Revised Common Lectionary (Semicontinuous)

5 Every high priest, you see, is chosen from among human beings, and is placed before God on their behalf, so that he can offer gifts and sacrifices for sins. ² He is able to sympathize with people who don’t know very much, or who wander off in different directions, since he too has his own share of weakness. ³ That’s why he has to offer sacrifices in relation to his own sins as well as those of the people.

The son becomes the priest

⁴ Nobody takes the office of priesthood on himself; you have to be called by God, just as Aaron was. ⁵ In the same way, the Messiah didn’t exalt himself so that he might become a high priest. It came about through the one who said to him,

⁶ As he says in another passage,

⁷ During the time of Jesus’ earthly life, he offered up prayers and supplications, with loud shouts and tears, to the one who was able to save him from death. He was heard because of his devotion. ⁸ Son though he was, he learned obedience through what he suffered. ⁹ When he had been made complete and perfect, he became the source of eternal salvation for all who obey him, ¹⁰ since he has been designated by God as a high priest according to the order of Melchizedek.

³⁵ James and John, Zebedee’s sons, came up to him.

“Teacher,” they said, “we want you to grant us whatever we ask.”

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

³⁷ “Grant us,” they said, “that when you’re there in all your glory, one of us will sit at your right, and the other at your left.”

³⁸ “You don’t know what you’re asking for!” Jesus replied. “Can you drink the cup I’m going to drink? Can you receive the baptism I’m going to receive?”

³⁹ “Yes,” they said, “we can.”

“Well,” said Jesus, “you will drink the cup I drink; you will receive the baptism I receive. ⁴⁰ But sitting at my right hand or my left—that’s not up to me. It’s been assigned already.”

⁴¹ When the other ten disciples heard, they were angry with James and John. ⁴² Jesus called them to him.

“You know how it is in the pagan nations,” he said. “Think how their so-called rulers act. They lord it over their subjects. The high and mighty ones boss the rest around. ⁴³ But that’s not how it’s going to be with you. Anyone who wants to be great among you must become your servant. ⁴⁴ Anyone who wants to be first must be everyone’s slave. ⁴⁵ Don’t you see? The son of man didn’t come to be waited on. He came to be the servant, to give his life ‘as a ransom for many.’ ”