-THE PEREAN MINISTRY

          -The Selfish Ambition of James and John

-Mark 10:35-45; Matthew 20:20-28

-In these passages we find a request for James and John - “…Grant unto us that we may sit, one

 on thy right hand, and the other on thy left hand, in thy glory” (Mark 10:37).

-Notice, Mark’s account has James and John coming to Jesus with their request.  However,

 Matthew’s account has James’ and John’s mother coming to Jesus with her sons and making

 the request.  Hence, it seems that the mother of James and John made the request at the bidding

 of her two sons.

            -Jesus told them that they didn’t know what they were asking.  He then made reference to

             the cup that He would drink from and the baptism with which He would be baptized -

             references to the severe suffering that He would endure.

            -“The ready response of James and John showed how little they understood the

             implications of what the Master had just said…The prophecy that James and John would

             indeed drink of the Saviour’s cup was fulfilled when James was martyred under the sword

             of Herod (Acts 12), and as, in all probability, John suffered at a much later date” (Coffman,

             Matthew, pg 312).

-When the other ten apostles heard this conversation, “…they began to be much displeased with

 James and John” (Mark 10:41).

            -As with the previous occasion when the apostles had considered and even disputed about

             who would be the greatest among them (see pg 66 of our study), Jesus taught the apostles

             regarding the importance of humble servitude - “And whosoever will be chief among you,

             let him first be your minister [diakonos - “a servant, attendant, minister, deacon” (Vines)]”

             -On this occasion, Jesus provides the ultimate example:  “Even as the Son of man

             came not to be ministered unto [served-rc] but to minister [to serve - rc], and to give

             his life a ransom for many” (Matthew 20:28).