Mark 10:35–45
James and John, the sons of Zebedee, came forward to Jesus and said to him, “Teacher, we want you to do for us whatever we ask of you.” And he said to them, “What is it 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.” But Jesus said to them, “You do not know what you are asking. Are you able to drink the cup that I drink, or be baptized with the baptism that I am baptized with?” They replied, “We are able.” Then Jesus said to them, “The cup that I drink you will drink; and with the baptism with which I am baptized, you will be baptized; 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.”
When the ten heard this, they began to be angry with James and John.
Jesus called them and said to them, “You know that among the Gentiles those whom they recognize as their rulers lord it over them, and their great ones are tyrants over them. But it is not so among you; but whoever wishes to become great among you must be your servant, and whoever wishes to be first among you must be slave of all. For the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life a ransom for many.”
Commentary
The background of today’s gospel reading was after Jesus had just given his disciples the third prediction of the suffering and death that awaited him. This is the last prediction recorded by St. Mark. After this prediction was given the third time, Jesus began his march to Jerusalem.
However, these predictions fell on deaf ears as far as his disciples were concerned. James and John came forward to ask Jesus for the principal places in the glorious kingdom they were sure he was going to set up when they reached Jerusalem.
Although their requests sounded selfish and egocentric, Jesus was gentle with them because he knew that they had not grasped that his kingdom was not of this world. He gently asked them would they like to go through what he would go through. He implies that the path to glory is through suffering and sacrifice. It seemed that even the gentle reminder of Jesus could not bring them to see that his kingdom was not of this world. They were blinded by the glorious things of the kingdom of earthly world, and they replied with affirmation to Jesus’ question.
Of course the other ten disciples were indignant that James and John should look for primacy of honour. Probably, they did not mind the two looking for honour, but they did mind that the two wanted to be superior to them.
Jesus knew the feelings of his disciples and he called them before him and explained that the leadership that they must exercise in his kingdom on earth was not to be like that of gentile rulers who lorded over their subjects. Rather, it should be a humble service of love. They would be the servants of the Christian community, ever ready to help their fellow men and women without counting cost and without expecting any reward on earth.
The lesson that we should learn from today’s gospel ready is that although our own natural inclination most likely would be to react like the other ten disciples and become vexed with James and John, whom we think they are selfish, we should be reminded of Jesus’ gentle answer to the two disciples: “You do not know what you are asking”. This answer shows us that ignorance of the nature of the kingdom Jesus was going to set up, was the cause of their human ambition.
While no Christian today thinks that Christ came on earth in order to make us wealthy, happy and prosperous during our few years on earth, there are unfortunately many Christians who are unwilling to accept Christ’s teaching that the way to heavenly glory is the way of the cross. “All this and heaven too” is their motto. If we look around with open eyes and mind, we would find the world we live in is not free from sins caused by sinful mortals, and injustice.
With James and John, let us tell our Lord that we are ready to follow him on the path to Calvary, and that we are ready to drink the cup of sufferings which he drank and to be immersed in the sorrow that he endured. Amen.