Then the mother of the sons of Zebedee came up to him with her sons, and kneeling before him she asked him for something. And he said to her, “What do you want?” She said to him, “Say that these two sons of mine are to sit, one at your right hand and one at your left, in your kingdom.” Jesus answered, “You do not know what you are asking. Are you able to drink the cup that I am to drink?” They said to him, “We are able.” He said to them, “You will drink my cup, but to sit at my right hand and at my left is not mine to grant, but it is for those for whom it has been prepared by my Father.” And when the ten heard it, they were indignant at the two brothers. But Jesus called them to him and said, “You know that the rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and their great ones exercise authority over them. It shall not be so among you. But whoever would be great among you must be your servant, and whoever would be first among you must be your slave, even as the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.” (Matthew 20:20-28, ESV)
This is an interesting story. The mother of the sons of Zebedee comes to Jesus and asks Him for her sons to have what she assumes will be the places of honor in the kingdom. And after she asks Jesus addresses the sons… so did the boys go and whine to mommy and she said “let’s go boys I’ll talk to Him.” They assumed that to sit at Jesus’ right and left would be the seats to have…
There is just one (really more) problem with this. Each week in most liturgical churches we confess our faith using the Apostles Creed (OK we use other creeds, but usually it is the Apostles). And what does the creed say about Jesus?
I believe in Jesus Christ, God’s only Son, our Lord, who was conceived by the Holy Spirit, born of the virgin Mary, suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, died and was buried; he descended to the dead.* On the third day he rose again; he ascended into heaven, he is seated at the right hand of the Father, and he will come to judge the living and the dead.
He rose again, ascended and is seated at the right hand of the Father. If Jesus is at the right hand of the Father who is seated to Jesus left? And which ones of the sons of Zebedee think they can sit in that seat?
We deserve no seat of honor, everything we have has been given to us to manage while we are here. We need to use what we have to serve God’s creation and children. To be like Jesus and give up ourselves and serve everyone.
aSacredRebel 