Mark 10:35-45

Easy-to-Read Version

James and John Ask for a Favor^(A)

³⁵ Then James and John, sons of Zebedee, came to Jesus and said, “Teacher, we want to ask you to do something for us.”

³⁶ Jesus asked, “What do you want me to do for you?”

³⁷ The sons answered, “Let us share the great honor you will have as king. Let one of us sit at your right side and the other at your left.”

³⁸ Jesus said, “You don’t understand what you are asking. Can you drink from the cup^[a] that I must drink from? Can you be baptized with the same baptism^[b] that I must go through?”

³⁹ The sons answered, “Yes, we can!”

Jesus said to the sons, “It is true that you will drink from the cup that I drink from. And you will be baptized with the same baptism that I must go through. ⁴⁰ But it is not for me to say who will sit at my right or my left. God has prepared those places for the ones he chooses.”

⁴¹ When the other ten followers heard this, they were angry with James and John. ⁴² Jesus called all the followers together. He said, “The non-Jewish people have men they call rulers. You know that those rulers love to show their power over the people. And their important leaders love to use all their authority over the people. ⁴³ But it should not be that way with you. Whoever wants to be your leader must be your servant. ⁴⁴ Whoever wants to be first must serve the rest of you like a slave. ⁴⁵ Follow my example: Even the Son of Man did not come for people to serve him. He came to serve others and to give his life to save many people.”