“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.” And he said to them, “What is it you want me to do for you?” And they said to him, “Grant us to sit, one at your right hand and one at your left, in your glory.” But Jesus said to them, “You do not know what you are asking. Are you able to drink the cup that I drink, or be baptized with the baptism that I am baptized with?” Mark 10:35-38 (NRSV)
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Do you think those brothers were brave? Bold? Arrogant? Loving to the teacher? Or?
I thought would I ever do such a thing? Hum, maybe I should ask did I ever do such a thing?
The Teacher being Jesus was told, , “Teacher, we want you to do for us whatever we ask of you.“
This thought has me pondering prayer in a new light.
That is beautiful picture of the child in the water. She looks like she is engaged in “A Thoughtful Thought.”
Reading the scripture you wrote, Sara, and looking at the child brought to mind this verse from Romans 8:1:
“Now if we are children, then we are heirs—heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ, if indeed we share in his sufferings in order that we may also share in his glory.”
Perhaps James and John loved Jesus and wanted to be near Him, following Him closely. But they probably had no real idea of the cost He was about to pay for their redemption (and the whole world’s) that no one else but the Son of God could or would ever have to do. And they may not have known at that point the sufferings that they would endure as His disciples.
Lots to think on from the scripture and the picture.
Have you ever said to a child. I’m listening…I am often amazed at the change in the demeanor of a child knowing they have your full attention. God, Our Father is listening. As Debi observed the artist has painting a child in the water and we might find ourselves strolling along with our feet in sand and ankles in water and we are communicating with One that says, I’m listening and then we hear the gentle words, “my thoughts are not yours” but imagine truth we too, can have those thoughts…
“The eyes of the Lord are on the righteous,
and his ears are open to their cry.”
—Psalm 34:15 (NRSV)
Reading what you wrote, Sara, and the scripture made me think that righteousness is a key to good/right communication with God.
I was also thinking of this scripture which seems to connect to being “righteous” and may relate to improving my communication with God and aligning my thoughts and will with His.
“And now, dear brothers and sisters, one final thing. Fix your thoughts on what is true, and honorable, and right, and pure, and lovely, and admirable. Think about things that are excellent and worthy of praise. Keep putting into practice all you learned and received from me—everything you heard from me and saw me doing. Then the God of peace will be with you.” Philippians 4: 8,9
The footnotes for Mark 10:37-39 says: (NLT) “The disciples, like most Jews of that day, had the wrong idea of Messiah’s Kingdom as predicted by the Old Testament prophets. They thought Jesus would establish an earthly kingdom that would free Israel from Rome’s oppression. James and John wanted honored places in it. But Jesus’ Kingdom is not of this world; it is not centered in palaces and thrones but in the hearts and lives of his followers. The disciples did not understand this until after Jesus‘s resurrection. James and John said they were willing to face any trial for Christ. Both did suffer: James died as a martyr (Acts 12:2), and John was forced to live in exile (Revelation 1:9). It is easy to say we will endure anything for Christ, and yet most of us complain about the most minor problems. We may say that we are willing to suffer for Christ, but are we willing to suffer the minor irritations that sometimes come with serving others?” Definitely a “thoughtful thought” 🙏🙏🙏
WOW Tammy! Those footnotes will put a little fire in your thoughtful thoughts! In some circles of modern thinking they would think this archaic thinking. Yet, when one views circumstances around them with eyes to see and ears to hear one might find Truth is Truth!
Many of us might find this a little uncomfortable, “ We may say that we are willing to suffer for Christ, but are we willing to suffer the minor irritations that sometimes come with serving others?”
Yes, Sara. But look what Jesus said in Mark 10:45…here are the verses prior to 45 (NIV) “ 35 Then James and John, the sons of Zebedee, came to him. “Teacher,” they said, “we want you to do for us whatever we ask.”
36 “What do you want me to do for you?” he asked.
37 They replied, “Let one of us sit at your right and the other at your left in your glory.”
38 “You don’t know what you are asking,” Jesus said. “Can you drink the cup I drink or be baptized with the baptism I am baptized with?”
39 “We can,” they answered.
Jesus said to them, “You will drink the cup I drink and be baptized with the baptism I am baptized with, 40 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.”
41 When the ten heard about this, they became indignant with James and John. 42 Jesus called them together and said, “You know that those who are regarded as rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and their high officials exercise authority over them. 43 Not so with you. Instead, whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant, 44 and whoever wants to be first must be slave of all. 45 For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.”
Tammy, your research and study from the gospel of Mark has made the message Jesus gave to us regarding our spiritual walk with Him. Serve! Sounds like we might need to think (thoughtful thoughts) about the gifts God has given each of us and how they connect and bear fruit?
Help Tammy, you instructed me to look and I am looking!
I’ve been trying to remain faithful to “Thoughtful Thoughts” related to our scripture, comments and footnotes this week. I’ve tried to be open to others as they write and speak while searching for a path that leads to answers with action/deeds. In reading *Taylor’s words on, “…transformative, healing action” in light of this our scripture and awakening to a former president of the USA and many others being charged with crimes against their nation which is also the nation of many people both prayer and faith seemed to be lost in the river of emotions from many expressing their emotions. I think many of us might be wondering what is going to happen to our Nation now? Our children? Our grand children? I have faith to believe our answer will be found in the teaching of Jesus knowing God’s Grace and Mercy and mustard seed faith will be an agent of Hope. Let us share in healing and restoring….as we share our “Thoughtful Thoughts.”
*“Teacher Barbara Brown Taylor considers what “penance” means, not as punishment, but as transformative, healing action:
Repentance is not complete until confession and pardon lead to penance that allows community to be restored. Archbishop [Desmond] Tutu’s insistence on real material transformation … is evidence of his faith in Christ’s incarnation, which shows us how much flesh and blood matter to God. Salvation is not offered to us as some kind of metaphysical prize. It is offered to us in our bodies as God’s manifest power to change human lives. While Jesus may have done the hardest work for us, some of us still long for a way both to engage the consequences of our sin and to have a hand in repairing the damage we have done. We want to participate in our own redemption, instead of sitting … while Jesus does all the work. We want to be agents of God’s grace.
Just for a lark, imagine going to your pastor and confessing your rampant materialism, your devotion to things instead of people, and your isolation from the poor whom Jesus loved. Then imagine being forgiven and given your penance: to select five of your favorite things—including perhaps your Bose radio and your new Coach book bag—and to match them up with five people who you know would turn cartwheels to have them. Then on Saturday, put your lawn mower in your trunk, drive down to that transitional neighborhood where all the old people live and offer to mow lawns for free until dark. Discerning sinners will note that none of this is standard punishment. It is penance, which is not for the purpose of inflicting pain but for the much higher purpose of changing lives by restoring relationships.
Something like that might really get my attention. I might begin to understand that repentance means more than saying “I’m sorry” and that God’s grace requires more of me than singing every verse of “Just As I Am.”
Taylor notes how criminal justice systems can be transformed by asking how harm can be repaired:
Some people in the criminal justice system are beginning to consider this more theological approach to corrections. In the fall of 1999, over 250 church leaders, criminal justice employees, politicians, and service providers gathered … in Washington, D.C. for the first national conference on restorative justice. Criminal justice traditionally asks, “Who did it? What law did he break? How are we going to punish him?” Restorative justice asks, “What harm was done? What is needed to repair the harm? Who is responsible for repairing it?”
Penance is the acceptance of responsibility for repair, and it is one of the most healing things a repentant sinner can do, as well as one of the most painful.… True repentance … promises us reunion with God and one another. It promises us restoration to community, and to all the responsibilities that go along with life in relationship.”
Barbara Brown Taylor, Speaking of Sin: The Lost Language of Salvation (Cambridge, MA: Cowley Publications, 2000), 93–95.
“Therefore confess your sins to one another, and pray for one another, so that you may be healed. The prayer of the righteous is powerful and effective.”—James 5:16 (NRSV)
There is prayer that is powerful and effective….
Tammy, I think you showed us from vs 41-15 how God defines prominence, importance, leadership…positions that James and John aspired to…and it isn’t the way we may think…bringing us back to one of Sara’s posts, “we are communicating with One that says, I’m listening and then we hear the gentle words, “my thoughts are not yours”.
What you wrote, Tammy, reminded me of the picture of footsteps on page 22 that were in the retreat book of Sara’s, “Dressing for His Glory”, that we used and attended some time ago. Two of the 5 objectives of the chapter titled, “Image: The Garden of the Lord”, was to understand the 7 characteristics of Christ and how understanding and applying these produces fruit. Sara mentioned fruit in her blog comment, “gifts God has given each of us and how they connect and bear fruit?”
The footsteps graphic says, ”Deny yourself, take up your cross, follow me…” Sara wrote, related them to, “John 12:24-26 and Luke 9:23-24 records the words of the Lord, giving us steps into the Garden. Can you take these steps?” (that sounds like vs 38 “Jesus said. “Can you drink the cup I drink or be baptized with the baptism I am baptized with?”)
I think this goes right along with your footnotes and the scripture you posted, Tammy, that brings it down to a very practical level: “We may say that we are willing to suffer for Christ, but are we willing to suffer the minor irritations that sometimes come with serving others?” and, “43 Not so with you. Instead, whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant, 44 and whoever wants to be first must be slave of all. 45 For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.”
Then, after reading Sara’s comments and excerpt from Barbara Brown Taylor below, I can see more fully how God’s “Garden” could grow more beautiful through applying these lessons/instructions. I, for one, need to do my small part. Sara’s “Garden of the Lord” book/lesson encouraged us by stating that “oneness of purpose, attitudes, goals and labor” would help produce “beautification” (pg 24).