DAILY BREAD OF LIFE

(KJV.)  ST. MATTHEW 20:21-23

(21)  And he said unto her,  What wilt thou?  She saith unto him,  Grant that these my two sons may sit, the one on thy right hand, and the other on the left, in thy kingdom.
(22)  But Jesus answered and said,  Ye know not what ye ask.  Are ye able to drink of the cup that I shall drink of, and to be baptized with the baptism that I am baptized with?  They say unto him, We are able.
(23)  And he saith unto them,  Ye shall drink indeed of 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 it shall be given to them for whom it is prepared of my Father. 

GREEDINESS OR AMBITIOUSNESS?

Brethren, we live in a world full of greediness, ambitiousness, and strives;  many people wants to be noticed as trustworthy, significant personalities;  therefore, people brag to uplift themselves in the eyes of men, go above and beyond their capabilities, try to prove to the world that they are worthy to be trusted, lies and cheats others to ascertain their worthiness;  however, they can deceive the whole world, but they cannot deceive the spirit of Jesus Christ to prove anything;  therefore, let us not cut corners to get ahead of others, but work the good works to be outstandings, be diligent, truthful and faithful to the end;  know that, though we work in worldly establishments, our rewards are engineered from our Father in heavenly places, before we receive on earth;  and regardless of how we get ahead in life;  the fact is;  promotion does not come from east, west, or south; but our Father, is the judge, he puts down one and sets up another. cf. Psalm 75:6-7:  therefore, let us work our salvation with fear and tremblings to receive greater rewards forevermore.

In the above chapter of the text, the mother of Zebedee's children came to Jesus with her two sons, worship him, while pleaded her heart desires;  that Jesus would grant her sons seats, one on his right hand, and the other on his left in his kingdom; wahoo!  is this an ambition or greediness?  think about it!;  Jesus said to her, you do not know what you are asking for, are you capable of drinking from the same cup that I will drink of, and be baptized with the same baptism? they replied we are able!  Well said!  There are two cups in the life of Jesus Christ, one of the cups is the sacrament cup, they drank out it, the second cup is the bitter cup, that they could not drink out of, but ran away, disguised from, when Jesus was arrested faced trials, persecution, and crucifixion;  you see!  it was not easy for Jesus himself to drink out of that cup, more or less his disciples, but after his death, they faced their own trials and tribulations, spreading the gospel;  eventually, they both drank their bitter cups: James the son of Zebedee, was the first disciple to be martyred by King Agrippa with sword, for his enthusiasm for Jesus Christ, and the gospel;  also, John his brother, drank his bitter cup, was persecuted, taken to exile, wrote four books of the gospels including the book of Revelation, but believed to outlived his fellow disciples;  therefore, when Jesus said they could drink from the same cup that he drank out of, he referred to his sacraments, sufferings, and martyrdom;  Jesus actually prophesied, because both disciples suffered for his righteousness sakes;  therefore, believers of today, let us ask ourselves, can we drink from the same cup that Jesus drank out of?  this is a point to ponder on!

Jesus was baptized by John the Baptist, with the water of river Jordan; consequently, James and John might have been baptized with the same water baptism; they also received the second baptism of the Holy Ghost fire, on the day of Pentecost;  however, there is one more request from their mother, that Jesus did not promise her, and that request was, for her two sons James and John to sit at Jesus right and left sides in eternal kingdom;  for, those positions are in our Father's own jurisdiction, and he will give to those he desires to honor;  therefore, let us do his will, regardless of persecutions, for no one knows who will end up sitting on both sides of Jesus Christ in eternity;  we all know that we are joint heirs with him, but in what seats or areas, no one knows until we get there;  for that is in our Father's own jurisdiction: and his eyes are in every place on earth, beholding all works, whether evil or good; to determine what our seats will be in eternity;  also, this is a lesson, opens up our understandings that not all our petitions are proven to be answered immediately by our Father, through Jesus Christ our Lord and Savior;  at times we ask amiss!  Amen and Amen!

QUOTE OF THE DAY:

(KJV.)  St. Luke 22:42  Saying,  Father, if thou be willing, remove this cup from me:  nevertheless not my will, but thine, be done.