A Mother’s Request

(Mark 10:35–45)

Then the mother of Zebedee’s sons came to [Jesus] with her sons [and] knelt down to make a request of Him.

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“What do you want?” He inquired

She answered“Declare that in Your kingdom one of these two sons of mine may sit at Your right hand, and [the other] at Your left.”

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“vvv You do not know what you are asking,” Jesus replied“Can you drink the cup I am going to drink or be baptized with the baptism [with] which I am baptized?[fn]”

“We can,” [the brothers] answered

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“vvv You will indeed drink My cup and be baptized [with the] baptism [with] which I am baptized,”[fn] [Jesus] said“But to sit at My right [or] left is not Mine to grant. [These seats belong] to those for whom My Father has prepared them.”

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When the ten heard about [this], they were indignant with the two brothers. 25 But Jesus called them aside [and] said,“You know that the rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and [their] superiors exercise authority over them. 26 But[fn] vvv it shall not be this way among you. Instead, whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant, 27 and whoever wants to be first among you must be your slave — 28 just as the Son of Man vvv did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life [as] a ransom for many.”

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