Have you been listening???

Matthew 20:20-23 Then the mother of the sons of Zebedee came up to him with her sons, and kneeling before him she asked him 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.” It might seem at first glance that this was an innocent question asked by an intruding mother, who had no idea what Jesus had been teaching. But the mother of James and John was one of those women who faithfully had been following after Jesus, and the parallel account in Mark makes it clear that this was not just her - it was the Sons of Thunder themselves who wanted this. They were, after all, two of the key three disciples. They just didn't get it; we often just don't get it - Jesus abhors all this comparison and vying for position that characterizes the world in which we live. It is not part of his creative design or His Kingdom. And those positions? Don't even think about it; they are already filled. Let's just take up our cross and follow Him; He's good with that.