Today's Daily Lesson comes from Mark chapter 10 verses 35 through 37:
35 James and John, the sons of Zebedee, came forward to him and said to him, ‘Teacher, we want you to do for us whatever we ask of you.’ 36And he said to them, ‘What is it you want me to do for you?’ 37And they said to him, ‘Grant us to sit, one at your right hand and one at your left, in your glory.’
We are in the last days before Lent and the teachings of Jesus turn towards Jerusalem and the cross.
But the disciples have a hard time hearing. They are preoccupied with their preconceptions of the Messiah and have staked out their places in what they think will be his rule.
The brothers James and John want to have seats next to Jesus on his throne. And kudos to Mark for telling the truth about James's and John's ambitions. Matthew blames their mother. In any case, it could have been both.,
But what these boys ask for will not be given. They will not sit one at Jesus' right and one at his left when he comes into his his glory. That will be reserved for two others condemned to die on the cross.
What a thing to bear in mind, that when Jesus entered his glory he did so in the company of the criminals. Somewhere Barth called it the first church. That is something to consider when we think on our jails, and prisons, and the whole penal system in America.
But all this is still before James and John. Right now they are content with their delusions of grandeur. It will be a hard road for them learning to rethink everything.
And it's a hard road for us too . . .
Ryon Price is Senior Pastor of Broadway Baptist Church in For Worth, Texas.
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