The Request of James and John

Today's Reflections 

 

The Request of James and John

Mt 20:20-28

²⁰The mother of the sons of Zebedee approached [Jesus] with her sons and did him homage, wishing to ask him for something. ²¹He said to her, “What do you wish?” She answered him, “Command that these two sons of mine sit, one at your right and the other at your left, in your kingdom.” ²²Jesus said in reply, “You do not know what you are asking. Can you drink the cup that I am going to drink?” They said to him, “We can.” ²³He replied, “My cup you will indeed drink, but to sit at my right and at my left [, this] is not mine to give but is for those for whom it has been prepared by my Father.” ²⁴When the ten heard this, they became indignant at the two brothers. ²⁵But Jesus summoned them and said, “You know that the rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and the great ones make their authority over them felt. ²⁶But it shall not be so among you. Rather, whoever wishes to be great among you shall be your servant; ²⁷whoever wishes to be first among you shall be your slave. ²⁸Just so, the Son of Man did not come to be served but to serve and to give his life as a ransom for many.”

SON OF MAN DID NOT COME TO BE SERVED. James, son of Zebedee, is numbered along with his brother John and Simon Peter among the “big three” in the group of Jesus’ disciples. These three are the earliest to be called by Jesus and are witnesses of Jesus’ transfiguration.

This closeness to Jesus gives them a sense of prestige and privilege, and they hope that someday this will translate into positions of power when Jesus is enthroned in his kingdom as the Messiah of God. Just to be sure, the wife of Zebedee makes a request of Jesus for her two sons, much like Bathsheba interceding for her son Solomon before the old King David (cf 1 Kgs 1:15-21).

Jesus takes this occasion to teach his disciples that greatness and positions in his kingdom are quite different from what people ordinarily believe and what the Gentile rulers practice. Where Jesus reigns, the great among his followers act as servants; the first work as slaves. And like him, the Son of Man, they should be ready to serve and give their lives for others.

We use our “connections” to get special treatment.

This is not the way of Jesus.

To be great means to be humble so as to serve.