*WISDOM FOR TODAY.*
*MOTHER INFLUENCERS (3).*
*Scripture Treasure.*
Matt 20:20-23 *Then came to him the mother of Zebedee's children with her sons, worshipping him, and desiring a certain thing of him.*
*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.*
*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.*
*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.*
*Insight and Highlight.*
Do not teach your child to violate established orders.
*Scripture Commentaries.*
The sons of Zebedee referred to here were James and John.
Salome was possibly known to be the woman identified as the mother of the Zebedee's sons.
She was very close to Jesus and mentioned along with Mary Magdalene and Mary the mother of James the less and of Joses, Matt 27:54-56, Mark 15:40, 16:1.
She was at the foot of the cross when Jesus was crucified, Matt 27:54.
She was a worshipper of Jesus, Matt 20:20.
It can be assumed that she knew Jesus well enough that she did not hesitate to go to Him and ask if her sons could sit *"....one on thy right hand, and the other on the left, in thy kingdom.*
What entailed from this request teaches us, once again, never to try and impose our wishes over others.
When a mother is indulged in wishes and cravings, she will do anything to influence anyone to satisfy them for her children.
Though it was not recorded anywhere that Salome was indulged in such selfish desire before she went to Jesus, her request was enough to lead us to know she was self-indulged in power and authority.
Just like Rebecca, the mother of James and John's story tells us
that when a mother always wishes to satisfy herself in what she loves or loves to do, she will indulge her children and ultimately harm other people.
This was a character error, though not used against her, but what Jesus replied her was enough to tell us that she did not have enough knowledge of the Kingdom. Her values for the Kingdom did not match her commitment to it.
Her request would have some consequences on her sons.
James would eventually suffer to drink the cup, Acts 12:2 *And he killed James the brother of John with the sword.*
John became a *"......brother, and companion in tribulation, and in the kingdom and patience of Jesus Christ,..."*, Rev 1:9. So much in pain and had to flee to the Island of Patmos.
He was the longest lived disciple who died at a good old age, but he went through the sufferings of drinking the cup of weariness and loneliness of an old age.
All his fellow disciples were dead. No friendships and companionship. In exile in Patmos, he referred to himself as a companion in the struggle with persecution and to companions who had dropped off one by one. Words that only reflect the hope of an eternal future but vanished years of commemorative gruesome martyrdom of his colleagues. He
who was cast into a cauldron of boiling oil by Emperor Nero's command (according to Church history) but survived to end up in the Island Patmos.
This was John's cup of fury, unlike James, who suffered a gruesome death. John's longevity may be traceable to his unrelenting love for Christ and was preserved longevity, John 21:20-25.
Their mother's taste and hunger for power, position, and authority placed the children on the spot for what ultimately became of them.
The boys were like their mother.
They replied Jesus *"....We are able.*, Matt 20:22.
They probably thought their answer would allow Jesus to grant their request, but Jesus had more to say to them. Their mother's request could only be *"....given to them for whom it is prepared of my Father.*, Matt 20:23.
God's grace preserved John, which may be attributable to his careful and reverent love for Jesus though he drank the cup of suffering. He was preserved to teach generations of Christ's classified information of the end-time.
James would later learn to listen carefully and not to be quick to answer (Jam 1:19), unlike the way he was quick to answer Jesus back in Matt 20:23.
Most problems that some children are facing today are as a result of their mothers' bad influence on them.
If you are self-indulgent with greed, it will have a direct influence on your children's habits.
Are you a mother influencer?
Teach your child self-restraint. Teach them not to compromise to just any request.
Control your self-indulgence, or else you will indulge your children negatively.
*Remorse corner.*
Becareful.
Zebedee's mother caused a rift among the disciples.
*Call to Word action.*
Matt 20:24 *And when the ten heard it, they were moved with indignation against the two brethren.*
*The Christian clarion duty.*
If you have uncontrolled indulgence, you will not only influence your children negatively, but you will destroy the fellowship and companionship of your children with others.
*Prayer.*
Lord, help me not to influence my children to violate established order, in Jesus name.
Good morning all, and have a blessed day today.
God bless you.
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