NT in 40 days: Matt. 16-21

I have to admire the ambition Zebedee's wife had for her sons James and John. In Matthew 20:20-28 she asks Jesus to let them sit at his right and left hands.

Jesus didn't answer her directly, but asked the two apostles if they were able to drink the cup that he was to drink. (To which they immediately respond, "Oh yes!")

I read somewhere that that's sometimes the case -- we don't get a "yes or no" answer to everything we want. Sometimes it's "are you willing to pay the price to achieve that?"

When the other disciples heard about what they'd asked for, they were indignant (v24). My guess is that they felt that way because they didn't think to ask it themselves. I can be the same way.

Ambition in the church is a weird thing. I've had thoughts like, "I could do a better communion lesson than that. Why hasn't anyone asked me?" Or when I do, I'll get competitive about silly little things that *really* don't matter, like how close to the 5 minute mark I got without going over. Like *that's* going to make a difference.

I like recognition, but it's dangerous for a personality like mine. For me, a proper focus is less on the status; more on the service.