20Then the mother of Zebedee's sons came to Him with her sons, kneeling down and asking something from Him.
21And He said to her, "What do you wish?"
She said to Him, "Grant that these two sons of mine may sit, one on Your right hand and the other on the left, in Your kingdom."
22But Jesus answered and said, "You do not know what you ask. Are you able to drink the cup that I am about to drink, and be baptized with the baptism that I am baptized with?"
They said to Him, "We are able."
23So He said to them, "You will indeed drink My cup, and be baptized with the baptism that I am baptized with; but to sit on My right hand and on My left is not Mine to give, but it is for those for whom it is prepared by My Father."
24And when the ten heard it, they were greatly displeased with the two brothers. 25But Jesus called them to Himself and said, "You know that the rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and those who are great exercise authority over them. 26Yet it shall not be so among you; but whoever desires to become great among you, let him be your servant. 27And whoever desires to be first among you, let him be your slave-- 28just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life a ransom for many."
Here is a mother looking out for her sons, a mother proud of her sons, feeling they deserve a place of honor. When she asks if they might be able to sit at His right hand and on His left, why does He ask if they are able to drink the cup and be baptized as Jesus, when the answer to the question is really that the place on His left and right is not His to give? Why does Jesus ask them if they will be able to do these things, when He already knows that indeed they will?
This scenario reminds me a little of a child after getting his first driver's license going up to the Mom asking if he can have the car keys. And the Mom may responds by asking the child questions like will you buckle up? Will you refrain from drinking when driving? Will you be home by midnight? And when the child responds with the correct answer to each of these, the Mom says the Dad is the one who he will decide if he can have the car keys. Dad may already have other plans for the car. Or Dad may have a few more things to ask first. So what is the purpose of asking Mom first? Mom was a good sounding board for whether the child was really ready to drive. Mom may be able to relate to the situation better. Mom may also be able to put in a good word with Dad.
I'm not saying this scenario is exactly like the James's and John's relationship with Jesus and God the Father in heaven, but it reminds me of it a little. Maybe even though it wasn't Jesus' place to say whether they may be allowed to sit on the right hand and the left of Jesus in heaven, Jesus was still their teacher. And Jesus was able to ask them the questions for how well prepared they are for the kingdom of heaven.
It is unimaginable to me how there is a place prepared for each of us in heaven. There are so many saints that have come before me, and many who will come after me. How does God know ahead of time who to prepare a place for and what kind of place to prepare? But He does know. And I believe everyone's place is already prepared.
Jesus' explanation of greatness being expressed in servitude wasn't in direct explanation to James and John, but to the twelve apostles after they had heard of James' and John's request. Had the apostles been upset that James and John had made the request, or that James and John thought of making the request before they did? Because Jesus went on to explain to all of them what greatness really was, I get the impression that they all were hoping for a position of greatness.
But as Jesus said, being great is not exercising authority or ruling over others as greatness is in the Gentile world, but in servitude. Jesus set the greatest example. We are all to strive to be like Jesus. And Jesus came to serve.
And what is the cup that Jesus is about to drink? To give His life as a ransom for many. Can we drink from the same cup? Can we dedicate our lives to the help of others, whatever the tasks are that God would have us do for the sake of others?