Our paragraph topic is:
(The mother of James and John) Part 5.
The mother of James and John came before Christ and made her demands for her sons. She spoke what they would not speak. She asked that her sons be seated with Christ on his left and on his right when he comes into his kingdom and sits upon his throne. She believes that they deserve the place of distinction. She knows, in her mind, that they are worthy of such an honor above all the other disciples. They were the first to follow him. They were the first to believe in him. They were born to the role that they now follow as disciples of Christ, the Messiah.
All their lives the Jews have waited for the time when the Messiah would come. Their history told them of this time. They believed that he would come and redeem them. They knew of the promise made by God but did not know the time that it would take place. So they lived their lives in expectation of what would happen. And when it did happen not many knew or believed that the time had come. But the apostles James and John believed. They knew that he would come and they prepared all their lives for the time when it would happen. And that time had come and they were a part of history in the making. Yet little did they know what they were a part of. And little did their mother know what would come. She only knew that he had come and now was the time for redemption. So she came and made her request thinking that the redemption would be of an earthly or worldly event. But Jesus answered and said, "You do not know what you are asking for."
And certainly they did not understand what they were asking. They thought that he would come and overthrow the rulers. They thought that he would come and create armies and take back all that was stolen. They thought that he would come and be declared a new king over all the rulers. But they were mistaken. He did not come to conquer the world. He did not come to destroy the rulers of the world. He did not come to be served as a king. He came to become a lamb. He came to be sacrificed. He came as an offering to compensate for the sins that man had committed. And they thought that they wanted to be with him in his sacrifice.
They did not understand that they were asking to be a sacrifice. They did not understand that they were asking to suffer and die. They did not understand that they were asking to be scorned, beaten, bruised, battered, mocked, and crucified on a cross to suffer and die. For this was the price that had to be paid for the sins that had been committed. This was the price that had to be paid for redemption. This was the price that was due for all the wrongs that man had committed against the commandments of God. And they thought that they wanted to be a part of this price that had to be paid.
Can we say the same today? Do we want to be a part of the price that Christ paid for our redemption? Do we want to suffer? Do we want to deny ourselves? Do we want to be beaten, mocked, suffer and die for what we believe about the Christ that came to die for us? Is that something that we can accept? Most would say no. Most would not think of suffering. Most would not think of sacrificing themselves for someone else. Most would not be able to see the good in those actions. Yet it is through the suffering, the pain, and the sacrifice that Christ was able to save me and you and all mankind from damnation.
We were dead and now we have life. We transgressed and now we are forgiven. We were lost but now we are found and redeemed. It is only through acceptance that we are able to find that which was lost. It is only through recognition that we can come to the light. It is only through sorrow that we can come to joy. And it is only through the search that we are able to find that which was originally ours in the beginning. The path is open. The way is fixed. The light of life is within you if you only seek. For Christ has paved the way. All we have to do is follow. The choice is ours to make. Redeem what was lost or loose what was taken away. Only you can make the decision. Come! Christ awaits with open arms to receive you with love.
Read the sign of the times! Read the Highlighted New Testament Bible and lift the scales from your eyes that you may see, that you may know, that you may find the truth of who you are in Christ. Read it as though you would read a good book, from cover to cover, and see for yourself. Do not study it in parts reading one passage and then skipping to another, but read it for understanding. Read it for knowledge. Read it for faith. Read it that your eyes may be opened, that your ears may hear, that your heart may be filled with the light of Christ. The Holy Spirit awaits you. Christ seeks to know you. Open the door and let him in.
The mother of James and John came before Christ and made her demands for her sons. She spoke what they would not speak. She asked that her sons be seated with Christ on his left and on his right when he comes into his kingdom and sits upon his throne. She believes that they deserve the place of distinction. She knows, in her mind, that they are worthy of such an honor above all the other disciples. They were the first to follow him. They were the first to believe in him. They were born to the role that they now follow as disciples of Christ, the Messiah.
All their lives the Jews have waited for the time when the Messiah would come. Their history told them of this time. They believed that he would come and redeem them. They knew of the promise made by God but did not know the time that it would take place. So they lived their lives in expectation of what would happen. And when it did happen not many knew or believed that the time had come. But the apostles James and John believed. They knew that he would come and they prepared all their lives for the time when it would happen. And that time had come and they were a part of history in the making. Yet little did they know what they were a part of. And little did their mother know what would come. She only knew that he had come and now was the time for redemption. So she came and made her request thinking that the redemption would be of an earthly or worldly event. But Jesus answered and said, "You do not know what you are asking for."
And certainly they did not understand what they were asking. They thought that he would come and overthrow the rulers. They thought that he would come and create armies and take back all that was stolen. They thought that he would come and be declared a new king over all the rulers. But they were mistaken. He did not come to conquer the world. He did not come to destroy the rulers of the world. He did not come to be served as a king. He came to become a lamb. He came to be sacrificed. He came as an offering to compensate for the sins that man had committed. And they thought that they wanted to be with him in his sacrifice.
They did not understand that they were asking to be a sacrifice. They did not understand that they were asking to suffer and die. They did not understand that they were asking to be scorned, beaten, bruised, battered, mocked, and crucified on a cross to suffer and die. For this was the price that had to be paid for the sins that had been committed. This was the price that had to be paid for redemption. This was the price that was due for all the wrongs that man had committed against the commandments of God. And they thought that they wanted to be a part of this price that had to be paid.
Can we say the same today? Do we want to be a part of the price that Christ paid for our redemption? Do we want to suffer? Do we want to deny ourselves? Do we want to be beaten, mocked, suffer and die for what we believe about the Christ that came to die for us? Is that something that we can accept? Most would say no. Most would not think of suffering. Most would not think of sacrificing themselves for someone else. Most would not be able to see the good in those actions. Yet it is through the suffering, the pain, and the sacrifice that Christ was able to save me and you and all mankind from damnation.
We were dead and now we have life. We transgressed and now we are forgiven. We were lost but now we are found and redeemed. It is only through acceptance that we are able to find that which was lost. It is only through recognition that we can come to the light. It is only through sorrow that we can come to joy. And it is only through the search that we are able to find that which was originally ours in the beginning. The path is open. The way is fixed. The light of life is within you if you only seek. For Christ has paved the way. All we have to do is follow. The choice is ours to make. Redeem what was lost or loose what was taken away. Only you can make the decision. Come! Christ awaits with open arms to receive you with love.
Read the sign of the times! Read the Highlighted New Testament Bible and lift the scales from your eyes that you may see, that you may know, that you may find the truth of who you are in Christ. Read it as though you would read a good book, from cover to cover, and see for yourself. Do not study it in parts reading one passage and then skipping to another, but read it for understanding. Read it for knowledge. Read it for faith. Read it that your eyes may be opened, that your ears may hear, that your heart may be filled with the light of Christ. The Holy Spirit awaits you. Christ seeks to know you. Open the door and let him in.
