Service in the Kingdom
In Mark 10, James and John confront Jesus with a request, to be able to sit on His right and left hand in glory. This was a request Jesus could not grant and His explanation came in the form of a question and is found in Verse 38, "You do not know what you are asking. Are you able to drink the cup that I drink, or to be baptized with the baptism with which I am baptized?" They thought they would be able, and Jesus acknowledged that “ The cup that I drink you shall drink; and you shall be baptized with the baptism with which I am baptized, but to sit on My right or on My left, this is not Mine to give .” He was telling them that they would suffer in identification with His suffering but would not measure up to the redemptive work Jesus would complete at Calvary. Jesus added, “ but it is for those for whom it has been prepared, " meaning that the Father would decide who would occupy those seats. This conversation was in preparation for a deeper discussion about servanthood...