I Deserve The Best

Ambition of James and John/ I deserve the best

Mark 10:35-45

Prayer-

Introduction-

This morning we will look at the heart of James and John, two of Jesus disciples and hear the request they made of Jesus.

At first most will say that they would never ask such a question of Jesus, but as we hear Jesus answer, and dig into this text, I am guessing that a few of us would realize that we have asked Jesus such a question just in a different way.

Mark 10:35-45 Read form Bible.

This story is also presented in Matthew 20 where the mother of James and John asked Jesus if her sons could sit on the right and left of Jesus.

Scholars have argued who asked Jesus that these boys sit in the high honor on His right and left in glory.

You say tomatoes, I say Tomatos, the thing is these boys wanted to be elevated to the highest human rankings.

I think we are all ambitious in some area of our lives.

What we put our time and effort in is what motivates us. You can tell what is important in someone life by looking at their checkbook, looking at their schedule planner, and how they talk and what they talk about. It will reveal the important things in their life.

James and John were disciples of Jesus- they went everywhere with him and saw the great works He was doing. They witnessed Jesus first hand feed thousands of people, heal blind people.

They were even with Jesus at the Transfiguration- Jesus on the mountaintop Transfigured before them and Moses and Elijah appear and begin talking to Jesus. Our Heavenly Father voice calls out “This is my son, whom I love. Listen to Him.”

Just as quick, Moses and Elijah are gone and there is Jesus telling them not to say anything yet until after His resurrection.

Scriptures says they kept the matter to themselves, discussing what “rising from the dead” meant.

After seeing that, I think I would have some questions and comments-

The way of the cross

“Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up the cross and follow me. For whoever wants to save their life will lose it, but whoever loses their life for me and for the gospel will save it.”

Spending time with Jesus should always take you to the cross! Amen!

We have to come to the cross and we have to pick up our own crosses as Jesus leads us.

The time that they spent with Jesus should have given them that insight and it should have been a way of life for them.

Here is their request

(35) “Then James and John, the sons of Zebedee, came to him, “teacher”, they said, “We want you to do whatever we ask.”

The Son of the living God, Jesus Christ, the one who was preparing Himself for the cross, the one who had taught them by example that He must die, so that we might live, the one who was about to give everything for all of us.

They ask Him.” We want you to do whatever we ask”

Let’s take this out of the heavenly realm for a minute- Could you imagine going up to one of your parents and asking them to do whatever you ask? Demanding anything?

I would get the look! I knew what the look meant-

I know some of you weren’t raised like this (big city) (single mom) but we did not have timeout, we had knocked out. I never once had my mother begin counting to me and saying I will count to three and you need to straighten up. 1…….2……2.25, 2.50…come on now don’t make me say 3. Get over here, I am not kidding!

I asked a question, and she gave you an answer- yes or No. if the answer was no, she did not want you to bring it up again or have a bad attitude about their answer.

Having flashbacks-

Mom was the boss and you did nothing against the boss. She did it for our protection because she raised two boys in Milwaukee, Wisconsin.

As we got older, because of her love and sacrifice learned, we saw that everything she did was out of love and was for our protection and guidance.

She had to be both father and mother.

Strength and love rolled up into a woman of 140 pounds.

How we are raised makes a difference in how we look at things of life.

The culture we are brought up makes a difference.

I do not know what it is like to be adopted, abandoned, having no one to turn too.

It factors in what our view of God is and how God would respond to the hard questions we need answered.