28th.: Can We Ask for Too Much?
Early in his ministry, Jesus had told his disciples,
“Ask, and it shall be given you, seek and ye shall find, knock, and it shall be opened to you.” (Matt. 7:7).
Sometime later, two of Jesus' disciples, took him at his word.
They asked for the honor of sitting on either side of him in heaven. (Matthew 20:20-24)
Jesus did not berate them.
Instead he said,
“Ye know not what you ask.” (Matt. 20:22a).
To be given places of honor in God’s kingdom is significant.
For example, Enoch, Abraham, Moses, and many others, would also be worthy to sit next to Jesus.
The Old testament indicates that they had also known and seen him.
Nevertheless, Jesus continued with, “Are you able to drink of the cup [of suffering] that I shall drink of?” (Matt. 20:22b).
They said that they could.
Jesus then affirmed that they would (see Matt. 20:22c-23a).
Jesus then continued with,
“But to sit on my right hand and on my left, is not mine to give,
but it shall be given to them for whom it is prepared of my Father.” (Matt. 20:23b-c).
In conclusion, it was not wrong for James and John to ask for that honor.
They just had to be willing to accept a “No” answer.
“And this is the confidence that we have in him,
that if we ask anything according to his will, he hears us.” (1st. John 5:14b)