Selfish Ambition. Mark 10:35-40.
And James and John, the sons of Zebedee, came up to him and said to him, “Teacher, we want you to do for us whatever we ask of you.”And he said to them, “What do you want me to do for you?”And they said to him, “Grant us to sit, one at your right hand and one at your left, in your glory.”Jesus said to them, “You do not know what you are asking. Are you able to drink the cup that I drink, or to be baptised with the baptism with which I am baptised?”And they said to him, “We are able.” And Jesus said to them, “The cup that I drink you will drink, and with the baptism with which I am baptised, you will be baptised, “but to sit at my right hand or at my left is not mine to grant, but it is for those for whom it has been prepared.”
Dear Bride of Christ,
Selfishness and the desire to be above others often blinds people to the realities of life. It is akin to pastors fighting over leadership positions while people are dying without Christ.
Request (v. 35-37). Jesus is on his way to Jerusalem to be crucified, and the Zebedee brothers are asking for positions! They probably felt they had more rights than the other disciples because they were Jesus’ cousins (their mother was Mary’s sister). In fact, Matthew in his account tells us that it was their mother who made the request for James and John. They have not understood the path to glory – it is lined with suffering, as Jesus has been trying to explain to them, without success.
Response (v. 38). Jesus tries to explain to them that they are wading into thicker mud than they can handle. He is facing the cup of suffering that he will soon drink, and the baptism of death, which he will yield to in just a matter of days. Jesus warns the brothers that the personal cost is great and one should think over it carefully.
Reality (v. 39-40). But the Zebedee brothers foolishly answer that they are able, to which Jesus responds that indeed they will suffer and be put to death, but even that does not give one the right to claim a place of priority over other people in the glorious kingdom. God has already determined what positions his saints will occupy, so it is not up for negotiation. Ambition can easily deflect our energies to fights for position. In the meantime, “There are souls to rescue, there are souls to save.” What is your preoccupation?
Your Loving Pastor Chris.