Along with Peter, John is one of the two best known disciples of Jesus. John had a deep capacity to love and always desired to love even more deeply. John was the last of the 12 to leave Jesus at the crucifixion. When Jesus looked down from the cross and saw His mother and John, He charged John with caring for His mother, and His mother with caring for John. He knew that in their grief, both would need someone to care for as well as someone to care for them. When James and John asked Jesus if they could sit on each side of Him, Jesus told them that they didn’t realize what they were asking. Then Jesus asked them if they were able to drink the same cup. It’s important to view this scripture in its full context. The verses immediately preceding their request help us to understand their thoughts a bit better:
“And they were on the road, going up to Jerusalem, and Jesus was walking ahead of them; and they were amazed, and those who followed were afraid. And taking the twelve again, he began to tell them what was to happen to him, saying, “Behold, we are going up to Jerusalem; and the Son of man will be delivered to the chief priests and the scribes, and they will condemn him to death, and deliver him to the Gentiles; and they will mock him, and spit upon him, and scourge him, and kill him; and after three days he will rise.” And James and John, the sons of Zebedee, came forward to him, and said to him, “Teacher, we want you to do for us whatever we ask of you.” And he said to them, “What do you want me to do for you?” And they said to him, “Grant us to sit, one at your right hand and one at your left, in your glory.” But Jesus said to them, “You do not know what you are asking. Are you able to drink the cup that I drink, or to be baptized with the baptism with which I am baptized?”(John 14:32-38)
John and his brother weren’t asking to sit beside Jesus for glory’s sake, they were telling Him that they were ready to take His side in the troubles He would face. Jesus had just been telling them about the persecution that He would endure, even to death, and after those words, they asked to take His side. It was still naive of them to feel that they would be able to endure the same suffering that He would, but it reveals their passion. John wanted to give his all for the sake of Jesus.
This Week:
What is your commitment to Christ? When you love someone, you want to spend time with them; you want to talk with them and listen to them. If you want to grow closer to Christ, spend time with Him each day.
Questions to Consider:
- How would you describe your commitment to Christ?
- How much does your love for God impact your daily life?
- How would your closest friends and family describe your relationship with God?
Focus for the Week:
Be intentional about having a daily devotional time. Set aside extra time to pray in the morning and evening to give thanks for God’s unconditional, everlasting love. Begin and end each day this week talking (and especially listening) to God.
