Breaking the Word

As Jesus was going up to Jerusalem, he took the twelve (disciples) aside by themselves, and said to them on the way, "Behold, we are going up to Jerusalem, and the Son of Man will be handed over to the chief priests and the scribes, and they will condemn him to death, and hand him over to the Gentiles to be mocked and scourged and crucified, and he will be raised on the third day." Then the mother of the sons of Zebedee approached him with her sons and did him homage, wishing to ask him for something. He said to her, "What do you wish?" She answered him, "Command that these two sons of mine sit, one at your right and the other at your left, in your kingdom." Jesus said in reply, "You do not know what you are asking. Can you drink the cup that I am going to drink?" They said to him, "We can." He replied, "My cup you will indeed drink, but to sit at my right and at my left (, this) is not mine to give but is for those for whom it has been prepared by my Father." When the ten heard this, they became indignant at the two brothers. But Jesus summoned them and said, "You know that the rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and the great ones make their authority over them felt. But it shall not be so among you. Rather, whoever wishes to be great among you shall be your servant; whoever wishes to be first among you shall be your slave. Just so, the Son of Man did not come to be served but to serve and to give his life as a ransom for many."  (Mt 20:17-28)

Mother of the sons of Zebedee came to Jesus. She did not meet him by herself and express her wishes. She was accompanied by her two sons. They were in agreement with what their mother was saying. They have heard all what Jesus had spoken and thy have experienced him in closed circles. James and John were very close to Jesus and they always accompanied him even where he did not take all his disciples. Was this wish of the mother of sons of Zebedee caused because Peter had been told that he would be the rock on which the church would be built and nothing was said about these two?

Jesus was sure of what was going to happen to him. He was aware of everything that would happen in Jerusalem. And still he continued to go. Mother of the sons of Zebedee was not aware of what awaited Jesus in Jerusalem. (The disciples were told about it but probably the message did not reach them deep). The disciples and the followers of Jesus were expecting something different in Jerusalem.

The followers were totally caught up with earthly thinking and they were visualizing everything as they see around in the world. They were totally immersed with posts and positions; security and safety. Jesus on the other hand was talking about heavenly values and realities. They were worried about being served and saving life. Jesus was concerned about doing service and giving up life as a ransom. 

Then Jesus spoke to the crowds and to his disciples, saying, "The scribes and the Pharisees have taken their seat on the chair of Moses. Therefore, do and observe all things whatsoever they tell you, but do not follow their example. For they preach but they do not practice. They tie up heavy burdens (hard to carry) and lay them on people's shoulders, but they will not lift a finger to move them. All their works are performed to be seen. They widen their phylacteries and lengthen their tassels. They love places of honor at banquets, seats of honor in synagogues, greetings in marketplaces, and the salutation 'Rabbi.' As for you, do not be called 'Rabbi.' You have but one teacher, and you are all brothers. Call no one on earth your father; you have but one Father in heaven. Do not be called 'Master'; you have but one master, the Messiah. The greatest among you must be your servant. Whoever exalts himself will be humbled; but whoever humbles himself will be exalted.  (Mt 23:1-12)

Moses was God-sent to the people of Israel who were in Egypt. The Mosaic law, the Torah, was good and God-given. Hence they should be observed without any hesitation. Even if these laws were pronounced by wrong people from wrong places at the wrong time. The central theme of the Mosaic law was love of God and love of the neighbour.

Pharisees and the Scribes were preaching these laws and they were going on about Moses: Moses said this, Moses said that, do this, don’t do that etc. But they concentrated on the outward show. They were worried about large prayer-cases (known as Phylacteries which contained the prayer and this was worn on their hand and head). They also wore long prayer tassels (at the four corners of their outer garment). These were worn to show that they were pious and praying.

Jesus wanted his followers and disciples to wear humility, calling God as father and Messiah as Master. (These were the new phylacteries and tassels and places of honour etc). So the pious, religious, prayer garments were not the external and visible things but they were internal and more of attitude towards God and one another. Mosaic law should be observed with internal attitudes rather them external prayer-kit.