"They." So that
we’re on the same page, there were a lot of "they" on the road with
Jesus. Passover is approaching which will bring many people to Jerusalem. To
give you an idea,…
* "Weeks before the
holiday, the trickles began from Asia Minor, from Egypt, from Africa, from Italy,
from Greece, from Mesopotamia." [i]
* "The number of
Jewish pilgrims to the Temple was computed by the governor Gesius Florus
(64-66), who counted 256,500 paschal lambs at one Passover festival; allowing
ten persons to one lamb, this would make 2,565,000 pilgrims (Josephus, "B.
J." vi. 9)." [ii]
* A footnote to that number of pilgrims as stated by Josephus. "The
numbers are certainly exaggerated (the city precincts would not have been able
to accommodate so many people) and meant to emphasize Jewish religious
solidarity at a time of Roman occupation." [iii]
Regardless of the validity
of Josephus' estimate, the sheer number of pilgrims was significantly large. Marc
* shared, "To give a modern-day example, think of Mecca today during the
great Islamic festivals which attract hundreds of thousands of Muslims."
The pilgrimage has begun from
around the globe. "They" approach Jerusalem, already in anticipation.
On the road, Jesus teaches and shares the message of Good News. He gains more
followers. The group expands, as they are in awe of this amazing Rabbi.
Understand though,
"they" were also afraid. Darn-tooting. The leaders of the
Establishment are none too happy with Jesus, and if anyone thinks this will go
over well in Jerusalem,… brace yourselves. Nonetheless, a revolution is
stirring in the hearts of humanity, especially those who are
anti-Establishment.
Jesus takes his disciples
aside and for the third time (this one with the most detail), he tells them
about his upcoming death and resurrection.
Do the disciples believe
Jesus is going to die? The Christ has certainly made it clear this will happen.
Graphically clear. And I think the disciples have that gnawing gut feeling/understanding
of it. The request of James and John in the next verses gives an indication of
this. But coming to terms with death and what that means for the Messiah, what
that means in their "head versus gut" understanding of the Messiah,…
that's something else.
Yet,… the disciples still
follow.
Then comes the moment that
actually made me laugh. Lord, we humbly
request that you do exactly what we ask. Seriously?
Of course, I must admit I
was also sadly laughing at myself for I've done the same exact thing over the
course of time. Lord, I humbly request
that you do exactly what I ask. Makes me want to take a step back and
reflect in my own approach.
Another version of
"the humble request" has a simpler, Lord, we'd like you to do something for us. Frankly, I think the
first version is more in line with what we know about James and John. They come
from a family where their dad, Zebedee, employs hired servants (1:20). Given
their past, they have been served.
Even if you prefer what Matthew 20:20-21 revealed -- that their mother, Salome (sister of Mary, mother of
Jesus), made the approach to the Christ -- it involves the brothers. In this
gospel, the approach is more personal; it's a family matter. There's still something
misguided and ambitious in the timing.
For certainty though,
James and John didn't doubt who Jesus said he was. That comes across clearly as
they continue.
The Messiah, the King, the
Ruler of All,… "when you take your place on the throne, when you are in
power, we want the top places in your cabinet. It doesn't matter to us who is
on the right and who is on the left. We just want to be in the power positions alongside
you." Another way to look at this is, "When you're in power, which
means we'll also be in power, we can
get our way. It'll be good to be served!" Or as Mel Brooks would say,
"It's good to be the King!" [iv]
With an approach like this
coming from two of his most trusted disciples, you'd think there would've been
a serious "come to Jesus meeting." In this instance, it was a
different type of Jesus meeting.
You have no idea what you're asking.
James and John
"think" they do, but they really don't.
Jesus then speaks to them
about the cup and the baptism. The cup is "a metaphor for consequences
that must be accepted (Psalm 75:8; Isaiah 51:17,22),
which usually merited suffering resulting from one's wrongdoing." [v] He is accepting the cup in
place of others.
Regarding baptism, remember
Mark 1:8?
John the Baptist predicted Jesus would baptize with the Holy Spirit. He is
accepting the consequences of that baptism.
"The expression, as
Jesus used it here, had nothing to do with technical baptism. What he is saying
is, 'Can you bear to go through the terrible experience which I have to go
through? Can you face being submerged in hatred and in pain and death, as I
have to be?'" [vi]
Taking it at face value
without full understanding of the consequences, James and John respond, "Yes!
We absolutely know what we're asking. We're able to drink from the cup and be
baptized with the baptism that you were." Or as Gene * stated, "While
they didn't know what it truly involved, it was the idea of it."
It's here in which Jesus knowingly
concurs. "You're right. You will
drink the cup I drink and be baptized in my baptism."
Can you imagine seeing the
brothers nodding their heads? "See?!? We were right!" Suffering from persecutions, even though Jesus
told them they would, was the last thing on their minds.
Did You
Know…?
Years later…
John faced martyrdom which
some records reflect he was placed in a huge basin of boiling oil during a wave
of persecution in Rome. Miraculously he survived this experience (if true). He
was sentenced to the mines on the prison island of Patmos where he wrote the Book of Revelation.
Older brother, James (the
Greater), was eventually beheaded in Jerusalem by Herod Agrippa. Interesting
tidbit, the officer who guarded and walked beside James to the place of
execution was overcome by his conviction. The officer declared his new faith to
the judge. In doing so, the officer knelt beside James and was executed as
well. [vii]
Within the last verse, Jesus
tells the two brothers, "To sit at my right hand or at my left is not mine
to grant, but it is for those whom it has been prepared." [viii] To be the Messiah, one
would think Jesus could grant anything; however, he refutes it.
In considering these six verses
as they relate to Jesus, James and John and reflecting on the past to the
present, it's an attention-getter how much wealth, power, control, connections,
position mean in today's world -- just like it was then. And Jesus reminds us,
"That's not what the Good News is about. That's not what I am about."
The last thing I leave you
with is something of imagery. This isn't necessarily apt to Jesus' reply;
nevertheless, when I read "at my
right" and "at my left"
and knowing what is to come, I found it chilling yet stirring.
When Jesus is crucified,
who is at his right and his left? The lowest of the low. Even then, he
continues to be in the company of those who are deemed lesser than, unworthy. Reaching
out to bring the Message. To love. To change lives. And he does so for one of
those on a cross next to him -- even in the agony of death -- who comes to him
like a child.
NEXT
The troubling
"ransom"
