The church hierarchy of today has rightly been criticised for protecting perpetrators and the institution and having no empathy for victims of abuse.

The request of James and John for Jesus to grant them to sit, one at his right hand and one at his left, in his glory.’ was inappropriate. Jesus had just told them he was going to Jerusalem to be handed over to the chief priests and scribes who would condemn him to death, of how he would be handed to the Gentiles to be laughed at, flogged, spat at and killed and rise from the dead three days later.

James and John showed no empathy or concern for their friend. They could have asked why they were going if what was coming was so awful. They could have walked in silence and sadness or asked Jesus if he was frightened. They could have held Jesus and hugged him.

Instead, they were wrapped up in their concerns and ambitions and totally unable to relate to what was going to happen.

Some people edit out all the bad things in their lives. Instead of focusing on the negative they focus on the positive as a way of coping. Sometimes the awfulness of other people’s suffering makes it too great a load to bear.

It is important when faced with suffering that we act appropriately. We need to listen and learn from others and not blot out what is being said. We have to be real about the awful things that happen to us and others to prepare ourselves and those who have shared their suffering with us appropriately.

There are things each of us needs to do to prepare for suffering and death, such as telling our loved ones we love them, writing our wills, sorting out our affairs and finishing well. We may need practical help to achieve those things, friends to empathise with us, walk with us and help us, friends who listen and hold us in prayers and in their arms, friends who hug us.

Jesus needed James and John to be there for him. Sometimes all we can do is be there.

There are all sorts of inappropriate responses that we might make when friends are suffering. “It’s going to be alright.” “I’ll be right there with you.” “Jesus is going to heal you.” “Name what you want and pray and Jesus will give it to you.” “I know what you’re thinking. I had an experience just like yours.”

We can walk with a person but we cannot walk in their shoes. We don’t know whether things are going to be alright or not.

We need to be encouraged with hope that is real, not false. Hebrews 12 says that Jesus, “for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, disregarding the shame, and has taken his seat at the right hand of God.” Jesus rose from the dead and so will we. There is joy to come.

After being close to Jesus for so long James and John still didn’t understand him or what he had come to do. The only thing they seem to have taken on board, possibly because of witnessing Jesus’ transfiguration, was future glory and victory. They were still looking for a Messiah who would take earthly reign defeating Rome. They envisaged, since they were two of Jesus’ closest friends, a role as his prime ministers.

Their request was arrogant and ambitious. They did not give a reason why Jesus should choose them for such high office. Maybe their father Zebedee was richer than the fathers of the other disciples employing servants so they considered themselves to be socially superior.

Jesus was going to confront the privileged temple-based religious aristocracy. James and John were vying for positions of authority in a society they envisaged would be similar, though maybe kinder than the last one, with a change of leadership. The same privileges of money, wealth and power for those at the top would apply.

They were attempting to push Jesus into making a decision immediately so that none of the others had the opportunity.

Our world is often ruled by those who capitalise on privileged situations, push themselves forward and think of themselves more highly than they ought. As a result the gifts of many are ignored. We should think of others more highly than ourselves.

Jesus came to bring down the powerful from their thrones and lift up the humble and meek. He is King in a different kind of kingdom where all are valued and welcomed.

What arrogance James and John showed in asking Jesus to do whatever they asked of him? They were taking authority over Jesus and using him for their own purposes. Since Jesus is Lord, he is the one who has the authority to ask us to be obedient and do whatever he asks of us.

Unlike his disciples Jesus doesn’t assume authority. He models what it means to be humble and serve others. Instead of reprimanding his friends he asked them, “What is it you want me to do for you?” In response to their request for the best positions in the kingdom, he kindly tells them they do not know what they are asking.

Those who push for power often do not know what they are letting themselves in for. We need to find out what roles we are best suited for, whether we can do what the job entails, consider whether we deserve the respect of those we want to lead and whether we want to work sufficiently hard. We need to prepare ourselves carefully and prayerfully considering whether this is God’s will for our lives.

James and John had done none of these things so Jesus asked them a question. “Are you able to drink the cup that I drink, or be baptized with the baptism that I am baptized with?”

James and John responded that they were. They were close to Jesus. They frequently shared meals together and in the ministry of proclaiming the kingdom. Like Jesus they had been baptized by John in the River of Jordan. As disciples they followed and learnt from Jesus. They were, fully immersed in what Jesus was doing, adopting the same lifestyle. They never doubted Jesus, believing one day he would triumph.

We are disciples of Jesus called to share the life and ministry of our Lord. We are privileged. We drink of the same cup, the blood of the new covenant poured out for us, given to us by Christ. We drink of the same Holy Spirit that Jesus was baptised in, becoming one with Jesus in his divinity and glory.

Like James and John we spend our lives finding out what it means to fully identify with Jesus in all aspects of humanity.

Jesus said to them, ‘The cup that I drink you will drink; and with the baptism with which I am baptized, you will be baptized;

The baptism Jesus would suffer was his death. He was fully immersed in our suffering, hatred, pain and death.

James and John were soon to understand what Jesus was asking of them. John stood at the foot of the cross with Jesus’ mother and watched him die.

James was the first of the apostles to be martyred for his faith under the reign of Herod Agrippa.

They were never going to sit at the right hand of God in his Kingdom. That place was reserved for Jesus alone, who always fully submitted himself to his heavenly Father.

They were never going to become leaders of the other disciples. When the ten heard, they were angry and would not have obeyed them.

As they shared in the life of Christ and served others in his way of suffering love they would help form a loving community of people who like Jesus did not Lord it over others or behave in an abusive, tyrannical way.

Jesus calls us today to be like them.