When we ask God for something, we need to ask three questions:
1. Does He have it to give?
2. Is He willing or ready to give it?
3. Do I qualify to receive what I'm requesting?
In our scripture passage, the mother of James and John approaches Jesus with a request. Where does she even get the idea to ask for a special position for her sons? In Matthew 19:16-30, Jesus tells the disciples they're going to sit on thrones. She asks Jesus to have them sit on His right and on His left. Notice, she doesn't pick who would be in each spot.
When we ask something of God, we have to do more than "have scripture for it." All too often even with a scripture or two we have failed to answer these three questions.
Jesus may as something of you (Verses 22-23)
1. He directs a question to the sons: Are you able to drink of the cup and be baptized with the baptism I'm going to have? They answer in the affirmative.
2. This is a qualifying question. How can they answer a question they don't understand?
3. How often do we answer qualifying questions we don't understand?
4. If Jesus asks this question, wouldn't it make sense that it had something to do with who would sit on His right and left?
How does Jesus respond to their declaration? To hear the rest of this teaching, please visit our website and click on the Listen Tab. You can listen online, download it to your MP3 player or podcast.
If you're visiting in the area or looking for a church home, we invite you to our Sunday Morning Service at 10:00 AM. Super Church for the children also starts at 10:00 AM. We look forward to meeting you!
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