Matthew 20:20-23 NIV
Then the mother of Zebedee’s sons came to Jesus with her sons and, kneeling down, asked a favour of him. [21] “What is it you want?” he asked. She said, “Grant that one of these two sons of mine may sit at your right and the other at your left in your kingdom.” [22] “You don’t know what you are asking,” Jesus said to them. “Can you drink the cup I am going to drink?” “We can,” they answered. [23] Jesus said to them, “You will indeed drink from my cup, but to sit at my right or left is not for me to grant. These places belong to those for whom they have been prepared by my Father.”
I’ve always had the impression that Jesus is critical of the ambition of the mother and her sons in this story, what cheek asking that they might sit on his right and left! But look again, is that actually the case? He might question if they are able to match their ambition with their lives – would they actually follow Jesus if it cost their lives – but he doesn’t criticise their ambition, their desire to be at his side. How about you? Is it your ambition to always be at Jesus’ side?
Father, help me to keep close today.
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