Today the disciples are on the way to Jerusalem and Jesus is walking ahead of them. 

After a time, Jesus takes His twelve disciples aside and begins to prepare them for what will happen in Jerusalem.  He tells them that when they get to Jerusalem the Son of Man will be handed over to the chief priests and the Scribes. He then tells them that he will be mocked, spit on, and condemned to death. After three days, He will rise again.

Imagine the disciples’ reaction to these statements.  They know that Jesus is a controversial person.   However, they are stunned at the possibility of Jesus being arrested and possibly condemned to death. This is beyond their comprehension. And although they know that Jesus is in danger, they do not want to listen to what He is saying to them.

Then ,in the middle of this serious dialogue James and John come to Jesus with a request: “Teacher, we want you to do whatever we ask.”   They simply want to ensure that they will have a place at Jesus’ right and left hand when finally he is in His glory.  Their focus was solely on their future!

Understandably, the other disciples are extremely upset with James and John.   Jesus tells James and John: “You do not understand what they are asking!”   Then Jesus bluntly asks them: “Are you truly willing to drink from the chalice from which I will drink?”

How very human the disciples were!  Often they were focused only on themselves. 

Jesus  desires that we be servants to one another.  If  we choose to serve as Jesus did, most likely we will receive much more than we give. What will we choose to do today?  

When we pray or talk with Jesus, are we only concerned with ourselves?  Jesus has much that He wishes to say to us. Perhaps He simply desires to be in our presence and have our full attention. Today when we pray, will we do all the talking or will we stop and be attentive to Jesus’ presence with us?  Will we be still and listen for His words to us?

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