"James and John, the sons of Zebedee, came to JESUS and said to HIM, 'Master, we want YOU to grant us what we are going to ask of YOU.' And HE said, 'What do you want ME to do for you?' They answered, 'Grant us to sit, one at YOUR right hand and one at YOUR left, when YOU come in YOUR glory.'
But JESUS said to them, 'You don't know what you are asking. Can you drink the cup that I drink, or be baptized in the way I AM baptized?' They answered, 'We can.' And JESUS told them, 'The cup that I drink, you will drink; and you will be baptized in the way that I AM baptized; but to sit at MY right hand or at MY left is not mine to grant. It has been prepared for others.'
On hearing this, the other ten were angry with James and John. JESUS then called them to HIM and said, 'As you know, the so-called rulers of the nations behave like tyrants, and those in authority oppress the people. But it shall not be so among you; whoever would be great among you must be your servant, and whoever would be first among you shall make himself slave of all. Think of the Son of Man, who has not come to be served but to serve, and to give HIS life to redeem many.'" - Mark 10:35-45
(JESUS feels full of courage and confidence, as HE HIMSELF walks ahead of them to Jerusalem, where HIS punishment awaits HIM. Prompted by James' and John's request, HE tries to convince HIS followers that success in his kingdom does not consist in prestige and power, but in following the way of JESUS, their leader.
What makes a leader? How should a leader be? How do leaders act, the head of a team, of a family? The heads of the state smile at crowds and embrace a child who renders them homage, but who serves and who is to be served? JESUS has come to serve and HIS service to humanity will be HIS voluntary death: "HE made HIMSELF obedient, took the condition of a slave and died on the cross" [Philippians 2:8].
To drink the cup and to be baptized are figurative ways of describing the suffering and death of JESUS.)
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