Mark 5-18

I can easily read this interaction and judge ‘what a dumb question!’  To think that these two disciples would ask to have a high positions of honor in the kingdom. But I have made similar comments, thinking I deserve better than I’m getting. I have often thought like a Pharisee, I’m not like so and so. Many of us have been trained to elbow our way in, thinking we have earned our status with God or others. But none of us know what is around the corner that may cost us more than we have ever given up. I pray that our anchor is in Jesus alone, and we are all in to be with Him as He is in us. Let’s depart from what we are doing for Him and just be with Him. 

“God is not shocked or surprised that you are discouraged. He doesn’t wring his hands, wondering what to do next. He knows every struggle of discouragement in your heart. He knows your cries before you cry. He knew that you and I would be weak; that’s why he promised to be our strength. He has promised never to give up the battle for our hearts until that battle is finally won forever. This means he fights for us even when we have given up the fight. Our desire to follow him may weaken, but he will never give up or turn his back on us. He knows us because he made us, which is why he sent his Son to be for us what we could not be for ourselves and to do for us what we could not do on our own.” - Paul David Tripp, Suffering: Gospel Hope When Life Doesn't Make Sense

“Naively, they said they were ready for what was involved. “We are able” (Mark 10:39). They did not know what was involved nor did they know their own hearts. As his followers, they would indeed experience what he did. They too would know the wrath of an ego-centric, constructed-self world whose hierarchal, merit-based ways were threatened by the kingdom Jesus proclaimed. “But to sit at my right hand or at my left is not mine to grant, but it is for those for whom it has been prepared” (Mark 10:40). Those positions are for those whose servant hearts made them the “servant of all” (Mark 9:35).” - Excerpt , Following Jesus: Discipleship in the Gospel of Mark by Steve Langford