…the mother of the sons of Zebedee came up to Him [Jesus]…She said to Him, “Say that these two sons of mine are to sit, one at your right hand and one at your left, in your kingdom.”
Matthew 20:20-28
Matthew tells this story as the mother of James and John making the request of Jesus. But, the same story, in Mark 10, is told as James and John requested of Jesus the same request. This difference, in no way, challenges the inerrancy or infallibility of God’s Word. Both events may have occurred at separate times. We know, from historical records, that Zebedee was a successful fisherman. His family was well connected with the religious leaders and, possibly even, the Roman authorities. His sons, James and John, would have inherited their father’s business and estate. They chose, instead, to follow Jesus of Nazareth because they saw Him as the Messiah of Israel. It is evident, though, that the Zebedee family, like Peter early in Jesus’ earthly ministry, believed Jesus to be a religious/political messiah as many before Him had claimed. This was the mindset of the mother of James and John and, certainly, the mindset of James and John in making their request of Jesus. Jesus’ response in both stories is the same. He says they do not know of what they are requesting. Jesus talks of a “cup” He must drink and says that His Disciples must drink that same “cup.” That “cup” was to be persecution and death at the hands of the religious leaders of Israel. Though the Romans participated in Jesus’ death, James was martyred by someone with a sword early in the Apostolic era. Though John was not martyred, he was severely persecuted, even scheduled to be martyred at one time, but he was spared and exiled where God the Holy Spirit mightily used him to pen the Book of the Revelation of Jesus Christ. Both of these Apostles started their life, in Christ, thinking only in earthly terms but, their eyes were opened to the Incarnate Son of God and became part of the foundation of the Church which is the Bride of Christ given to Him by God the Father. They both, this day, are in the presence of our Savior and Lord Jesus.
Source: S C Ball March 13, 2023
Leave a Reply