Matthew 20:20-28
A Mother's Request
20Then the mother of Zebedee's sons came to Jesus with her sons and, kneeling down, asked a favor of him.
21"What is it you want?" he asked.
She said, "Grant that one of these two sons of mine may sit at your right and the other at your left in your kingdom."
22"You don't know what you are asking," Jesus said to them. "Can you drink the cup I am going to drink?"
"We can," they answered.
23Jesus said to them, "You will indeed drink from my cup, 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 by my Father."
24When the ten heard about this, they were indignant with the two brothers. 25Jesus called them together and said, "You know that the rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and their high officials exercise authority over them. 26Not so with you. Instead, whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant, 27and whoever wants to be first must be your slave— 28just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many."
Some think the pride of James, John and their mother are at play here...They are thinking of themselves, before others...This was not a teaching of Jesus...They are putting themselves first...
There would be tremendous suffering Jesus would be going through on His way to His crucifixion...James and John did not understand this...
The follower who works hard, works diligently, suffers along with and for others, and teaches the Word of Christ will persevere... Those who endure through faith and work through love will be prepared...Then He says that places of the right and left (seats) have been prepared by my Father (or the followers whom God has prepared will sit at the right and the left)...
Jesus reminds them that He came to serve, and they must be prepared to serve also...They (and we) must become servants of others..Serving others is being great in life...