Bible Parents —The Pushy One
Matthew 20:20-21(MSG)
It was about that time that the mother of the Zebedee brothers came with her two sons, and knelt before Jesus with a request.
'What do you want?' Jesus asked.
She said: 'Give your word that these two sons of mine will be awarded the highest places in your kingdom, one at your right hand and one at your left.'
Around this time of year, social media abound with cute photos of small people in uniform starting day 1 of school. Posted by parents bursting with pride and high hopes for successful, and maybe glittering futures for their offspring. Nothing wrong with natural parental pride (so long as an unhealthy spirit of competition isn't stirred up!) However, parental aspirations can go too far.
As with Mrs Zebedee. Her request to Jesus for her sons, James and John, shows exactly what she wanted for their futures - top jobs, status, authority, power.
Jesus had to explain to her, and them, that such aspirations did not fit his Kingdom values or plan.
James and John clearly wanted the same as their mother - it was a joint request - demonstrating they had totally misunderstood what Jesus had only just told them ('It was about that time...' See verses 18-19) of the horror awaiting him in Jerusalem. Mum, James, John, were asking for entirely the wrong things for their future.
Kingdom values are so opposed to worldly values: serving people, not ruling over them; faithfulness over success; giving away rather than grabbing more; giving way rather than stampeding over; humility rather than superiority; God's plan before my plan - and many more.
Perhaps the prayer requests parents need to make for their children, and we need to be making for ourselves, is not for more success, more achievements, more money, more opportunities to climb the ladder or more social worth, but for more character growth in the fruits of the Spirit - to become more like Jesus. More loving, more joyful, more peaceful, more patient, more kind, more generous, more faithful, more gentle, more self-controlled.
Prayer - More...of your nature please, Lord.