“Behold, we are going up to Jerusalem; and the Son of Man will be delivered to the chief priests and scribes, and they will condemn Him to death, and will hand Him over to the Gentiles to mock and scourge and crucify Him, and on the third day He will be raised up.” Matthew 20:18
“Then the mother of the sons of Zebedee came to Jesus with her sons, bowing down and making a request of Him. And He said to her, “What do you wish?” She said to Him, “Command that in Your kingdom these two sons of mine may sit one on Your right and one on Your left.” Matthew 20:20-21
As I was reading this I was struck by the fact that moments after Yeshua/Jesus had announced that He was going to be not only scourged but crucified, the mother of the sons of Zebedee was concerned only about securing places of honor for her sons. Did she not realize how horrible a death it was to be crucified? Verse 24 goes on to describe the disciples’ reaction to her request:
“And hearing this, the ten became indignant with the two brothers.”
Were the disciples angered by the mother’s apparent disregard for Yeshua’s fate? I think not, because He quickly set them straight by emphasizing that to be great in the Kingdom one must be a servant. This indicates to me that the disciples were insulted by the notion that the brothers should be more highly esteemed than the others. Seems the whole lot of them were more concerned about themselves than they were by the death which Yeshua was to suffer.
As I begin to be insensed by this I am stopped abruptly by the realization that I am not so different. Isn’t it always about my needs? Do I often forget to thank God, though never fail to ask when I have a need? If a balance scale were to hold my praises on one side and complaints on the other, which would be the greater weight? Have I forgotten or even failed to realize just how horrible a death and great a price Yeshua Jesus paid for MY redemption? Me...a forgetful ingrate who may mean well, but always seems to have a motive and can never really manage to crucify the self centered nature which plagues my every decision. Shame on me....this wretch in sheep’s clothing!
An yet....He loves me with all the passion a Groom can have for His bride. A perfect love which casts out all fear and doubt and simply cannot be fathomed from a human perspective. A love which, try as I may, I cannot possibly reciprocate with any degree of reliability, because I am earthbound and shackled by this broken and fickle flesh. Oh that someday it shall be cast off as the useless cocoon of a caterpillar turned butterfly.... and I shall soar to the heavens and join Him, finally able to love Him perfectly and treat Him as He richly deserves. My Love, My Savior.....from the very depths of my heart and soul....THANK YOU!
