Meaningless Requests

Scripture: Mark 10:35-40
Then James and John, the sons of Zebedee, came to him. “Teacher,” they said, “we want you to do for us whatever we ask. “What do you want me to do for you?” he asked. They replied, “Let one of us sit at your right and the other at your left in your glory. “You don’t know what you are asking,” Jesus said. “Can you drink the cup I drink or be baptized with the baptism I am baptized with? “We can,” they answered. Jesus said to them, “You will drink the cup I drink and be baptized with the baptism I am baptized with, 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.”

Did you ever ask a question in class thinking that you have the best question only to realize that you asked a stupid question and everyone in your class or team is looking at you while laughing? I definitely know this can be so embarrassing and you may not like it at all and may look for a place to hide your face to keep you from the embarrassment.
James and John, the sons of Zebedee, realized that Jesus was almost being put to death and that he was not going to be with them longer. They quickly think of a deal to be promoted and be allowed to sit on the sides of Jesus. Jesus looks at them and tells them that they did not know what they were asking for and they didn't know the trials that would come.
Many, at times, will pray prayers that are contrary to the will of God. We may want things to be done our way not knowing that God has them planned in a different format. We grieve God when we insist that we know it better and we make His Helper be of no value to us. In many such instances we fail terribly and think God has not answered. Actually, God’s answer can be NO and we have to accept that He still has the best answer for us. James and John walked with Jesus but still their request was not in line with God’s plan for them. It is possible that we as believers sometimes may ask what we ought not to have asked so we must be ready at all costs to let only His will be done as Jesus did in the Gethsemane encounter. Equally, when we walk to Him our focus should be His Kingdom and not our desires.
Romans 8:26-27 – "Likewise the Spirit also helps in our weaknesses. For we do not know what we should pray for as we ought, but the Spirit Himself makes intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered. Now He who searched the hearts knows what the mind of the Spirit is, because He makes intercession for the saints according to the will of God." John 16:13-14 – "However when He, the Spirit of truth, has come, He will guide you into all truth; for He will not speak on His own authority, but whatever He hears He will speak; and He will tell you things to come. He will glorify me for He will take what is mine and declare it to you."

Eliazar Wambo

Director Bethesda Faith Ministries

Pastor Makira Baptist Church, Mfangano Island, Kenya