The Brother's Foolish Request

James and John, the sons of Zebedee,

came forward to him and said to him,

“Teacher, we want you to do for us whatever we ask of you.”

And he said to them, “What is it you want me to do for you?”

And they said to him,

“Appoint us to sit, one at your right hand and one at your left, in your glory."

(from Mark 10:35-45)

I have a passion for historic train rides.

That’s why I drove 6 hours to ride the Conway Scenic Railway to Crawford Notch.

That same passion led me to New Hampshire and the Mount Washington Cog Railway, the world's first mountain-climbing cog railway,

The epic ride, however, was the narrow-gauge rail through the San Juan Mountains along the Animas River from Durango to Silverton, Colorado which has run continuously since 1881 transporting silver and gold ore.

Along with the history came the breathtaking view of the river flowing along the canyon’s floor and the canyon’s walls which one could almost touch from the open-aired coach.

As the train ascended the canyon with the incredible landscape of its walls and river below, I was overwhelmed with God’s presence.

I knew I would arrive at Silverton, but wanted the experience to continue eternally.

This train ride was my baptism into the glory of God’s wilderness creation.

James and John had their baptism into servanthood with Jesus.

Experiencing the life-changing ministry of Jesus of healing the sick and forgiving sinners, they wanted to be leaders in this movement.

They ask to be appointed one on the right and one on the left when Jesus enters glory.

Jesus asks about their willingness and ability to serve the same type of people and undergo the same suffering he does.

They arrogantly reply, “Certainly we are able!”

OK, says Jesus, knowing James and John didn’t get the question, you will drink from the same cup and be baptized with the same baptism, but God does the seating arrangement.

Unlike James and John, we know what train we’re traveling.

It’s the train of our baptism covenant with Jesus to build God’s kingdom by resisting evil, injustice and oppression even when oppression seems as high as a canyon wall or injustice as deep as a canyon gorge.