Somewhere near the town of Jericho, Jesus told the twelve and a few other faithful friends, “We are going up to Jerusalem.” He set the pace: “Jesus was walking ahead of them; and they were amazed, and those who followed were afraid.”
There was a wave of excitement among those closest to the King. At last, after all that unexplained delay, at last he is going to conquer He is going to Jerusalem to change the government and reign from Zion. He has been saying the Kingdom is “at hand” for three years. Now it’s going to happen.
Two young men and their mother approach Jesus. The two brothers stumble through their query. “Master, we want you to do for us whatever we ask of you.” Please say yes, Jesus, before we pop the question! Jesus was not dismissive, but patient. Now it comes. Their ambition is revealed: we want prominent ministerial posts in your new government. The King quietly dismisses their impertinent request: You really do not know what you are asking for The disappointed mother gets down on her knees and extends pleading hands. “Command,” she blurts out, “command that these two sons of mine may sit, one at your right hand and one at your left, in your Kingdom.” He plainly tells her that she, too, does not know what she is asking for.
The presumption of it all! Where had these three been all the time that the Master had been teaching and instructing? They had been there, of course, but most of the time, it seems, not paying attention. As Luke puts it, “they did not understand a word of what he was saying.”
Jesus pressed the point. “Are you able to drink the cup that I am to drink? Or to be baptized with the baptism with which I am baptized?”
Their determination knew no bounds. “Of course we are.” Your majesty, we will do whatever it takes to get ministerial posts in your new war cabinet.
“You will drink that cup,” came the calm response. “You will drink it indeed, but those top political jobs you are hungry for, they are not mine to give. Think again, young men. Drink the cup of sacrifice, and the glory will take care of itself. You just serve, and leave my Father to deal out the rewards.”
I still have a good memory, despite my infirmity. I remember well how many Christadelphian lectures I have heard, and exhortations, too, that were all about how to make sure we get places in the Kingdom and about being rulers over the nations. Not many have been about how to drink that cup of sacrifice, about laying down our lives for our friends, and about the baptism of dying with Christ. Why?
The Origin of the Organic World – Part One