Wednesday 03 March 2010

Background

This is the third time in Matthew's Gospel that Jesus tells hisdisciples of his impending death and resurrection. It's almost asthough they're not listening, or don't quite get it and have tokeep being reminded. The first time he tells them Peter arguesfiercely that it must never happen but is firmly rebuked (Matthew 16:21-23). Do the other disciples thennot dare to challenge Jesus, or have they accepted the reality ofwhat he has told them? Or are they burying their heads in the sandand hoping it will go away?

Jesus has talked a lot about the kingdom of heaven, and presumablyJames and John's mother has been listening to this and has decidedthat her boys deserve a place of honour in it, perhaps inrecognition of all they've done for Jesus. Jesus tells them theyhave to share in the cup he will have to drink. The cup is ametaphor for whatever God has in store for someone. It can beblessing (eg Psalm 16:5) but can also symbolise judgement(egLamentations 4:21). Here the cup that Jesuswill have to drink is his suffering and death.

Do James and John realise what they're agreeing to share in whenthey claim that they can indeed drink from the same cup as Jesus?Perhaps not, or perhaps they do have some idea, but bravado or thedepth of their commitment to Jesus convinces them that they canindeed share in his suffering. Whether they knew what they weresigning up to or not, they would indeed suffer as Jesus' followers,with James being beheaded on the order of Herod (Acts12:1-2).

Jesus certainly doesn't promise an easy life to his followers, buthe does tell us how to be great: be a servant. He even demonstratedhow it was to be done, from washing the feet of his disciples (John13:2-15) to his death for the benefit of all.

To Ponder

To what extent does following Jesus make yourlife easier or more difficult?

The world doesn't generally see those who serveas great. How can you recognise the greatness of some of theservants around you and somehow acknowledge it to them?