When James and John asked to sit on the right and left of Jesus in his glory, they thought they were asking for positions of power and prestige in the coming administration of Messiah—Secretary of State and Secretary of Defense, if you will. But...
In their request for positions of glory James and John were unwittingly asking to be crucified with Jesus! This is why Jesus said, “you do not know what you are asking” and then went on to speak of suffering.
It was the two rebels crucified with Jesus who were on Jesus’ right and left in his glory. Because the kingdom of God that Christ brings does not come by the glory of the sword, but by the suffering of the cross.
Martin Luther was right, the church needs to reject a “Theology of Glory” marked by triumphalism and embrace a “Theology of the Cross” marked by humility.
And the American church desperately needs to hear this message today.
And the American church desperately needs to hear this message today.
Since Constantine wherever the church has been hosted by a superpower sympathetic to Christianity, the temptation has been to embrace a “Theology of Glory” tinged with nationalism that tilts toward imperialism.
But this is not the way of Jesus.
Just ask James and John.
The End
But this is not the way of Jesus.
Just ask James and John.
The End
