On the Throne
Matthew 20:20-23
20 Then Zavdai’s (Zebedee) sons came to Yeshua with their mother. She bowed down, begging a favor from him. 21 He said to her, “What do you want?” She replied, “Promise that when you become king, these two sons of mine may sit, one on your right and the other on your left.” 22 But Yeshua answered, “You people don’t know what you are asking. Can you drink the cup that I am about to drink?” They said to him, “We can.” 23 He said to them, “Yes, you will drink my cup. But to sit on my right and on my left is not mine to give, it is for those for whom my Father has prepared it.”
Zebedee's sons and their mother. Some would say they stirred up unnecessary trouble when they came to Jesus. A request to sit at the right and left of Christ. Selfish? Probably...
Jesus was not rude or mean in His response. He simply asked them a question:
"Can you drink the cup that I am about to drink?"
He had just told them He was going to be killed when He arrived in Jerusalem. With the response that the disciples gave, "We can," one must wonder if they grasped the depth of what Jesus was saying. Did they really believe He was going to die and all the trouble Jesus was going to face?
I can't say for certain, and I don't want to assume. It is just a question that comes to my mind as I read and ponder on these words.
Sometimes we jump to quickly into scenarios that we do not fully understand. Sometimes we become too quick into thinking that we deserve something we don't. These disciples, and their mom, believed Jesus was going to be King. They simply wanted to be known with HIm. They thought He would be sitting on the throne and rule and reign. Following that would be easy (or so they thought).
I believe these verses are a lesson for us to look within ourselves and ask ourselves why we are following Christ. Are we doing it because we are really desiring to follow Him and give Him all we have? Are we doing it because we want to be known as His royalty?
And the most important question, "Are we willing to give up everything to follow Him?"
Just because we believe Jesus is sitting on the throne next to the Father doesn't mean that we follow Him only for the blessings we receive. That would place us in the same position as James and John. We must look at more than just the "greatness" of what it means to follow Him.
Take time to really look at what could happen as we follow Him. Don't just look at the good times and blessings. The Word says there will be troubles and trials. Consider it ALL and day by day CHOOSE to LIVE for Him. Walking through the trials with His Love is what we elevate us to greatness.
Love and blessings,
Rose
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