Yeshua’s Final Journey ~ Part 4

In our last post, we are now dealing with the final days of Yeshua’s life and ministry. In this post, Yeshua Hears the Request of the Mother of Ya’akov and Yochanan and Teaches on Humility.

Yeshua Hears the Request of the Mother of Ya’akov and Yochanan

The mother of Ya’akov and Yochanan boldly asks Yeshua to give her sons positions of honor in His kingdom of heaven. Yeshua uses this as an opportunity to teach about humility.

²⁰ Then Zavdai’s sons came to Yeshua with their mother. She bowed down, begging for a favor from Him. ²¹ He said to her, “What do you want?” She replied, “Promise that when you become king, these two sons of mine may sit, one on your right and the other on your left.” ^[1]

One at your right hand and one at your left refers to preeminent positions of authority and honor – the first and second in importance after Yeshua Himself.

³⁵ Ya’akov and Yochanan, the sons of Zavdai, came up to Him and said, “Rabbi, we would like you to do us a favor.” ³⁶ He said to them, “What do you want me to do for you?” ³⁷ They replied, “When you are in your glory, let us sit with you, one on your right and the other on your left.” ³⁸ But Yeshua answered, “You don’t know what you’re asking! Can you drink the cup that I am drinking? or be immersed with the immersion that I must undergo?” ³⁹ They said to Him, “We can.” Yeshua replied,“The cup that I am drinking, you will drink; and the immersion I am being immersed with, you will undergo. ⁴⁰ But to sit on my right and on my left is not mine to give. Rather, it is for those for whom it has been prepared.”  ^[2]

Yeshua Teaches Humility

²⁴ Now, when the other ten heard about this, they were outraged at the two brothers. ²⁵ But Yeshua called them and said, “You know that among the Goyim, those who are supposed to rule them become tyrants, and their superiors become dictators. ²⁶ Among you, it must not be like that. On the contrary, whoever among you wants to be a leader must become your servant, ²⁷ and whoever wants to be first must be your slave! ²⁸ For the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve—and to give his life as a ransom for many.”   ^[3]

Must become your servant is another paradoxical statement of role reversal (compare Mattityahu 19:30; 20:16). Rather than exercising authority, a godly leader willingly becomes a servant of others. This is true in both the secular and religious worlds.

In our next, we will continue to explore Yeshua’s Final Journey.

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^[1] Mattityahu 20:20–21.
^[2] Mark 10:35–40.
^[3] Mattityahu 20:24–28.