The Tides of March

Saturday, March 20, 2021

In some years, the fifth Sunday of Lent will have Mark 10:35-45 as its Gospel reading. That passage is Jesus’ third time He predicts his death and resurrection in the Gospel of Mark. The first time, Peter takes him aside and rebukes him (8:31-32). The second time, the disciples do not understand and are afraid to ask him about it (9:31-32). This third time is also met with some disciples’ cluelessness as James and John (the sons of Zebedee) take the dubious honor. “They said to Jesus, ‘Teacher, we want you to do for us whatever we ask of you…Grant us to sit, one at your right hand and one at your left, in your glory.’” (Matthew’s account of this—20:20-28—has the brothers’ ambitious mother bring this request to Jesus.) Jesus’ initial reply was, “You do not know what you are asking.”

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