FRIDAY, DECEMBER 13
Scripture: Mark 10:40

Mark 10:40 has to be one of the toughest passages in the New Testament where Jesus was dealing with the training, growth and development of the Twelve. After James and John agreed to taste the baptism and the cup that Jesus endured, they heard this, “…but to sit on My right hand and on My left is not Mine to give, but it is for those for whom it is prepared.” They had just agreed to pay the ultimate price only to find out it was the Father, not Jesus, who would determine who would fill the sought positions. We are left wondering if the Father reserved those places for James and John or if they were reserved for someone else. The answer was not given. The only hint at it was how the question impacted the other ten. One thing we do know is that James and John got the parallel of the price that Jesus paid without any guarantee of getting the prize that went with it. God, keep us from presumptuous sin!