Who was Salome? She was at the foot of the Cross of Jesus. Most commentators identify “his mother’s sister” as Salome, the
wife of Zebedee and the mother of James and John (Matt.20:20-23). As the mother
of James and John she was the one who once asked Jesus a very selfish request,
“Can my two sons have places of honor in glory?” In other words she wanted
something for her two sons. She wanted one of them to sit at the right hand of
Jesus’ throne and the other to sit on the left hand of Jesus’ throne. What she
asked of Jesus was a very selfish request. She wanted the best for her two
sons.
Jesus responded (Matt.20:20-24) by saying that she didn’t know what she was asking.
“Can they drink the cup that I going to drink?” (i.e. referring to his death). Salome’s request was born out of pride and selfishness.
Did her two sons deserve thrones? Thrones are not given away, you have to earn them. Salome had forgotten the true cost of reward. She did not realize that suffering comes before reward. There is no crown without a cross. There is no wearing of a crown without the drinking of the cup of suffering. Even the Lord Jesus Christ himself did not return to the throne of heaven except by way of the cross.
Sometimes we can be so selfish in our desires. Salome’s request for her two sons was a selfish, earthly, proud request. She did not realize the price that her two sons would have to pay. Remembers James, he was martyred and John was exiled before they went home to glory. Salome was at the place of correction standing at the cross, realizing what it cost Jesus, the Son of God, to give up. Jesus gave up the glory of heaven and became a servant for us by giving his life for us.
Jesus responded (Matt.20:20-24) by saying that she didn’t know what she was asking.
“Can they drink the cup that I going to drink?” (i.e. referring to his death). Salome’s request was born out of pride and selfishness.
Did her two sons deserve thrones? Thrones are not given away, you have to earn them. Salome had forgotten the true cost of reward. She did not realize that suffering comes before reward. There is no crown without a cross. There is no wearing of a crown without the drinking of the cup of suffering. Even the Lord Jesus Christ himself did not return to the throne of heaven except by way of the cross.
Sometimes we can be so selfish in our desires. Salome’s request for her two sons was a selfish, earthly, proud request. She did not realize the price that her two sons would have to pay. Remembers James, he was martyred and John was exiled before they went home to glory. Salome was at the place of correction standing at the cross, realizing what it cost Jesus, the Son of God, to give up. Jesus gave up the glory of heaven and became a servant for us by giving his life for us.
As we contemplate the cross
I wonder if we are corrected because of our selfish desires. Jesus says to us,
“Are you willing to drink this cup?” We say, “Oh no, Lord, we just want the
answer to our prayers!” Jesus continues, “Are you willing to suffer for me?” We
respond, “Oh no, Lord, I just want the blessing, not the suffering!” Salome
says to each one of us this morning, “The cross is a place of correction.” When
we contemplate what Jesus did for us and gave up for us, what he endured for us
and what suffered for us, the cross is a journey of correction in the light of
our own selfish desires and ambitions.
Have
you journeyed to the Cross of Correction? You know I love ya, Don
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