“Can You Drink The Cup That I Drink?”
- International
- May 30, 2012
Scattered through the pages of the Gospels are precious insights into the characters of the apostles. Not much is said, but sometimes a little event or a casual remark reveals them for what they were.
What were they, after all? A group of young men, Galilean peasants most of them, who had banded together with the Master for what they hoped would be their fame and fortune. They were all ambitious men, yes. The rabbi Jesus of Nazareth was quite unlike any other. He taught with authority. He confuted the learned scribes. His healing miracles made him extremely popular with the masses.
Was he the Messiah? Probably. He was certainly a prophet in the great Judaic tradition, and perhaps, as time went by he would make a play for the messiahship. Everyone expected him to do so.
The two brothers, James and John – some accounts have their mother Salome taking the initiative – make a preemptive bid for the places of honour when Jesus came into his own. “Do us a favour, Lord,” they plead, “grant us the right to sit in state with you, one on your right and the other on your left, when you come into your kingdom.”
Jesus parries the question: “Can you two share in my destiny?” he asks. The metaphor used is ‘to drink my cup’,’ or to be baptized by my baptism. The two are delighted. “Of course, we can!” they assert. “And indeed you shall,” replies Jesus. “But as for sitting at my right hand and at my left, this has been already determined and assigned.”
The others in the group were furious with James and John when they came to know of their request. Naturally! They felt upstaged by these two ‘sons of thunder,’ these two ambitious, go-getting brothers, who planned to grab the power for themselves if only they had got their way.
How far the apostles were from understanding the meaning of discipleship! How little they even wanted to understand the disturbing predictions of Jesus’s passion!
So Jesus takes them all aside and in a few words explains the whole meaning of his mission and messiahship. “In the world, a boss throws his weight around, and makes you squirm at his littlest demands. Isn’t that so ? You are not to be like this, ever! Whoever wants to be great among you must be your servant. Whoever wants to be first, must become the least of all. For the Son of Man came not to be served, but to serve, and to surrender his life as a ransom for many.”
Not to be served, but to serve. The disciples couldn’t understand what Jesus meant. Nor did they even want to. After 20 centuries, so many in the Church are no better. Full of arrogance and conceit, they preen themselves on their titles and their robes of office, their hearts far, far away from the One who became the willing slave of all.
What were they, after all? A group of young men, Galilean peasants most of them, who had banded together with the Master for what they hoped would be their fame and fortune. They were all ambitious men, yes. The rabbi Jesus of Nazareth was quite unlike any other. He taught with authority. He confuted the learned scribes. His healing miracles made him extremely popular with the masses.
Was he the Messiah? Probably. He was certainly a prophet in the great Judaic tradition, and perhaps, as time went by he would make a play for the messiahship. Everyone expected him to do so.
The two brothers, James and John – some accounts have their mother Salome taking the initiative – make a preemptive bid for the places of honour when Jesus came into his own. “Do us a favour, Lord,” they plead, “grant us the right to sit in state with you, one on your right and the other on your left, when you come into your kingdom.”
Jesus parries the question: “Can you two share in my destiny?” he asks. The metaphor used is ‘to drink my cup’,’ or to be baptized by my baptism. The two are delighted. “Of course, we can!” they assert. “And indeed you shall,” replies Jesus. “But as for sitting at my right hand and at my left, this has been already determined and assigned.”
The others in the group were furious with James and John when they came to know of their request. Naturally! They felt upstaged by these two ‘sons of thunder,’ these two ambitious, go-getting brothers, who planned to grab the power for themselves if only they had got their way.
How far the apostles were from understanding the meaning of discipleship! How little they even wanted to understand the disturbing predictions of Jesus’s passion!
So Jesus takes them all aside and in a few words explains the whole meaning of his mission and messiahship. “In the world, a boss throws his weight around, and makes you squirm at his littlest demands. Isn’t that so ? You are not to be like this, ever! Whoever wants to be great among you must be your servant. Whoever wants to be first, must become the least of all. For the Son of Man came not to be served, but to serve, and to surrender his life as a ransom for many.”
Not to be served, but to serve. The disciples couldn’t understand what Jesus meant. Nor did they even want to. After 20 centuries, so many in the Church are no better. Full of arrogance and conceit, they preen themselves on their titles and their robes of office, their hearts far, far away from the One who became the willing slave of all.
