Mark 10:35–45

James and John Make a Request—Matthew 20:20–28

³⁵James and John, sons of Zebedee, went to Jesus. They said to him, “Teacher, we want you to do us a favor.” 

³⁶“What do you want me to do for you?” he asked them. 

³⁷They said to him, “Let one of us sit at your right and the other at your left in your glory.” 

³⁸Jesus said, “You don’t realize what you’re asking. Can you drink the cup that I’m going to drink? Can you be baptized with the baptism that I’m going to receive?” 

³⁹“We can,” they told him. 

Jesus told them, “You will drink the cup that I’m going to drink. You will be baptized with the baptism that I’m going to receive. ⁴⁰But I don’t have the authority to grant you a seat at my right or left. Those positions have already been prepared for certain people.” 

⁴¹When the other ten apostles heard about it, they were irritated with James and John. ⁴²Jesus called the apostles and said, “You know that the acknowledged rulers of nations have absolute power over people and their officials have absolute authority over people. ⁴³But that’s not the way it’s going to be among you. Whoever wants to become great among you will be your servant. ⁴⁴Whoever wants to be most important among you will be a slave for everyone. ⁴⁵It’s the same way with the Son of Man. He didn’t come so that others could serve him. He came to serve and to give his life as a ransom for many people.”