20 Then the mother of Zebedee’s sons came to Him with her sons, kneeling down and asking something from Him. 21 And He said to her, “What do you wish?” She said to Him, “Grant that these two sons of mine may sit, one on Your right hand and the other on the left, in Your kingdom.” 22 But Jesus answered and said, “You do not know what you ask. Are you able to drink the cup that I am about to drink, and be baptized with the baptism that I am baptized with?” They said to Him, “We are able.” 23 So He said to them, “You will indeed drink My cup, and be baptized with the baptism that I am baptized with; but to sit on My right hand and on My left is not Mine to give, but it is for those for whom it is prepared by My Father.”
20:20
Then [Salome asked this question based on the resurrection predicted the previous verse] the mother of Zebedee’s sons came to Him with her sons, kneeling down and asking something from Him.
The mother of Zebedee’s sons was Salome. She implored Jesus for special privileges for her sons James and John. We can see her faithfulness when she went to the foot of the cross (27:56), but she was manipulative here. James and John probably asked her to do this (Mk 10:35).
20:21
And He said to her, “What do you wish?” She said to Him, “Grant that these two sons of mine may sit, one on Your right hand and the other on the left, in Your kingdom.”
“In your kingdom” refers to the Millennial kingdom of 1,000 years after the rapture of the church.
20:22
But Jesus answered and said [Jesus addressed James and John], “You do not know what you ask. Are you able to drink the cup [suffering and death] that I am about to drink, and be baptized with the baptism that I am baptized with?” They said to Him, “We are able.”
James and John did not understand the extent of what they would face.
20:23
So He said to them, “You will indeed drink My cup [in full measure], and be baptized with the baptism that I am baptized with [plunged into suffering and death];
Jesus prophesied that the brothers would suffer in ministry. James was killed with the sword (Ac 12:2) and John exiled to the isle of Patmos (Re 1:9).
but to sit on My right hand and on My left is not Mine to give, but it is for those for whom it is prepared by My Father.”
The mother wanted her sons to sit at posts of greatest honor. It was not Jesus’ prerogative to grant them status in the kingdom. The Father will not place people in position based on ambition.
PRINCIPLE:
Power lust violates kingdom leadership.
APPLICATION:
Privilege, power, and prestige are not God’s end in leadership; rather, it is service to others. Those who use Christian ministry for power lust run in polar opposition to how Jesus led. This kind of leadership is self-seeking and self-centered. It imposes personal rights over the welfare of others. Self-glory is a major problem in evangelism today. Truly great leadership is giving oriented. The purpose of Christian leadership is to give, not take.
1 Pe 5:3 nor as being lords over those entrusted to you, but being examples to the flock;
