Have you ever asked God for something, but you really didn’t understand what you were asking? Our story today is about a Jewish mother who asked something for her sons, but she had no idea what it was she was asking. She asks Jesus in Matthew 20:20-21, “Then the mother of the sons of Zebedee came up to him with her sons, and kneeling before him she asked him for something. 21 And he said to her, “What do you want?” She said to him, “Say that these two sons of mine are to sit, one at your right hand and one at your left, in your kingdom.”

I find it interesting that James and John also asked the same thing. Mark 10:35-40 ESV – 35 And James and John, the sons of Zebedee, came up to him and said to him, “Teacher, we want you to do for us whatever we ask of you.” 36 And he said to them, “What do you want me to do for you?” 37 And they said to him, “Grant us to sit, one at your right hand and one at your left, in your glory.” 38 Jesus said to them, “You do not know what you are asking. Are you able to drink the cup that I drink, or to be baptized with the baptism with which I am baptized?” 39 And they said to him, “We are able.” And 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, 40 but to sit at my right hand or at my left is not mine to grant, but it is for those for whom it has been prepared.”

We don’t know a lot about Salome. Mark mentions her by name, so we should take notice. She was married to Zebedee. There isn’t anything about them in the genealogy, but we do know that Zebedee was a fisherman. We know that she and Zebedee raised their children to follow the Lord. James and John were also referred to as the “sons of thunder”. 

Salome did not realize what she was asking. She was asking for a place that James and John were not called nor equipped for. We see that in the way Jesus replied to her request. Matthew 20:22-24,  “Jesus answered, “You do not know what you are asking. Are you able to drink the cup that I am to drink?” They said to him, “We are able.” 23 He said to them, “You will drink my cup, but to sit at my right hand and at my left is not mine to grant, but it is for those for whom it has been prepared by my Father.” 24 And when the ten heard it, they were indignant at the two brothers.” He gently corrected her. The person sitting to your right was a person of prominence. A mother would certainly want that for her son. However, to sit at His right hand, they would have had to give something that they could not give. She had a true saving faith. Her request came from that faith. She wanted earthly rewards for her children. Christ wanted to give them heavenly rewards which were much more valuable. 

Salome was one of the women who followed Jesus. We also know that she was one of the women at the tomb. She was also present at the resurrection. Mark 16:1-8 states, 

“When the Sabbath was past, Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James, and Salome bought spices, so that they might go and anoint him.  And very early on the first day of the week, when the sun had risen, they went to the tomb. 3And they were saying to one another, “Who will roll away the stone for us from the entrance of the tomb?”  And looking up, they saw that the stone had been rolled back–it was very large.  And entering the tomb, they saw a young man sitting on the right side, dressed in a white robe, and they were alarmed.  And he said to them, “Do not be alarmed. You seek Jesus of Nazareth, who was crucified. He has risen; he is not here. See the place where they laid him.  But go, tell his disciples and Peter that he is going before you to Galilee. There you will see him, just as he told you.” And they went out and fled from the tomb, for trembling and astonishment had seized them, and they said nothing to anyone, for they were afraid.”

What can we learn from Salome? Remain faithful. She remained faithful until the end. She raised her children to love and serve the Lord. The best way to fight the enemy is to raise our children to love the Lord and to remain faithful. We would do well to be aware of the things we are asking. My mom always said to be careful what you wish for because you might get it. Perhaps we should ask for what we need and not what we want.

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