i think i get it...

matthew 20:20-28


a mother's request


then the mother of the sons of zebedee (james and john, right?) came up to him with her sons, and kneeling before him she asked 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."


so, two disciples got their mom to intervene for them, to ask boldly for a personal favor. and boldly they said they could suffer as jesus would (was going to) suffer.

and jesus said yes because of the context he was in: one where the authorities (romans = gentiles) constantly lorded it over them that they were inferior, that they would never amount to anything, that they would simply live and then perish as unknowns.. and even if he had to ruffle a few feathers, and seemingly play favorites, he would do so to ensure that he, lord and saviour himself, who existed before time and became flesh to dwell among them, actively love them and actively die for them in order to save them, did not seem like he was also some untouchable lord.


...
wow.