37 They said unto him, Grant unto ns, that we may sit, one on thy right hand, and the other on thy left hand, in thy glory.
38 But Jesus said unto thern, Ye know not what ye ask : can ye drink of the cup that I drink of? and he baptized with the baptism that I am baptized with ?
39 And they said unto him, We can. And Jesus said unto them, Ye shall indeed drink of the cup that I drink of: and with the baptism that I am baptized withal shall ye be bap- tized :
40 But to sit on my right hand and on my left hand is not mine to give ; but it shall he given to them for whom it is prepared.
41 And when the ten heard it, they began to be much displeased with James and John.
42 But Jesus called them to him, and saith unto them, Ye know that they which are accounted to rule over the Gentiles exercise lordship over them: aud their great ones exercise authority upon them.
43 But so shall it not be among you: but whosoever will be great among you, shall be your minis- ter:
44 And whosoever of you will be \he chiefest, shall be servant of all.
45 For even the Son of man came not to be ministered unto, but to minister, and to give his life a ransom for many.
Let us mark in this passage, the ignorance of our Lord's disciples. We find James and John petitioning for the first places in the kingdom of glory. We find them confidently declaring their ability to drink of their Mas- ter's cup and be baptized with their Master's baptism. In spite of all the plain warnings of our Lord, they clung obstinately to the belief that Christ's kingdom on earth was immediately going to appear. Notwithstand- ing their many shortcomings in Christ's service, they had no misgivings as to their power to endure any thing which might come upon them. With all their faith, and grace, and love to Jesus, they neither knew their own hearts, nor the nature of the path before them. They still dreamed of temporal crowns, and earthly rewards. They still knew not what manner of men they were.
There are few true Christians who do not resemble James and John, when they first begin the service of Christ. We are apt to expect far more present enjoy- ment from our religion, than the Gospel warrants us to expect. We are apt to forget the cross, and the tribula-