From Matthew 20:20-28 / Godly Audacity

There is no question this is a most curious passage. And neither Matthew nor Jesus issue a censure of James’ and John’s mother. Whatever else we may think of James and John here, and their mother – let this example serve for mothers everywhere:

Note first: It is a good thing to desire great things IN CHRIST for your children. Most mothers desire good things for their son s and daughters. But in this example, she can think of nothing better for her sons than to rule and reign with Christ. Mothers – pray like this for your own. And Fathers, take note too!

We hear so many today say things like: “I just want them to be happy”, or perhaps safe, or successful, etc. But be like this great mother, who sought, who shamelessly pled for her sons, that their blessedness would consist in being as close to Christ in His Lordship, that all else was left behind. This was a faith-filled prayer, for in it, she demonstrated that Christ’s Kingdom would indeed come. She took it seriously.

Note second: For all of us in our prayers – Be audacious in your requests to Him on their behalf. Notice again that she is never rebuked for her petitions, even as Jesus instructs them not to seek positions for themselves. She asks boldly, largely and without any fear of how it might appear to others. Her love for them was tied up with the reality of who Christ was and that nothing could be better for them than to be with Him in the highest sense.

Note third: That her concern is for the future as it is in Christ. She does not ask to spare them difficulties and trials in the present. She does not ask for an easy road. She does not ask to spare them even from the persecution and and the martyrdom they are to experience one day. Her vision is far beyond that – it stretches out into eternity, into the coming Kingdom.

Mothers, if you would pray well for your children, pray that they will be with Christ IN HIS KINGDOM. Nothing less, whatever cup they may have to sip in the meantime. No matter what baptism – even that of fire which they may yet need to endure – but let them, when all is said and done – be with Christ in His Kingdom.

Indeed, here is a directory for the prayers of all parents and grandparents – but especially of mothers. Take this blessed page from her book and plead with Christ for your sons and daughters to be with Him in His kingdom. Come what may – nothing compares to this. And this is the purest of a Mother’s heart – Pray that they might be with Him in His coming reign. You can do nothing more loving, nothing higher, nothing more blessed than to pray for them in this way. Boldly. Audaciously. Powerfully. For despite Jesus’ corrective not to seek high places for themselves, He still notes in v23 that they will indeed drink from His cup and be baptized even with His baptism. She was heard, in all of her unseemliness.

Note fourth: How this scene is a concrete working out of the parable He just told. The key elements?

1 – God gives as He sees fit.

2 – Others are bothered by Him exerting His rights.

3 – Jesus Himself contents Himself with His Father’s sovereign appointments. How much more should we?

At this moment, He let them sip from His cup. His cup, is absolute trusting submission to His Father, without regard for position or recognition before others. His cup is love, poured out for others. His cup is self-denial, not self-gratification. His cup is to rest in the Father’s wisdom and eternal plan, not to engineer things for His own gain. His cup is sacrifice.

Note lastly: How it is that an understanding of God’s plans and purposes must inform all of our prayers. And so, we can have great confidence in His hearing and answering when that is the case. He loves to answer our prayers. But as Thomas Watson once wrote: “Jesus was more willing to go to the Cross, than we are to the throne of grace.”

Let us not be found in that number, but on our knees with this blessed Mother.