James & John - Ambitions
The Gospel of Mark tells the story of James and John’s ambitious request of Jesus that when he became King, they might sit at his right and left hand. Had Jesus granted this request I’m sure there would have been further discussion over which brother would sit on Jesus right hand and who would sit on Jesus left hand. Jesus told them that they had no idea what they were asking of him.
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He asked if they could drink the cup he was drinking from. They both said they could. They had no idea that Jesus was asking them if they were prepared to die along with him, as his own arrest and death was imminent - his death on the Cross was just hours away at this point. Mark’s Gospel shows us that these two disciples were perhaps more interested in personal power, prestige and worldly ambition than they were in Jesus who tried to prepare them for his death.
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As you might imagine the other ten disciples were upset at James and John who it might seem were going behind the other disciples backs to further their own ambitious ends, Mark paints a vivid picture of the disciples -warts and all.
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The Gospel of Matthew records pretty much the same story, only Matthew tells us that it was the mother of James and John who made the request of Jesus that her two boys might have the positions of power when Jesus came into his kingdom. Of course to the critical eye, this poses a question: why does Matthew say it was James & John’s mother who made the request while Mark places the request in the mouths of the two brothers themselves. Big problem.
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Well, first of all, Matthew was one of the 12 disciples and so was one of those upset by the request that James and John - regardless of who made the request. Matthew wrote his gospel 25 years after Mark wrote his gospel. By this time a halo of saintliness was around the disciples and perhaps Matthew did not want to show this worldly side of James & John - which meant Matthew was putting a spin on Mark’s version - which creates difficulty. The other possibility is that it actually was James & John’s mother who really did make the request and Matthew was simply setting the record straight as a participant in this event.
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There is some evidence, which space does not permit me to reproduce here, but the mother of James and John appears to be the sister of Jesus’ mother, which makes her an aunt of Jesus and it would seem reasonable that being such a close relative she might approach Jesus with such a request that he might make his two cousins his top men. Nothing new here - a case of who you know, eh?
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Lastly, Luke’s Gospel carries either the same incident or a continuation of the above incident, but what makes it more "a warts and all picture" is that this incident happens during the celebration of the last supper Jesus had with the disciples. Seems that all the Gospel writers are intent on showing every wart.
.
He asked if they could drink the cup he was drinking from. They both said they could. They had no idea that Jesus was asking them if they were prepared to die along with him, as his own arrest and death was imminent - his death on the Cross was just hours away at this point. Mark’s Gospel shows us that these two disciples were perhaps more interested in personal power, prestige and worldly ambition than they were in Jesus who tried to prepare them for his death.
.
As you might imagine the other ten disciples were upset at James and John who it might seem were going behind the other disciples backs to further their own ambitious ends, Mark paints a vivid picture of the disciples -warts and all.
.
The Gospel of Matthew records pretty much the same story, only Matthew tells us that it was the mother of James and John who made the request of Jesus that her two boys might have the positions of power when Jesus came into his kingdom. Of course to the critical eye, this poses a question: why does Matthew say it was James & John’s mother who made the request while Mark places the request in the mouths of the two brothers themselves. Big problem.
.
Well, first of all, Matthew was one of the 12 disciples and so was one of those upset by the request that James and John - regardless of who made the request. Matthew wrote his gospel 25 years after Mark wrote his gospel. By this time a halo of saintliness was around the disciples and perhaps Matthew did not want to show this worldly side of James & John - which meant Matthew was putting a spin on Mark’s version - which creates difficulty. The other possibility is that it actually was James & John’s mother who really did make the request and Matthew was simply setting the record straight as a participant in this event.
.
There is some evidence, which space does not permit me to reproduce here, but the mother of James and John appears to be the sister of Jesus’ mother, which makes her an aunt of Jesus and it would seem reasonable that being such a close relative she might approach Jesus with such a request that he might make his two cousins his top men. Nothing new here - a case of who you know, eh?
.
Lastly, Luke’s Gospel carries either the same incident or a continuation of the above incident, but what makes it more "a warts and all picture" is that this incident happens during the celebration of the last supper Jesus had with the disciples. Seems that all the Gospel writers are intent on showing every wart.
.
What you see here is Bible Study - which seeks to answer Biblical difficulties.
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M. MATTHEW 20 ....AN EYE WITNESS ACCOUNT OF AMBITION?
T. MARK 10 ...............A SECOND HAND VIEW OF AMBITION?
W. LUKE 21 ...............WARTS AND ALL - ANOTHER DISPUTE?
What you see here is Bible Study - which seeks to answer Biblical difficulties.
.
M. MATTHEW 20 ....AN EYE WITNESS ACCOUNT OF AMBITION?
T. MARK 10 ...............A SECOND HAND VIEW OF AMBITION?
W. LUKE 21 ...............WARTS AND ALL - ANOTHER DISPUTE?
posted by vesuvius2 at 12:05 PM
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