DAD'S RAMBLINGS -- BAPTISM OF SUFFERING

DAD'S RAMBLINGS – THE BAPTISM OF SUFFERING

"Then the mother of Zebedee's sons came to Him with her sons, kneeling down and asking something from Him. And 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.' But 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.' 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 is for those for whom it is prepared by My Father.'

The sons of Zebedee. James and John. Jesus knew what they were – fiery guys with a temper. Jesus called them Boanerges, that is, "Sons of Thunder" (Mark 3:17). Their unruly character was demonstrated one time when the Samaritans did not receive Jesus. They wanted to command fire to come down from heaven and consume these heathens. Jesus rebuked them because they were not showing the spirit of Christ, who came to save men, not destroy them (Luke 9:51-56). But that was just who they were. They had a different vision of Christ's kingdom than Jesus had. They wanted positions of power and authority. Perhaps they thought that Jesus would be more likely to grant their request if their mother asked. Jesus saw through the scheme. He did not answer their mother but spoke directly to them. "You don't know what you are asking for."

This baptism is usually called the baptism of suffering because of the suffering of the Lord Jesus in His passion. He spoke often to His disciples of the coming suffering, death, and resurrection. The disciples could not comprehend the depth of this suffering.

In their brashness, James and John thought they could handle this baptism in their own strength. In their naivety, they said they were able. But when push came to shove, they abandoned Jesus when He went through His baptism of suffering. But after the Holy Spirit came upon them, they had the ability to endure the suffering for the name of Jesus. They would indeed suffer like Jesus. James was martyred when King Herod ordered that he be killed by the sword (Acts 12:1-2). John did not die as a martyr, but suffered the privation of exile to the isle of Patmos because of his testimony of Jesus Christ (Revelation 1:9). So they, like the other disciples, except Judas, drank of the cup of suffering.

And this is the lot of any disciple of the Lord Jesus. The Scripture says, "Yes, and all who desire to live godly in Christ Jesus will suffer persecution" (II Timothy 3:12). We may not suffer physical pain as James and many of the disciples did, but we may suffer rejection, ostracization and isolation, and put down, because of our faith.

After the Day of Pentecost, the disciples suffered being beaten, but the record says that they rejoiced that they were counted worthy to suffer shame for His name (Acts 5:41). Another James, the brother of Jesus, wrote that we should count it all joy when we go through such trials (James 1-2).

May that be my outlook – to willingly suffer for the cause of the Gospel of the Lord Jesus.

Love, Dad