Position
The mother of James and John asks Jesus to give her sons a seat, a throne, a head chair, so that they can be great and powerful. The mother asks for her children what the world regards as the most important thing, she asks for a position, a career. Jesus replies by making an opposite proposal. If one wants a throne, a chief position in the Lord's Kingdom, the way is to serve humanity and to give one's life for love. In the Gospel view, the mother asks for her sons what only the worst enemy of her sons could desire for them: not to have a seat in heaven. According to the rules of the world, an important position is decisive in order to exercise power and dominion. According to the evangelical procedures, serving the others and to give one's life a a ransom for the many is crucial in order to reach heaven and exercise, from a very high position, true power, the power of love, forever. Those who seek human thrones to exercise authority is already driven by dominion, those who try to serve the others and give their lives without thinking for a single moment to thrones and positions, will be made saint by love. Those who, either in God's name or not, seek, work and fight for a high position is already against God and man. Those who seek, work and fight to gain a position is always against man, and they will do their very best in order to dominate and oppress. Jesus has no doubts, you know how those who exercise authority among the Gentiles lord it over them. Jesus inspires his friends to never, ever wonder bout a position. In any case, if we really aspire to greatness, here is the answer: Anyone among you who aspires to greatness must serve the rest, you must serve the needs of all.