James and John’s mother pleaded with Jesus to grant her two sons the place of prominence – that one would sit at the right and the other at the left of Him in His Kingdom. The other ten disciples were outraged when they found out about it. (Matthew 20:20-24)
Was this mom out of line, shady, underhanded, or what?
I heard firsthand that in China parents would bribe a chain of people for their child to be admitted to a prestigious kindergarten. Once admitted, more bribes would be expected for a child to receive special favors. So far as I can see, such practice is despicable and frowned upon in America. In fact, we are not even allowed to leave a cash gift for our hardworking postman or even our friendly UPS delivery guy because of ethics concerns. I am not sure how that would constitute a bribe…as if our mail or packages will come any sooner if we leave a $10 cash tip around Christmas.
As a mom, I have tried other tactics to ensure my child gets special attention from her teacher. Or so I thought.
I consistently brought my daughter to her drama class ten minutes before it started. I would wave at her instructor with a huge smile, announcing our arrival. Sometimes I would even offer a small bow to the instructor, pretending I am a well-bred, foreign woman of culture and grace from the Far East. However, since I dropped my child off early, the poor instructor ended up babysitting my daughter for an extra ten minutes as I rushed to a Starbucks for my latte and the much-coveted solitude. I had hoped she’d win her teacher’s favor and land a big role in their little make-believe off-off-Broadway production. Oh, well. My daughter didn’t end up with a big role. Far from it – she played the role of a child with NINE siblings, and she had four lines. FOUR LINES for the tuition of $400!
Therefore I do not think James and John’s mother was out of line, shady, or underhanded for asking Jesus for such a favor. How about the other ten disciples that got angry? They were no better; they too wanted to be first.
How did Jesus respond to James and John and their mother? He answered…ever so brilliantly,
“You don’t know what you are asking. Are you able to drink the cup I am about to drink?”
We like to be in a position of importance, but few would pay the price. We want the glory without pain, the crown without the cross. The poignant account of Jesus’ last days sent a clear message that the Cross must precede the crown. To share the crown, we would have to share the Cross. When we find ourselves feeling jealous of those in privileged positions, we have to ask ourselves this question. “Are we willing to pay the price or walk in their shoes?”
A few days ago I read about the release of Ivanka Trump’s new book, Women Who Work: Rewriting the Rules for Success. As a 35-year-old mother with three young children, Ivanka has reached the pinnacle of what it means to be a successful woman. With her beauty and charisma, she can make all women, the present party included, envious. I then read about the harsh and brutal reviews that poured in from various news outlets and well-known figures. The world cannot seem to rejoice with Ivanka Trump for her success. Instead, it wants to tear her apart, just because she is glamorous, rich, and powerful. People think they have the right to attack someone like Ivanka Trump because of her privileged position. How wretched is the state of a human soul?
Can we endure the pain of strangers attacking us for no good reason other than envy? Ivanka Trump is not getting paid for her work as a senior advisor in the White House. She is under constant scrutiny. Her new DC neighbors complained about her and her motorcade. And for having Donald Trump for a father, she took the heat and jeers from…the Germans during her visit a few weeks ago. (Isn’t the Trump family originally from Germany?)
Where we sit, whether it is at the right or at the left of a chief, is not as important as where we stand.
Stand for integrity, compassion, and service.
Just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.
Matthew 20:28