May 5, 2012 Rather Presumptuous?

Rather Presumptuous? Mark 10:35 Then James and John, the sons of Zebedee, came to him. “Teacher,” they said, “we want you to do for us whatever we ask.” HAVE YOU ever said to Jesus, “Lord, I want you to do whatever I ask.” in a demanding tone? That’s what James and John were doing here. How do you think they could be so presumptuous to expect Jesus to do “whatever they asked”? Could it be they believed what Jesus had said? Look in John 14:13-14 and see this: “And I will do whatever you ask in my name, so that the Son may bring glory to the Father. 14 You may ask me for anything in my name, and I will do it.” So, shouldn’t Jesus do what they ask him to do? He said he would. Or did he? John and James forgot something. They didn’t make their request in Jesus’ name. In other words, they didn’t pray to the Father n the name of Jesus to seek the Father’s will. What they were asking was of their own will. That approach will never get you what your desires in line with God’s desires—your will in line with God’s will. Jesus could not have been pleased at his presumptuous disciples. Their only desire should have been to glorify their Lord through a life of obedience to his will and not a life of “give us what we want.” Again it’s time for them to learn a lesson about submitting their lives to truly follow Jesus. James and John need a lesson to turn their will to Jesus’ will. What about you? Pause and consider your prayers: Your will or God’s will be done?