Ambition of James and John

Today's Reflections

Ambition of James and John 

http://graceandspace.org 

Mk 10:35-45

³⁵James and John, the sons of Zebedee, came to [Jesus] 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:

You do not know what you are asking. The evangelist Mark presents the disciples in an unflattering light. They do not seem to understand what following Jesus entails. They see Jesus as the Messiah with a political agenda. And even after Jesus has hinted three times about his passion and death, they still do not understand that their Master will suffer and die in Jerusalem.

This is illustrated clearly in the request of the brothers James and John for the two most important positions when Jesus sits in glory. They probably think that Jesus will replace the Roman power with his own reign. The two brothers hope to be his trusted ministers.

It is not only the two brothers who yearn for positions of power but the rest of the Twelve as well. Mark tells us that the ten become indignant at James and John.

Jesus turns the occasion into an opportunity to teach them about authority and greatness. The rulers among the Gentiles lord it over their subjects. Such is the case of the emperor, the governors, and lesser authorities. The Roman citizens rule over the Israelites. Even the religious leaders in Israel love to sit on the “chair” of Moses and receive salutations from the people.

But it is different with Jesus. He who is their Master has not come to be served but to serve. His only agenda is to serve the people and to save them. He is willing to pay the price for it, to undergo his “baptism”—his suffering and death on the cross—to defeat the power of sin and death.

The Second Plenary Council of the Philippines

used the title servant-leaders for those in authority.

How is this lived by our religious leaders today?