Saturday, February 13
The Request
of the Mother of James & John
Matthew 20:
20 – 28
It is almost comically,
stereo-typical; a devoted Jewish mother wanting her boys to grow up and become
doctors or lawyers; become rich and successful; each marry a nice Jewish girl;
make babies and make her proud.
There’s nothing terribly wrong with her ambition
for her and Zebedee’s sons, James and John. She was just being a good mother,
looking out for her sons’ best interests. Who is to say that if the mothers of
the other disciples had been in the area, too, that none of them might have
thought of it, as well? Now that would have been an interesting sight; twelve mothers
arguing about whose son had the best merits.
In the other gospels James and John make their
own request. Maybe they were the ones who were behind it all; egging their
mother to go and ask, “Mom; we don’t want the other guys to see us talking to
Jesus alone about this. Would you mind talking to him for us?”
What mother could resist such two, adorable sons
as this?
Seriously, here is more evidence that nobody
really understands or appreciates what going to Jerusalem is truly all about.
In the hearts of Jesus’ disciples, it still appears to be a trip geared for
ambition, glory, success, triumph or personal gain. It’s not just James and
John, as all the disciples become angry about what John and James did, probably because they want their own piece of the heavenly pie, too.
Jesus tries to sort it out. He alludes once more
to his suffering once he gets to Jerusalem. How eager are they all going to be
then to share in his purposes? It isn’t as glorious as they are making it out to be. Be careful what you wish for!
“But whoever wishes to be great among you must be
your servant, and whoever wishes to be first among you must be your slave; just
as the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life a
ransom for many.” (20:26 – 27)
Mothers, don’t let your sons to grow
up to be disciples!
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