Mark 10:35–45

James and John Ask a Favor of Jesus

³⁵James and John came to Jesus. They were the sons of Zebedee. “Teacher,” they said, “we would like to ask a favor of you.”

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

³⁷They replied, “Let one of us sit at your right hand in your glorious kingdom. Let the other one sit at your left hand.”

³⁸“You don’t know what you’re asking for,” Jesus said. “Can you drink the cup of suffering I drink? Or can you go through the baptism of suffering I must go through?”

³⁹“We can,” they answered.

Jesus said to them, “You will drink the cup I drink. And you will go through the baptism I go through. ⁴⁰But it is not for me to say who will sit at my right or left hand. These places belong to those they are prepared for.”

⁴¹The other ten disciples heard about it. They became angry at James and John.

⁴²Jesus called them together. He said, “You know about those who are rulers of the nations. They hold power over their people. Their high officials order them around. ⁴³Don’t be like that. Instead, anyone who wants to be important among you must be your servant. ⁴⁴And anyone who wants to be first must be the slave of everyone. ⁴⁵Even the Son of Man did not come to be served. Instead, he came to serve others. He came to give his life as the price for setting many people free.”