Mark 10:35-37 (NIV): Then James and John, the sons of Zebedee, came to him. “Teacher,” they said, “we want you to do for us whatever we ask.”
“What do you want me to do for you?” he asked.
They replied, “Let one of us sit at your right and the other at your left in your glory.”
There could be no more “tone deaf” request than this one. Jesus no sooner tells His followers about His impending betrayal, suffering, and death (with a resurrection soon after), than James and John, two of His inner circle, start jockeying for position in His administration.
James and John had no clue what “in your glory” really meant. Their eyes were still on an earthly kingdom. So to them, Jesus’ coming glory would be like the glory of Solomon when He had been the king of all Israel a thousand years before. Even though they had just recently seen Jesus’ heavenly glory for a few minutes on the Mount of Transfiguration (Mark 9:2-3), they had no idea of what Jesus would have to go through before He actually received the kingdom; before He came out the other side, victorious over death.
James and John were emboldened to make this request because they formed 2/3 of Jesus’ inner circle, along with Peter. They believed that there were only two top spots in the kingdom, one at Jesus’ right hand, and one at His left, and they wanted to get their bid in before Peter, who was also obviously in line for a high position. This showed clearly that they did not yet have hearts that were set on the priorities of the kingdom of God. They had not yet assimilated Jesus’ earlier words: “If anyone wants to be first, he must be the very last, and the servant of all.” (Mark 9:35) They were probably willing to serve others, as long as they could do it from first place. They may even have been willing to magnanimously make themselves last, as long as they could do it from the top spot.
James and John would eventually get it. But at this juncture, their request merely showed how far even these closest disciples still were from the heart and mind of the kingdom.
Father, we can look at those two disciples and shake our heads and click our tongues at them. But are we really any better? We are still fond of positions and titles, and of having our accomplishments recognized. We still feel much more able to serve others if we can do it from a position above them; to humbly make ourselves the last when we know in our hearts that we are really among the first. Father, help us to be willing to not just play the role of the servant of all, but to really BE the servant of all. Help us to not act like the very last, but to allow ourselves to actually be made the very last. Amen.