2nd Week in Lent, Wednesday – 3rd March 2021 – Mt 20,17-28
Crown or Cross
Immediately after the third prediction of Jesus’ passion, his followers were thinking more of their own glory than of his sufferings. Jesus spoke about a cross, while James and John and their mother, Salome were interested in a crown. There are several things wrong with their request. First of all, it was born in ignorance. Jesus replied “You do not know what you are asking.” Little did Salome realize that the path to the throne is a difficult one. James was the first disciple to be martyred, and John had to endure persecution and exile on the Isle of Patmos. These three believers wanted their will, not God’s will, and they wanted it their way. Another factor was their lack of heavenly direction. They were thinking like the world. James and John wanted to “lord it over” the other disciples the way the unsaved Gentile rulers lorded it over their subjects. Their request was fleshly, because they were selfishly asking for glory for themselves, not for the Lord. They must have felt relieved that they went to Jesus with this request before Peter could. Finally, their request was not only of the world and the flesh, but it was of the devil. For it was motivated by pride. Satan had sought a throne (Is 14,12-15) and had been cast down. Satan had offered Jesus a throne and had been refused (Mt 4,8-11). Satan magnifies the end (a throne) but not the means to that end. Jesus warned Salome and her sons that the special thrones were available to those who were worthy of them. There are no shortcuts in the kingdom of God.
