Journey Through The Bible
     Old Testament Reading: Zephaniah 1-3
     New Testament Reading: Matthew 20

Then the mother of Zebedee’s sons approached him with her sons. She knelt down to ask him for something. “What do you want?” he asked her. “Promise,” she said to him, “that these two sons of mine may sit, one on your right and the other on your left, in your kingdom” (Matthew 20:20-21).

Jesus traveled toward Jerusalem for the last time. He refuted the Jewish leaders’ ideas that their heritage would ensure them membership in heaven. Jesus emphasized that salvation depends on God’s love, mercy, and kindness. No one deserves it. But His disciples were slow to learn and argued over kingdom status for themselves.

For the third time, Jesus announced His arrest, crucifixion, and resurrection. (v17-19) In the previous two announcements (Matt. 16:21 & 17:22) Jesus had not specified how He would die. But now He clearly mentioned the cross. He also clearly mentioned His resurrection, but the message did not penetrate the disciple’s hearts.

In contrast to this announcement of suffering and death, we have the request of James and John, and their mother Salome, the sister of Mary, Jesus’ mother. Jesus spoke about a cross, but they were interested in a crown. They wanted reserved seats on special thrones! We get the impression that the mother, Salome, was the real inspiration behind this request and that she was interested in promoting her sons. And she wasn’t afraid to play the ‘family ties’ card to get her request!

Before we criticize what they did, let’s notice some commendable features in this event. First, they believed in prayer and they dared to believe the promise Jesus had given about sitting on thrones. (Matt 19:28) It must have taken faith on their part to believe He would establish those thrones after He had just told them He was going to die.

But there were several things wrong with their request. To begin with, it was born in ignorance. Jesus replied, You don’t know what you’re asking (v22). Little did Salome realize that the path to the throne is difficult. Her son James was the first disciple to be martyred, and John had to endure hard days on the Isle of Patmos. These three believers wanted their will, not God’s will, and they wanted it their way.

Another factor was their lack of heavenly direction. They were thinking like the world. They wanted to lord it over like the rulers of the Gentiles (v25). They were selfishly asking for glory for themselves, not for the Lord. No doubt they felt relieved that they had gotten to Jesus with this request before Peter did!

Salome learned her lesson. When Jesus was crucified, she was standing near the cross and sharing in His sorrow and pain (Matt. 27:56 the mother of Zebedee’s sons; Mark 15:40 Salome; John 19:25 His mother’s sister). She did not see two thrones on either side of her Lord. She saw two thieves on two crosses. And she heard Jesus give her son John to His mother Mary (John 19:26-27). Salome’s selfishness was rebuked, and she meekly accepted it.

The key to greatness is not found in position or power, but in character. We must identify with Jesus Christ in His service and suffering, for even He could only reach the throne by way of the cross. To improve our praying, we must improve our serving. If we are serving Him and others, then we will not be praying selfishly. If our prayers do not make us better servants, then there is something wrong with them.