Brian’s Quiet Time Thoughts.

We will get to how Jesus calls us to act in the next verse. But today, what is God’s requirement of how a king should act? What did God expect from rulers in the Old Testament? “When you enter the land the Lord your God is giving you, take possession of it, live in it, and say, ‘I will set a king over me like all the nations around me,’ you are to appoint over you the king the Lord your God chooses. Appoint a king from your brothers. You are not to set a foreigner over you, or one who is not of your people. However, he must not acquire many horses for himself or send the people back to Egypt to acquire many horses, for the Lord has told you, ‘You are never to go back that way again.’ He must not acquire many wives for himself so that his heart won’t go astray. He must not acquire very large amounts of silver and gold for himself. When he is seated on his royal throne, he is to write a copy of this instruction for himself on a scroll in the presence of the Levitical priests. It is to re

Indignant means feeling or showing anger or annoyance at what is perceived as unfair treatment. How did the other 10 find out about this? picture this scene, Jesus is walking along the road and has just told all 12 that He was going to Jerusalem to be killed on the cross. While everyone is pondering what Jesus was talking about John took the advantage to approach Jesus with James coming along. They ask Jesus to let them sit at the right and left of Jesus’ throne. While they are talking another disciple overhears John’s question to Jesus. He then falls back to the last disciple in the group and says, “did you hear what I just heard?” At this news, these two began to talk to two more and the news spread to all 10. At this point, there is an annoyance toward James and John at their unfair request to Jesus. They begin to think among themselves, “who do they think they are should it be me, or maybe Peter or maybe Judas?” Who of us had heard a small part of a bigger conversation and felt ind

Do you think Jesus knows who will sit at His right or left? “He told them, “You will indeed drink My cup. But to sit at My right and left is not Mine to give; instead, it belongs to those for whom it has been prepared by My Father.” ‭‭Matthew‬ ‭20:23‬ ‭HCSB‬‬ https://www.bible.com/72/mat.20.23.hcsb Could this be one thing that the father knows but Jesus does not know, yet? But wait a minute, Is not Jesus part of the trinity of God and He is one with the father? So how can he be one with God yet not know who will sit at His right and left? Does God not share with Jesus the seating chart of the 24 elders? To be honest I do not know whether Jesus knows or not but I wanted to bring out the fact that Jesus is one with God but does not know it all yet.  “Heaven and earth will pass away, but My words will never pass away. Now concerning that day or hour no one knows — neither the angels in heaven nor the Son — except the Father. Watch! Be alert! For you don’t know when the time is coming.” ‭‭

James and John were prepared to go all the way with Jesus. As long as it was not too hard. They may have seen Jesus as setting up His kingdom on earth before His death, but after his death was when He would establish His kingdom in Heaven. James and John would be willing to march into Jerusalem right behind Jesus and kick those temple rulers, Pharisees, and Sadducees out of God’s house of prayer, and maybe in time kick those Romans out of Jerusalem and Isreal, but this was not Jesus’ plan. His plan was missed the last time Jesus told them. “Listen! We are going up to Jerusalem. The Son of Man will be handed over to the chief priests and the scribes, and they will condemn Him to death. Then they will hand Him over to the Gentiles, and they will mock Him, spit on Him, flog Him, and kill Him, and He will rise after three days.” ‭‭Mark‬ ‭10:33-34‬ ‭HCSB‬‬ https://www.bible.com/72/mrk.10.33-34.hcsb Now we should not be too hard on James and John because even Peter, along with the rest was w

What was Jesus’ cup? What was His baptism?  “Then He withdrew from them about a stone’s throw, knelt down, and began to pray, “Father, if You are willing, take this cup away from Me — nevertheless, not My will, but Yours, be done.” ‭‭Luke‬ ‭22:41-42‬ ‭HCSB‬‬ https://www.bible.com/72/luk.22.41-42.hcsb Jesus’ cup was everything from Judas’ betrayal to His burial in the borrowed tomb. It was betrayal by his fellow countrymen, being beaten by the Romans. It was 3 hours suffering on the cross. It was being cast from the presence of God. Jesus’ cup was the most humiliating thing He had to do. Are you James and John ready to endure all this for a high position in His glory? “But John tried to stop Him, saying, “I need to be baptized by You, and yet You come to me?”  Jesus answered him, “Allow it for now, because this is the way for us to fulfill all righteousness.”  Then he allowed Him to be baptized. After Jesus was baptized, He went up immediately from the water. The heavens suddenly opened

The chairs of the right and left are the first and second highest in command. But would it be possible for someone to sit at the left of Jesus? Jesus is seated at the right of God! So whoever took the seat on the left would be seated in God’s throne or in front of it. “Jesus said to them, “I assure you: In the Messianic Age, when the Son of Man sits on His glorious throne, you who have followed Me will also sit on 12 thrones, judging the 12 tribes of Israel.” ‭‭Matthew‬ ‭19:28‬ ‭HCSB‬‬ https://www.bible.com/72/mat.19.28.hcsb “Immediately I was in the Spirit, and a throne was set there in heaven. One was seated on the throne, and the One seated looked like jasper and carnelian stone. A rainbow that looked like an emerald surrounded the throne. Around that throne were 24 thrones, and on the thrones sat 24 elders dressed in white clothes, with gold crowns on their heads. Whenever the living creatures give glory, honor, and thanks to the One seated on the throne, the One who lives forever

Does Jesus already know their request? He knows what is in their hearts but does He know what they are going to say? I have never read where Jesus answeres a question before it is asked. But He does always have a response to any question and it was usually with another question to make the person whom He is talking to stop and ponder.  What must I do to inherit eternal life? — Why do you call me good? (Mark 10:11-12) it is lawful to pay taxes? — Whose image and inscription is this? (Matthew 22:17-20) By what authority are you doing these things? — Where was John’s baptism from? (Matthew 21:23-25) doesn't your teacher pay the temple tax? — Who do the kings collect taxes from? (Matthew17:24-25) Jesus wants to hear our questions! He wants to know our fears, doubts, concerns so that He may increase our faith, hope, and love.  “The apostles said to the Lord, “Increase our faith.” “If you have faith the size of a mustard seed,” the Lord said, “you can say to this mulberry tree, ‘Be uproo

James and John wanted Jesus to agree to do something before they asked Him. What they are about to ask they know it might be just foolishness but they wanted Jesus to say yes before He even heard their request. It would be likened to one of our kids coming to us and saying, “Dad please say yes.” “What do you want?” would be our reply. “I want $100 for a new pair of shoes.” Do we treat God this way?  “God I am doing this thing please bless me.” “Why would I bless you when what you are doing is out of My will for your life?”  “Because I just want to do this.” “I will turn it to good for those who love me and obey my commands.” We often want what we want and expect God to bless it, but what God wants is for us to walk in obedience to Him and then he will bless it. “We know that all things work together for the good of those who love God: those who are called according to His purpose.” ‭‭Romans‬ ‭8:28‬ ‭HCSB‬‬ https://www.bible.com/72/rom.8.28.hcsb “If you love Me, you will keep My command

The disciples knew why they were going to Jerusalem. they were going for the Passover just like they have done with Jesus two other times and all the times as kids before Jesus. But Jesus was not just going to the Passover He was to be the permanent Passover lamb. “Sacrifice to Yahweh your God a Passover animal from the herd or flock in the place where the Lord chooses to have His name dwell. You are not to sacrifice the Passover animal in any of the towns the Lord your God is giving you. You must only sacrifice the Passover animal at the place where Yahweh your God chooses to have His name dwell. Do this in the evening as the sun sets at the same time of day you departed from Egypt.” ‭‭Deuteronomy‬ ‭16:2, 5-6‬ ‭HCSB‬‬ https://www.bible.com/72/deu.16.2,5-6.hcsb “Yet I must travel today, tomorrow, and the next day, because it is not possible for a prophet to perish outside of Jerusalem!” ‭‭Luke‬ ‭13:33‬ ‭HCSB‬‬ https://www.bible.com/72/luk.13.33.hcsb So Jesus had to travel to Jerusalem