Now they were on the road, going up to Jerusalem
Then James and John, the sons of Zebedee, came to Him, saying, "Teacher, we want You to do for us whatever we ask." And He said to them, "What do you want Me to do for you?" They said to Him, "Grant us that we may sit, one on Your right hand and the other on Your left, in Your glory." But Jesus said to them, "You do not know what you ask. Are you able to drink the cup that I drink, and be baptized with the baptism that I am baptized with?" They said to Him, "We are able." So Jesus said to them, "You will indeed drink the cup that I drink, and with the baptism I am baptized with you will be baptized; but to sit on My right hand and on My left is not Mine to give, but it is for those for whom it is prepared." Mark 10:32-40
James and John walked with Jesus. They saw His marvelous works and experienced His power (Matthew 10:1). They were close to Jesus. Jesus would often take them, along with Peter, apart from the other disciples. It was James, John and Peter who were with Jesus on the Mount of Transfiguration. They were apart of His inner circle. And according to this passage James and John wanted to continue to be apart of Jesus’ inner circle. They wanted to enjoy the fellowship of His glory throughout eternity. But as Jesus explained, they didn’t understand what they were asking. They didn’t understand what it cost Jesus to walk power and authority and they didn’t understand the further price that was to be paid (His cup) for the redemption of mankind. They didn’t understand that to share in His glory, is to also share in His sufferings! They didn’t count the cost. I believe it’s a common mistake made today…to want what we see without realizing the cost to have and keep what we desire.
Paul understood the cost of following in the footsteps of Christ. As one who preached the gospel, Paul’s sufferings were greater than most will ever experience. In 2 Cor 11, he describes his trials in detail, ‘Three times I was beaten with rods; once I was stoned; three times I was shipwrecked; a night and a day I have been in the deep….’ Today, most of us experience difficulties that stem simply from dying to our will and following Jesus. Sometimes we’ll experience trials that come from being ‘set apart’ from family and friends who don’t understand or agree with our decision to follow Christ. Other times we’ll suffer for the sake of the gospel. We’ll bare the consequences of proclaiming the ‘good news’ of Christ Jesus. And it is Paul who encourages us to have hope in the midst of difficulties, trials, and sufferings. For even though there’s a price to pay for following Jesus, Paul says, ‘I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us.’ (Romans 8:18). He reminds us of the power of the Holy Spirit working in us, our Helper who enables us to get through the challenges and difficulties of being called Christian. He reminds us that through difficulties, trials and sufferings we’re being conformed into the image of Christ. We are being made perfect. And He reminds us that as we bare the cost of following Jesus, that our Lord is able to make ‘all things work together for good’.
James and John did ‘drink the cup’ which Jesus drank. Scripture tells us of their sufferings. But as Paul goes on to say in Romans 8, the Lord who called us is able to keep us. Nothing shall separate us from Him. No trial or difficulty is beyond His ability to comfort and strengthen us! We will share of His cup and He will make us to overcome... just as He did! So be encouraged. As we share in His sufferings, we shall share in His glory!
Yet in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us. For I am persuaded that neither death nor life, nor angels nor principalities nor powers, nor things present nor things to come, nor height nor depth, nor any other created thing, shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord. Romans 8:37-39
Be blessed.
