Jesus knew full well what lay ahead of him in Jerusalem. Yet, when walking ahead of those who were with him, he appears to have reflected the kind of determination and courage that gave rise to amazement. Those who followed him experienced fear, either meaning apprehension or a profound sense of awe. (Mark 10:32; see the Notes section.)

Jesus took the twelve apostles aside, telling them privately, “See, we are going up to Jerusalem and the Son of Man will be handed over to the chief priests and scribes, and they will condemn him to death. And they will hand him over to the nations.” The “nations” or non-Jewish peoples proved to be the Romans. They, according to Jesus, would mock, insult, spit upon, scourge, and crucify him, but on the third day he would rise. (Matthew 20:18, 19; Mark 10:32-34; Luke 18:32, 33) Everything the prophets had written about the Son of Man would take place. (Luke 18:31)

Although Jesus spoke openly about his future suffering and death, the disciples could not believe that the developments he mentioned would occur. The meaning of his words remained hidden to them. Their preconceived thoughts about the Messiah appear to have made it hard for them to grasp what he said. (Luke 18:34)

Concluding that something significant would take place in Jerusalem, James and John had their mother, the wife of Zebedee, make a request for them. Her sons were with her when she prostrated herself before Jesus to petition him. Asked what she wanted, the mother expressed the desire for her sons to be seated at the right and the left of Jesus when he came to be in his kingdom. (Matthew 20:20, 21)

Directing his words to James and John, he replied, “You do not know what you are asking. Are you able to drink the cup I am about to drink, or to be baptized with the baptism with which I am being baptized?” “We are able,” they answered. (Matthew 20:22; Mark 10:38; see the Notes section for comments on Mark 10:35-37.) After telling them that they would indeed drink his cup and be baptized with the baptism with which he was being baptized, Jesus continued, “But the sitting at my right and left is not mine to give, but [is for] those [for whom] my Father has prepared [it].” (Matthew 20:23; Mark 10:39, 40; see the Notes section for additional comments.)

The reference to the cup and drinking indicated that Jesus would experience suffering and death like one drinking the bitter contents of a cup. Similarly, his being baptized meant his being plunged into suffering and death. Jesus’ response to James and John indicated that they also would suffer as his disciples. James, in fact, was the first apostle to be executed, and his brother’s long life was not exempt from suffering for the sake of Christ. (Acts 12:2; compare Revelation 1:9.)

The places to the right and left of a king at the royal table were reserved for his intimates. They were the most prominent places. In his reply to James and John, Jesus framed his words in a way that revealed the kingdom to be that of his Father, for his Father would be the one to bestow the places of honor. Jesus thereby implied that, in the kingdom, he was the king by his Father’s appointment.

Upon coming to know about the request of James and John, the other ten apostles started to get upset with them. Jesus then summoned the apostles and corrected their view of positions. “You know that the rulers of the nations dominate over [their subjects], and the great ones exercise power over them. Thus it should not be among you. But whoever wants to be great among you must be your servant, and whoever wants to be first among you must be your slave.” (Matthew 20:24-27; Mark 10:41-44)

In the realm where God is Sovereign and reigns by means of his Son, commandeering and making others feel the weight of authority have no place. True greatness calls for caring, compassionate, and unassuming service. It is the opposite of exercising power or dominance, expecting others to serve and to respond to orders.

Jesus called attention to his own example, “For also the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve and to give his soul as a ransom for many.” (Matthew 20:28; Mark 10:45) Jesus was not one who expected others to serve him, but he actively labored for others, teaching the people and curing the afflicted. He took the initiative in compassionately responding to the needs of others, acting as a servant among them. In expression of his superlative love, he would surrender his “soul” or life, ransoming many. In view of the fact that Jesus’ sacrifice resulted in the purchase of the entire human race (past, present, and future), the word “many” here appears to be an idiomatic term for “all.”

Notes:

At least among some of the disciples there may have been a feeling of apprehension about the future. Earlier, when Jesus returned to Bethany, about two miles from Jerusalem, Thomas thought that they might all die with Jesus, for unbelieving Jews in Jerusalem wanted to kill him. (John 11:8, 16) Although the disciples were aware of the danger, they still found it hard to accept that Jesus would actually suffer and die in the manner that he said it would happen. (Luke 18:32-34)

In Mark 10:35-37, no mention is made of Salome or the mother of the sons of Zebedee. The request about sitting at Jesus’ right and left is represented as having been made by James and John. According to Mark 10:35, they prefaced their request with the words, “Teacher, we want you to do for us whatever we might ask of you.” In answer to Jesus’ question what they wanted him to do for them, they made their request to sit at Jesus’ right and left at the time he would be in his “glory” or exercising his royal authority as king.

Although the mother is the one who did the speaking initially, she expressed the words and desires of her sons. Viewed in that light, the reference to their speaking is understandable. It should also be noted that Jesus’ reply is directed to James and John, confirming that they were the ones who really made the request.

In Matthew 20:22, 23, the oldest extant manuscripts do not include the point about baptism, but many later manuscripts do (as does Mark 10:38, 39).