Know His Will

Scripture/Bible: And as Jesus was going up to Jerusalem, he took the twelve disciples aside, and on the way he said to them, 18 "Behold, we are going up to Jerusalem; and the Son of man will be delivered to the chief priests and scribes, and they will condemn him to death, 19 and deliver him to the Gentiles to be mocked and scourged and crucified, and he will be raised on the third day."

20 Then the mother of the sons of Zeb'edee came up to him, with her sons, and kneeling before him she asked him for something. 21 And he said to her, "What do you want?" She said to him, "Command that these two sons of mine may sit, one at your right hand and one at your left, in your kingdom." 22 But Jesus answered, "You do not know what you are asking. Are you able to drink the cup that I am to drink?" They said to him, "We are able." 23 He said to them, "You will drink my cup, but to sit at my right hand and at my left is not mine to grant, but it is for those for whom it has been prepared by my Father." 24 And when the ten heard it, they were indignant at the two brothers. 25 But Jesus called them to him and said, "You know that the rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and their great men exercise authority over them. 26 It shall not be so among you; but whoever would be great among you must be your servant, 27 and whoever would be first among you must be your slave; 28 even as the Son of man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many." Matt 20:17-28

Reflection:  Jesus, when he walked the earth always answered an earnest prayer addressed to him.  Thus we have many healings and deliverances and even individuals raised from the dead.  Very rarely, did he refuse an individual and scripture even tells us that all who were brought to him were healed (Mt. 22:15; Lk 6: 19).

Sometimes in life we pray and do not know or realize what we are asking for in prayer. Then when the Lord begins to take us seriously, then it is too difficult and we grumble and curse even the Lord who has allowed this situation. 

Jesus answered, "You do not know what you are asking.” Is a message of rebuke which should help us remember what we are asking and also to be aware of the demands and consequences of what we are asking; “Are you able to drink the cup that I am to drink?" 

Especially in lent when we make spontaneous commitment to the Lord, we need to ask ourselves too whether we had asked the Lord what we did not know.

Every promise of God has a condition attached to it and we cannot receive from God unless we fulfill the conditions and the minimum condition that is required of us is faith.  And if we are hankering for power and positions in the kingdom then we better be ready to face the actual trials and crosses of life.

Prayer:  Teach me to do thy will, for thou art my God! Let thy good spirit lead me on a level path! Ps 143:10

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