Mark 10:35Meaning & Commentary from the Church Fathers

They anticipated His arrival in the kingdom, rather than His journey toward the cross and death. Although they had heard about the latter on numerous occasions, they were not fully convinced. Lacking a clear and precise comprehension of His message, they presumed that He was destined for a physical kingdom where He would rule from Jerusalem. As they traveled, believing the moment was ripe, they approached Him with their request. Distinguishing themselves from the other disciples, they focused solely on their desires, asking Him for positions of authority. They sought to be elevated above the rest, convinced that His mission was complete, that all had been fulfilled, and that the time for rewards and honors had arrived.

Another gospel writer, Matthew 20:20, recounts that the mother of James and John approached Jesus. It is likely that both apostles, feeling embarrassed in front of the others, initially sent their mother and later approached Him themselves. This is indicated by the evangelist’s wording, suggesting that they came forward specifically to Him, setting themselves apart from the rest.

When James and John beheld Moses and Elijah in the presence of the Lord, their desires ignited, prompting them to request, “Grant us the privilege to sit... one on Your right and the other on Your left,” mirroring those who appeared on the mountain. They expressed, “We desire that You would fulfill our request.” He responded, “I will do to you” (cf. Mk. 10:35-36), yet did not follow through. His statement was not born from ignorance of their request, but rather from His understanding that they would remain silent had He not reassured them, “I will do to you” (cf. Mk. 10:36). He made this declaration to prevent delaying the expression of their desires. However, following their concerns being voiced, He took the opportunity to address them collectively.

Among the disciples, there was a distinct affection for the Lord that was especially recognized, highlighting their close bond with Blessed Peter. They were frequently introduced to divine mysteries that were not shared with the other followers. The sacred Gospel often illustrates instances of this nature. Consequently, they were given a new title that reflected the courage and steadfastness of their unyielding faith, being called Boanerges, meaning ‘sons of thunder’ (Mk. 3:16-17), because alongside Peter, they heard the Father’s voice affirming the Lord (cf. Mt. 17:5) and grasped profound truths that remained hidden from the others. Their hearts were filled with a deep yearning for the Lord, and they cherished Him profoundly.

To illustrate the misunderstandings surrounding the discussion of the cross, two disciples, James and John, the sons of Zebedee, exhibited signs of immature devotion. The Lord particularly set them apart from the rest of the disciples, granting them unique trust and closeness; only Peter could share this distinction, as the Lord also highlighted him. This somewhat misconstrued prophecy rekindled in the young disciples the anticipation that the Master would not overlook them when it came to distributing rewards and blessings, even after His expected rise to power among the Jews. Their mother Salomia, who accompanied them to Jerusalem for the feast, nurtured and perhaps heightened these aspirations.

Why does the Evangelist Matthew recount that the mother of the sons of Zebedee approached Jesus Christ with her children, worshipping Him and requesting that her sons be granted special positions (Matthew 20:20)? Yet, Mark does not mention the mother at all. According to Matthew, not only did the mother come, but her sons also approached Christ. Specifically, when they asked, 'Can I drink the cup that I drink?' (Mark 10:38), Jesus’ response was directed toward the sons, affirming Matthew's account. Although the mother initiated the dialogue, she did so upon the counsel of her sons. Mark, who favored conciseness, chose to exclude the mention of the mother while highlighting her sons, who came forth to question Jesus, despite Him, being aware of their hearts, knowing well what they sought.

The Gospels of Matthew and Mark recount the request made by the sons of Zebedee, highlighting that the apostles grasped very little of what the Lord communicated regarding His suffering and resurrection. According to Mark, this appeal came directly from the sons of Zebedee, while Matthew indicates that their mother made the request on their behalf. This distinction reflects that Mark focuses solely on the core of the matter, whereas Matthew underscores the additional detail that their mother was the one advocating for them through her sons. Nonetheless, since this request originated from James and John, the Lord, as noted by Matthew, responds to them directly.

The request made by Salome and her sons reveals a profound longing for the kingdom and glory of their Master, even though they did not fully comprehend His words. It is likely that as they envisioned this kingdom, they assumed that they, being the closest companions of Jesus, would hold significant positions within it. In the midst of these aspirations, Salome, the mother of the apostles James and John, approached Jesus, who was walking ahead, and bowed before Him to make a request. According to the Gospel of Matthew, it was Salome, alongside her sons, who presented it, while the Gospel of Mark describes James and John directly addressing Jesus with the same petition.

However, their minds were still occupied with temporal expectations of the Messiah; they were so caught up in anticipating the glorious establishment of God's kingdom that Christ's prophecy seemed to elude their understanding entirely. They neither grasped its significance nor showed any desire to contemplate it. This was clearly evidenced by a recent occurrence that saddened the Lord. During this very journey, some of the disciples made an unfortunately untimely and self-serving request, revealing how little even His most intimate followers had been illuminated by the truth of the Gospel (Matthew 20:20-28, Mark 10:35-45). Salome, one of His devoted followers, approached Jesus with her two sons, James and John, and sought His assurance of a special privilege for them.

The appeal made by the sons of Zebedee, the Lord's reaction, and the lessons imparted to the disciples during this episode are presented in Mark with a notable similarity to Matthew's recounting (cf. Matt. 20:20-28). Mark’s narrative aligns closely with Matthew's, with the primary distinction that in Mark, the disciples themselves make the request, whereas in Matthew, it is their mother. The sons of Zebedee approached Him together with their mother Salome. It is likely that all three were engaged in the request, and the sons may have sought to lend credibility to their plea, perhaps feeling embarrassed on behalf of the other disciples, or wishing to enhance their chances of securing the request through their mother's intervention.

The episode involving the sons of Zebedee, James and John, highlighted that the Lord's discussions regarding the cross went far beyond the understanding of His disciples. Known as the "sons of thunder" (Mark 3:17), James and John, along with Peter, enjoyed a unique intimacy with the Master (Matthew 17:1; 26:37), yet they exhibited a hint of ambition that was not surprising given the context. While the Christ, deeply focused on the trials awaiting Him in Jerusalem, continued His journey, Salome, their mother (Matthew 27:56; Mark 15:40; 16:1), approached Him with utmost respect. These apostles aimed to bolster their plea through the advocacy of their mother, who had previously shown her loyal devotion in Galilee, following and ministering to Him alongside others (Mark 15:40, 41).