“Jesus tells His disciples that He is going to Jerusalem—to suffer and to die.
Then right after that sad announcement, the mother of James and John approaches Him and asks for something unexpected: “Grant that my sons may sit at your right and at your left in your Kingdom.”
Jesus is talking about the Cross.
They are thinking about positions.
Jesus is preparing for sacrifice.
They are desiring for success.
And if we are honest, sometimes we are like that.
We follow Jesus, yet we still want recognition.
We serve, but we still want to be noticed.
We sacrifice, yet we still hope to get something in return.
That is why this Gospel is very important for Lent.
Lent purifies our ambitions
James and John were not bad people. They simply wanted to be great.
But Lent asks us: What motivates me for doing this?
Do I serve because I love?
Or because I want praise?
Do I get hurt when I am not appreciated?
Lent invites us to shift the question. Not “What do I deserve?” But “How can I love more?”
Real conversion begins when our desire changes—from being first to serving first.
Lent teaches us to accept the cup
Jesus asks them, “Can you drink the cup that I am going to drink?”
The cup means sacrifice. It means suffering. It means surrender.
Each of us has a cup:
Family problems.
Health concerns.
Financial struggles.
Hidden disappointments.
Lent is not about escaping the cup. It is about carrying it with Christ.
When we unite our sacrifices with Jesus, they become meaningful. They become acts of love.
Lent redefines greatness
Jesus says clearly: “Whoever wishes to be great among you shall be your servant.”
The world says greatness is power. Jesus says greatness is service.
The world says be on top. Jesus says bend down.
The world says be recognized. Jesus says love quietly.
True greatness in God’s Kingdom is often hidden:
The parent who sacrifices silently.
The worker who remains honest.
The person who forgives without announcing it.
That is greatness in the eyes of God.
Final Thoughts
James and John wanted to sit beside Jesus in glory.
But the real question of Lent is this: Are we willing to walk with Him to Calvary?
Because there is no Easter without Good Friday. There is no resurrection without surrender.
Lent teaches us that true greatness is not climbing higher— it is loving deeper. And the deeper we love, the closer we are to Christ.”