35 Then Zavday’s (Grk. Zebedaios) two sons, Ya’akov (James; Grk. Yakobos) and Yohan (John; Grk. Yoannes), approached Yeshua (Jesus; Grk. Yesus) and asked, “Teacher, we’d like to ask a favour from you—please don’t disappoint us.”

36 “What do you want from me?” Yeshua asked.

37 They answered, “Allow us two to sit beside you in heaven—one of us on each side of you.”

38 “You don’t even understand what you’re asking for,” Yeshua replied. “Do you think you could endure the suffering that I have to go through? Or to be enveloped in the darkness that I have to go down into?”[ref]

39 “Sure we can,” they replied.

“And indeed you all will suffer like me and be enveloped in darkness like I will be,” responded Yeshua, 40 “but as for deciding who will sit next to me, that’s not my decision to make because it’s already been decided.”

41 When the ten other apprentices heard what those two had asked for, they were upset at Ya’akov (Jacob) and Yohan (John; Grk. Yoannes). 42 But Yeshua called them over, “Listen, in most countries their rulers boss the people around and their leaders exert their authority over them.[ref] 43 But it doesn’t work like that with you—anyone of you who wants to be honoured must serve the others,[ref] 44 and anyone who wants to become the most respected has to work like a slave does. 45 Even the son of humanity didn’t come to be served, but to serve others and to give his life as a ransom to set many people free.”

20 Then Zavday’s (Grk. Zebedaios) wife approached Yeshua (Jesus; Grk. Yesus) with her two sons, Ya’akov (Jacob) and Yohan (John; Grk. Yoannes). She knelt in front of him, obviously wanting to ask for something.

21 “What is it that you’re wanting?” Yeshua asked.

“Promise that my two sons will be able to sit beside you in your royal court,” she said, “one on the right and one on the left.”

22 But Yeshua answered, “You people don’t realise what you’re asking. Do you think you’ll be able to bear the suffering that I’ll have to suffer?”

“Yes,” they replied, “we can.”

23 “Well, you will indeed share my suffering,” Yeshua responded. “But on the other hand, sitting on my right and my left is not my decision to make—it’s for the people my father’s prepared those places for.”

24 Now the other ten, who’d heard all this, resented the two brothers, 25 but Yeshua called them over and said, “You apprentices know that the rulers of other nations practice total control over their people, as do other powerful people.[ref] 26 But among you, it shouldn’t be like that. Instead, anyone who wants to become important should be your servant,[ref] 27 and anyone who wants to be first should be your slave, 28 in the same way that the son of humanity didn’t come to be served, but to serve others and to give his life as the cost of freeing many people.”