Matthew 20:20-24 KJV
20 Then came to him the mother of Zebedee's children with her sons, worshipping him, and desiring a certain thing of him.
21 And he said unto her, What wilt thou? She saith unto him, Grant that these my two sons may sit, the one on thy right hand, and the other on the left, in thy kingdom.
22 But Jesus answered and said, Ye know not what ye ask. Are ye able to drink of the cup that I shall drink of, and to be baptized with the baptism that I am baptized with? They say unto him, We are able.
23 And he saith unto them, Ye shall drink indeed of my cup, and be baptized with the baptism that I am baptized with: but to sit on my right hand, and on my left, is not mine to give, but it shall be given to them for whom it is prepared of my Father.
24 And when the ten heard it, they were moved with indignation against the two brethren.

Mark 10:35-41 KJV
35 And James and John, the sons of Zebedee, come unto him, saying, Master, we would that thou shouldest do for us whatsoever we shall desire.
36 And he said unto them, What would ye that I should do for you?
37 They said unto him, Grant unto us that we may sit, one on thy right hand, and the other on thy left hand, in thy glory.
38 But Jesus said unto them, Ye know not what ye ask: can ye drink of the cup that I drink of? and be 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 baptized:
40 But to sit on my right hand and on my left hand is not mine to give; but it shall be 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.

A mother that wanted to exalt her sons in to high position. However Mark records it as a request from James and John. Of of course who would want anyone to know their mother was making a career choice for her sons. However Matthews Gospel is directed toward the Jews and Mark's Gospel is directed towards the Gentiles. Arrangement of certain things were often done by the family and yet not necessarily everything. During Cov, people were glad that they could work or at least have work, and those that did not work were glad they did not, with death swirling around them. One might think of position of James and John's mother, as cousin to Mary. However things of heaven is not decided by who your are related too. If it was we all be in heaven, we all kin to Noah. Laying the first thought of human relationship, let look at the status of the request to sit on the left and right of Jesus, it states position, and power. It almost be like the role of Secretary of State in our government, a position with power, but at the same time no control over what other government officials are doing, only the right to carry out policies to foreign leaders, in this case to others upon the earth and heaven(heaven being the home we are estrange from). Is that not what we as disciples of Jesus do? Are we not ambassadors with no rights to change God's power or word, our obedience comes by God's Spirit and his direction in our life? We do not have a Congress in office, but we do have a lawgiver the Holy Spirit, who writes the laws on our heart and the Judge Jesus Christ who came not to judge us in the flesh, but will judge in his second coming. The executive office would be God the Father, if we want to look at the roles of the Trinity based on governing powers of our own government. Others governments you can do the same with. Yet what happens if you do this, realize no government in the world will line up with the powers in scriptures because of its humanity and falacities. Yet it does speak of what the role of one sitting beside the lawgiver, and judge would be like. God's children maybe prince and princess in God's kingdom but we still only have the power God gives us.

That leaves us with why some people have issues with the doctrine of the Trinity. They see not Christ equal to God the Father and Holy Spirit, yet he was in existence before the word let there be light, if nothing more in thoughts of God has he hovered over the earth. His existence before something occurred. The problem is scholars use the phrase "Let there be light" as proof of Christ presence before he was born in the flesh as a man, never going to his prelight existence.

We got this mother asking for position and power be given to her sons. Most would agree the positions being asked for were not the Mother's decision, nor her sons, but the one that was in charge. That position is as Ambassador to our faith. Now we can imagine but I think the mother wanted her son's to have more of a position then just Ambassador, Jesus understood this and replied was it was not even for him to decide who sat on his right and left in the kingdom. When we begin to understand some things are not controlled by Christ but God the Father, we can now grasp position of Christ in the Triune Godhead as equal. However Christ is more then a secretary of State though his position in human flesh one might say was Secretary of State, meaning he came as example to you and I how to be secretary of state or ambassador for God.

Then we can understand our position as ambassador is decided upon receiving Christ as Lord and Savior. Meaning upon receiving Christ it is are duty to share with others. That is why we are given the Holy Spirit to guide and teach us how to share the word of God, each of us in different role of ministry, whether in our workplace, home, city streets, and definitely our churches. With all this in mind we see something else our authority to command God is not existent. If you seen these Holy Rollers demand from God in the name of Jesus, they better not, if it not in direct will of God, His Word and His Spirit. Yet we told by Christ to pray in his name, because we are a child of God, and to make our request known to God in Christ name.

Now two more things need to be discussed, the cup and the baptism of Christ be drank and received by James and John. James would be beheaded, and John we be found on the Isle of Patmos writing to the church. James loosing his position on earth, as Christ did, and John carrying the word on as Christ did after his resurrection in incorruptible flesh for 40 days upon the earth and then by the Holy Spirit of promise. John in prison on Island in ministry writing to the church. Revelations be one of the best known letter/book in the Bible and yet few understand it. Even unbelievers reads it to try and figure it out.

Jesus position never changed with his death, for he rose to victory as King of kings and Lord of lords. He set those held captive free, and we has believers hold the position of Children of God and taste the baptism of faith and taste the cup of persecution. It should not be, it should not exist in the USA the cup of persecution. Why the freedom of faith, yet there are those who will desire to knock you down because of your faith and no other reason. Some Christians would say that the devil working over time in his children that roam the earth and are possessed. In the name of Jesus those possessed can be set free. Others are like Herod that seen his popularity increased when the Christians were persecuted and continued for fame and glory. Yet the persecution is for a purpose too. God's wrath to be able to be poured out on the heathens, must come with a reason and a purpose too. God in power and teaching his children the reason to fight and the reason to stand on the truth of His word and obey it. Eve did not obey God's word in the garden. However did Adam tell Eve, Did God? We do not have all the answers. We know Eve was aware and that good enough to get her and Adam cast out of garden of Eden when she blamed the serpent for deceiving her.

Let us grab hold of faith knowing as believers things happen according to the will of God and let us rejoice over persecution and when we loose our control and compossure it is because of our humanity, because we are not God and we are only his Ambassadors/secretary of state, carrying his message of truth to the unbelievers.

Dear Heavenly Father, as an ambassador for you, help me to stand as Christ stood who paid the price for our sins, baring his cross. In Jesus precious name, Amen.

All these things should calls us to be thankful in knowing our position as Ambassadors of God. We are ambassadors on foreign soil as born again believers. Our home is heaven, but we are on earth for a purpose and born first on earth, and born again by Christ Spirit.

Continual Scripture Study: Acts 12:1-10 KJV
1 Now about that time Herod the king stretched forth his hands to vex certain of the church.
2 And he killed James the brother of John with the sword.
3 And because he saw it pleased the Jews, he proceeded further to take Peter also. (Then were the days of unleavened bread.)
4 And when he had apprehended him, he put him in prison, and delivered him to four quaternions of soldiers to keep him; intending after Easter to bring him forth to the people.
5 Peter therefore was kept in prison: but prayer was made without ceasing of the church unto God for him.
6 And when Herod would have brought him forth, the same night Peter was sleeping between two soldiers, bound with two chains: and the keepers before the door kept the prison.
7 And, behold, the angel of the Lord came upon him, and a light shined in the prison: and he smote Peter on the side, and raised him up, saying, Arise up quickly. And his chains fell off from his hands.
8 And the angel said unto him, Gird thyself, and bind on thy sandals. And so he did. And he saith unto him, Cast thy garment about thee, and follow me.
9 And he went out, and followed him; and wist not that it was true which was done by the angel; but thought he saw a vision.
10 When they were past the first and the second ward, they came unto the iron gate that leadeth unto the city; which opened to them of his own accord: and they went out, and passed on through one street; and forthwith the angel departed from him.