The apostles James and John, sons of the fisherman Zebedee, rose to great prominence in the early church. James and his brother John were nicknamed Boanerges, that is, “Sons of Thunder,” as this Sunday’s rather ambitious Gospel incident will confirm. Both SS. James and John, along with St. Peter, formed Jesus’ inner circle, his close confidants, privileged to witness the raising of Jairus’ daughter, the Transfiguration and Christ’s final agony closely. St. James’ martyrdom is uniquely recorded in the Book of Acts. St. John of course needs little introduction to the faithful Scripture reader, easily recalled as the Beloved Disciple, who stood courageously at the foot of the Cross and first boldly peered into the empty tomb. St. Paul himself would even distinguish the brothers, along with St. Peter, as “pillars of the Church.”
St. Mark’s opening verses to this Sunday’s Gospel account are no surprise then when Zebedee’s two ambitious boys insist upon a prominent spot in the kingdom to come. “Then James and John, the sons of Zebedee, came to him and said to him, “Teacher, we want you to do for us whatever we ask of you.” He replied, “What do you wish me to do for you?” They answered him, “Grant that in your glory we may sit one at your right and the other at your left.” St. Mark’s early Gospel account does not apologize for recalling the two young men as go-getters. St. Matthew in his later Gospel writing, not wanting to step on any prestigious Apostolic toes, has the mother of the sons of Zebedee approach Christ and demand, “Command that these two sons of mine sit, one at your right and the other at your left, in your kingdom.” Either way, the other ten apostles understandably became “indignant” at the boldness of the two siblings offering Jesus an occasion to settle once and for all what true greatness from Christ’s perspective actually entails: “Whoever wishes to be great among you will be your servant; whoever wishes to be first among you will be the slave of all.”
So Jesus turns the boldness of the two brothers into a lesson on authentic commitment for all his disciples down through the ages. Commitment is written in words of service, Jesus instructs the disciples and all his future followers as well. And to leave no doubt as to how intensive the service demanded of his future followers might be, Jesus cites his own willingness to forfeit his very life when demanded and, in the meantime, to live out his daily life unreservedly for the good of the Gospel message: “Can you drink the cup that I drink or be baptized with the baptism with which I am baptized?”
The Christian reader of course might recall the cup which Jesus drinks as the fateful cup at the Last Supper, which held his own Precious Blood soon to be spilled at the praetorium’s pillar, along Jerusalem’s streets and from own his pierced side on the Cross. Certainly, these final spillings of Jesus’ blood are eminent manifestations of total commitment on the part of Jesus to his earthly ministry. Jesus’ reference here to baptism may invoke his willingness to stand along Jordan’s shores with the crowds of sinners who had come to repent of their evil ways and affirm anew their loyal to God. Christ’s closeness to sinners, predicted by Isaiah 53:12, is realized here at the river’s banks: “…he …was counted among the transgressors, bore the sins of many, and interceded for the transgressors.” Yes, Jesus’ sense of service was so sharp that he chose to identify with the very sinners he came to save. By his blood and by his baptism, Jesus’ commitment to saving sinful mankind is made dramatically evident in his work of tireless service and shameless bonding.
Each of the apostles, of course, would eventually come to share in Christ’s glory: “Jesus said to them, “Amen, I say to you that you who have followed me, in the new age, when the Son of Man is seated on his throne of glory, will yourselves sit on twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel” (Mt’19:28). But this allotment in final glory necessarily involves a share in the cup of Jesus’ sufferings, in the endurance of much tribulation, and, for ten of these men, even martyrdom.
Those in every era who respond to the baptismal call to hear Jesus, to follow Jesus, and to serve Jesus must know that their allotted cup is no different from that of those dedicated believers who came before them. The thoughts of this Sunday’s first reading apply equally to Christ’s followers as it did to Christ and to the apostles: “…through his suffering, my servant shall justify many’” (Is.53:11). All must express their commitment to Christ and to his Gospel through words and deeds of earnest and sometimes rough commitment.
