James and John are doing that today. They are shouting, "Dibs on the thrones either side of you. We want to sit on the thrones!" Jesus responds by telling them that they don't know what they are asking for and asks them a question: "Can you drink the cup and be baptised with the baptism I have?"
Now they don't understand and so they say, "Of course we can. Bring it on!" But to understand what it is that He is speaking of, we need to look at the Isaiah passage on the suffering servant and consider the resonances and parallels with Jesus' final days:
He took upon Himself the pain and suffering and the eventual death upon the cross. The pain that was the penalty our sins demanded. Those who stood watch Jesus with the Sanhedrin and during the final trial before Pilate considered Him to be a blasphemer and so the death sentence was, for them, punishment from God.
He was pierced by the nails and hanged upon a cross (a death disfavoured by God which meant separation from God) and yet this death reconciled all creation to God and so, 'by His wounds, we are healed'.
He died with the wicked and yet was placed in a rich man's tomb (as the passage says) and rose again (He saw the light of life) and will see many offspring (the believers).
We could go on with Isaiah but instead let us look to Hebrews and see how not only is the Isaiah passage is referred to again but Jesus is proclaimed as our great High Priest. One who offers Himself as an atonement for sin and in His groaning and pain offers up for us prayers of reconciliation to the Godhead. The interesting thing about being a High Priest like Melchizedek is the fact that all the priest came from the Levitical line - that is they were all from Levi's family - But Melchizedek was not part of Levi's family tree, but was appointed by God Himself. Just as Jesus (who is God) was appointed by God to be our High Priest. Melchizedek was the first priest we read of - Jesus is the last and the only priest that we will ever need.
Cool innit?
But back to James and John were sinful people (just like us) and could not have fulfilled the role that Jesus, the Christ, came to fulfil. They were not spotless (that is, without sin) as Jesus was. They could not have made that atonement for the whole of creation. Truly, they did not know what they were asking for! How true this is of us too as we make claims, utter promises and take positions which prove that sometimes we just don't get it!
James and John wanted a place of honour whilst Jesus came to occupy a place of true servanthood and sacrifice. What about us?
Isaiah 53:4-12
Surely he took up our pain and bore our suffering, yet we considered him punished by God, stricken by him, and afflicted. But he was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was on him, and by his wounds we are healed. We all, like sheep, have gone astray, each of us has turned to our own way; and the Lord has laid on him the iniquity of us all. He was oppressed and afflicted, yet he did not open his mouth; he was led like a lamb to the slaughter, and as a sheep before its shearers is silent, so he did not open his mouth. By oppression and judgement he was taken away. Yet who of his generation protested?
For he was cut off from the land of the living; for the transgression of my people he was punished. He was assigned a grave with the wicked, and with the rich in his death, though he had done no violence, nor was any deceit in his mouth. Yet it was the Lord’s will to crush him and cause him to suffer, and though the Lord makes his life an offering for sin, he will see his offspring and prolong his days, and the will of the Lord will prosper in his hand. After he has suffered, he will see the light of life and be satisfied; by his knowledge my righteous servant will justify many, and he will bear their iniquities.
Therefore I will give him a portion among the great, and he will divide the spoils with the strong, because he poured out his life unto death, and was numbered with the transgressors. For he bore the sin of many, and made intercession for the transgressors.
Hebrews 5:1-10
Every high priest is selected from among the people and is appointed to represent the people in matters related to God, to offer gifts and sacrifices for sins. He is able to deal gently with those who are ignorant and are going astray, since he himself is subject to weakness. This is why he has to offer sacrifices for his own sins, as well as for the sins of the people. And no one takes this honour on himself, but he receives it when called by God, just as Aaron was.
In the same way, Christ did not take on himself the glory of becoming a high priest. But God said to him, “You are my Son; today I have become your Father.”
And he says in another place, “You are a priest forever, in the order of Melchizedek.”
During the days of Jesus’ life on earth, he offered up prayers and petitions with fervent cries and tears to the one who could save him from death, and he was heard because of his reverent submission. Son though he was, he learnt obedience from what he suffered and, once made perfect, he became the source of eternal salvation for all who obey him and was designated by God to be high priest in the order of Melchizedek.
Mark 10:35-45
Then James and John, the sons of Zebedee, came to him. “Teacher,” they said, “we want you to do for us whatever we ask.”
“What do you want me to do for you?” he asked.
They replied, “Let one of us sit at your right and the other at your left in your glory.”
“You don’t know what you are asking,” Jesus said. “Can you drink the cup I drink or be baptised with the baptism I am baptised with?”
“We can,” they answered.
Jesus said to them, “You will drink the cup I drink and be baptised with the baptism I am baptised with, but to sit at my right or left is not for me to grant. These places belong to those for whom they have been prepared.”
When the ten heard about this, they became indignant with James and John. Jesus called them together and said, “You know that those who are regarded as rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and their high officials exercise authority over them. Not so with you. Instead, whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant, and whoever wants to be first must be slave of all. For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.”
The Collect
Almighty God, in whose service lies perfect freedom: teach us to obey you with loving hearts and steadfast wills; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
Post Communion Prayer
Father of light, in whom is no change or shadow of turning, you give us every good and perfect gift and have brought us to birth by your word of truth: may we be a living sign of that kingdom where your whole creation will be made perfect in Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
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