20 Then the mother of Zebedee’s sons came to Jesus with her sons and, kneeling down, asked a favor of him.
21 “What is it you want?” he asked.
She said, “Grant that one of these two sons of mine may sit at your right and the other at your left in your kingdom.”
22 “You don’t know what you are asking,” Jesus said to them. “Can you drink the cup I am going to drink?”
“We can,” they answered.
23 Jesus said to them, “You will indeed drink from my cup, but to sit at my right or left is not for me to grant. These places belong to those for whom they have been prepared by my Father.”
24 When the ten heard about this, they were indignant with the two brothers. 25 Jesus called them together and said, “You know that the rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and their high officials exercise authority over them. 26 Not so with you. Instead, whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant, 27 and whoever wants to be first must be your slave— 28 just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.”
Servant Leadership
The disciples didn’t know the nature of the Kingdom to come and neither did their mothers. The error of thought is highlighted by the disciples’ desire to be greatest. When the Kingdom comes, true leadership will be shown by those who lead in the example of self-sacrifice.
Questions
- What does the mother request?
- What is the disciples’ response?
- What misconception do people in the passage have about the Kingdom of God?
- How do people fight for their children to be elevated today?
- What ambition should parents have for their children above all other ambitions?
