Mark 10:35-45

International Children’s Bible

Two Followers Ask Jesus a Favor

³⁵ Then James and John, sons of Zebedee, came to Jesus. They 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 They answered, “You will have glory in your kingdom. Let one of us sit at your right, and let one of us sit at your left.”

³⁸ Jesus said, “You don’t understand what you are asking. Can you drink the cup that I must drink? And can you be baptized with the same kind of baptism that I must have?”^[a]

³⁹ They answered, “Yes, we can!”

Jesus said to them, “You will drink the same cup that I will drink. And you will be baptized with the same baptism that I must have. ⁴⁰ But I cannot choose who will sit at my right or my left. These places are for those for whom they are prepared.”

⁴¹ The ten followers heard this. They began to be 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. ⁴³ But it should not be that way among you. If one of you wants to become great, then he must serve you like a servant. ⁴⁴ If one of you wants to become the most important, then he must serve all of you like a slave. ⁴⁵ In the same way, the Son of Man did not come to be served. He came to serve. The Son of Man came to give his life to save many people.”