Mark 10:35–37

Then we have the persecution unto death — and what a death! — fully laid before us. James and John at this critical time show how little the flesh, even in the servants of God, ever enters into His thoughts. "That which is born of the flesh is flesh," no matter in whom. Again, the ugliness of the flesh showed itself most, not in unknown people, but in those who seemed to be somebody. Their mother appears in another Gospel — the Gospel where we would expect such a family tie to show up. But here, sadly, it is the servants themselves, who ought to have known better.

At that time not one of the twelve could enter into His mind, feel with Him, or understand the need of His sufferings. Their minds were full of a kingdom on earth. So James and John come forward, wanting a high position in the kingdom, close to the Lord Himself.

What unashamed self-seeking, in the presence of His complete surrender of self to do His Father's will! How terrible to see the flesh cropping up in such a scene! And what was their desire? To be nearest to Christ in His kingdom. This was what suited man — not the cross, but the ease and peace and prosperity of the kingdom. Yet the cross was the necessary path to it.

James and John had faith. They saw the dangers on the road to Jerusalem. Even so, they believed that Jesus would have the glory and the kingdom, and they said, "At all events, give us a good place." But about whom were they thinking? About James and John.

The Lord is always full of goodness for His own. His answer turns the fleshly question into a lesson for His disciples. He was not the only one who was to bear the cross. He alone could carry out redemption by offering Himself: the Son of God who gave Himself in His love to be the Lamb of God. But as to the path, the disciples had to walk the same path He walked, if they wished to be with Him.

He could promise them the privilege of suffering for His Name's sake. But He could not give them a place at His right hand in the kingdom. He had taken the place of the Servant. He leaves it to the Father to say who will have a place of special privilege in the day of glory.

We might say at once — "presumption"! But do we not want a place in that glory? … We do want a place in the glory and in the kingdom; we should not be following the Lord today if we did not have that in view. If the motive is pride of heart, that would be another matter. Their request was quite all right in itself, but the Lord applied the test. John was one of the few who stood by the cross. Did he think about this desire of his when he saw a criminal on the right hand and another on the left of the Lord?

Where the asking flows from our own will, it cannot be the prayer of faith. It only bends God and His purposes to our fallen wills. So, "We know that whatever we ask according to His will, He hears us." … The "What do you want" is God's part. The "We will" comes wrongly from us. It marks a lack of trust, or a failure to own our need of mercy first. And then we often "do not know what" we ask.

There was true faith that the kingdom would be set up. But, as so often with ourselves, a good deal of unjudged flesh pushed its way into the realm of faith. They saw the kingdom as a chance to advance themselves, not as the place where the glory of Christ would shine. "That which is born of the flesh is flesh," whether in unknown believers or leading apostles.

This shameless hunt for position by James and John might make us blame them more than the rest. But verse 41 shows that all of them held the same selfish desires. The ten objected not to what the two had asked, but to the fact that the two had got in ahead of them.

We might say at once — "presumption"! But do we not want a place in that glory? … The Lord tested these men, but He did not tell them they would not be in the place they sought. Equally, He did not tell them that they would. … Their request was quite all right in itself, but the Lord applied the test. John was one of the few who stood by the cross. Did he think about this desire of his when he saw a criminal on the right hand and another on the left of the Lord?

When the blind man cried, "Have mercy," Jesus stopped at once. To that cry of need He offered the very thing He had reproved and set aside in the two brothers: "What do you want me to do for you?" The same words mean one thing in the mouth of unbelief — a selfish, grasping claim of the flesh — and quite another in grace. This man knew what he asked for, and the sense of our need is true knowledge in asking.

They put themselves on a level with Him and say: "We are able." The Lord, in His wondrous grace, puts them on a level with Himself by grace. He does not say: "You are indeed able," but "You shall indeed drink." As we might put it, "You shall indeed suffer with me." The reward of glory I leave to the Father to appoint. It is not mine to give, but belongs to those for whom it is prepared.

Places of honour in the coming kingdom will go to those who have served this wonderful Servant. Each will receive according to the measure in which he accepted suffering and death on His behalf. Yet even so, the Lord does not assign these places of distinction. That rests with the Father, for He remains true to the place of Servant which He has taken. We are set in the place of identification with our rejected Lord. Unless we stay true to it, we cannot expect any special recognition in the glory of the kingdom.

Verses 35-37 show a painful contrast to the Lord's willingness to take the lowest place in suffering and death. James and John had missed the spirit of the Lord's words. They ask instead that He will do for them whatever they want. They do not answer with the same spirit of self-sacrifice. They want the Lord to give in to their selfish desires! He spoke of suffering and death. They speak of glory and honour in His kingdom, with themselves in higher positions than others.

James and John were full of the thought of a kingdom on earth. They came forward wanting a high position in it, close to the Lord Himself. They truly believed the kingdom would be set up. But, as so often with us, a good deal of unjudged flesh was pushing its way into the realm of faith. They saw the kingdom as a chance for their own advancement, not as the place where the glory of Christ would shine out.

The circle drawn round self may grow larger, but self remains the centre still. Their request was self — a good place which others would not have.

Eastern kings had a custom of seating one person at their right hand and one at their left. So the wish here is for places of honour in His Kingdom. The mother of Zebedee's sons here leads; from the Gospel of Mark we learn that John and James made the request. This is no discrepancy... Both mother and sons came together, with the same wish.

He claims no power to hand out places in the kingdom, for He will receive that kingdom in obedience to His Father's will. But in grace He will join those He loves to Himself in His path of suffering and rejection.

We might say at once — "presumption"! But do we not want a place in that glory? Would we not like to sit on that left hand and that right hand? The Lord tested these men, but He did not tell them they would not be in the place they sought. Equally, He did not tell them that they would... Their request was quite all right in itself, but the Lord applied the test. John was one of the few who stood by the cross. Did he think about this desire of his when he saw one criminal on the right hand of the Lord and another on His left? This is what I asked for — a place on His right hand, a place on His left. Is this what it means for me to get that place in glory?

"You are making it a kingdom of the Gentiles!" is what He is really saying to them. "You are thinking of earthly rank, such as is found among the nations — of what would satisfy ambition and self-seeking greed! Do you think these are the places that are Mine to give? No. With Me the highest is the lowest. Greatness is in lowliest service. Blessedness is in giving, not receiving."