Mark 10:35-39 NLT

[35] Then James and John, the sons of Zebedee, came over and spoke to him. 

"Teacher," they said, "we want you to do us a favor."

"What is your request?" he asked. 

They replied, "When you sit on your glorious throne, we want to sit in places of honor next to you, one on your right and the other on your left."

 But Jesus said to them,

"You don't know what you are asking! 

Are you able to drink from the bitter cup of suffering I am about to drink? 

Are you able to be baptized with the baptism of suffering I must be baptized with?"

"Oh yes," they replied, "we are able!"

Mark 10:35-39 NLT

It's too easy to look at James and John  and blame them for a poor attitude, poor motivation.

But we're not them. 

We're not living in their culture, their shoes, their story. 

I wonder what I would be thinking if I'd left my business, my family, to travel around with this Rabbi who is now famous, teaching about a new Kingdom he is setting up with a people held in oppression by the might of the Roman Empire. 

Their people.

And they seem to make this little mental shift that because Jesus is human like them, they can be like Him.

They can face what He is going to face.

Brothers in arms.

In this together.

Not sure that their motivation is all unhealthy..

I wonder if they just minimized the God nature of Jesus a bit?

When do I do that?

#gospelofMark