upon him, scourge him, and put him to death, but after three days he will rise.”
35Then James and John, the sons of Zebedee, came to him and said to him, “Teacher, we want you to do for us whatever we ask of you.” 36He replied, “What do you wish [me] to do for you?” 37They answered him, “Grant that in your glory we may sit one at your right and the other at your left.” 38Jesus said to them, “You do not know what you are asking. Can you drink the cup that I drink or be baptized with the baptism with which I am baptized?” 39They said to him, “We can.” 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; 40but to sit at my right or at my left is not mine to give but is for those for whom it has been prepared.” 41When the ten heard this, they became indignant at James and John. 42Jesus summoned them and said to them, “You know that those who are recognized as rulers over the Gentiles lord it over them, and their great ones make their authority over them felt. 43But it shall not be so among you. Rather, whoever wishes to be great among you will be your servant; 44whoever wishes to be first among you will be the slave of all. 45For the Son of Man did not come to be served but to serve and to give his life as a ransom for many.”
Reflection:
His life as a ransom for many. Jesus has just told the disciples that in Jerusalem the Son of Man will be handed over, mocked, scourged, and put to death. The thoughts of James and John, however, are elsewhere: on personal ambition, reward, and distinction.
The other ten are angry at James and John. They probably have similar ambitions, and they are irritated that the two have beaten them to the draw.
Jesus patiently corrects their idea of greatness. True greatness lies in their ability to suffer with him and for him. Being at the right or at the left of Jesus means their availability to accept and carry his cross.
Greatness is the ability to serve and the openness to help. Greatness is doing what Jesus did, serving and giving his own life as a ransom for many.
Name the great persons in your life.
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