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Mark 10:35

ESV 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."
NIV Then James and John, the sons of Zebedee, came to him. "Teacher," they said, "we want you to do for us whatever we ask."
NASB James and John, the two sons of Zebedee, *came up to Jesus, saying to Him, 'Teacher, we want You to do for us whatever we ask of You.'
CSB James and John, the sons of Zebedee, approached him and said, "Teacher, we want you to do whatever we ask you."
NLT Then James and John, the sons of Zebedee, came over and spoke to him. 'Teacher,' they said, 'we want you to do us a favor.'
KJV 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.
NKJV Then James and John, the sons of Zebedee, came to Him, saying, “Teacher, we want You to do for us whatever we ask.”

What does Mark 10:35 mean?

Mark first mentions James and John after Jesus' temptation, when He calls them to follow Him. James and John do so, leaving behind their father, Zebedee, and their fishing business (Mark 1:19–20). With Peter, they become the inner core of Jesus' disciples. Only these three watch Jesus raise a little girl from the dead (Mark 5:35–43) and see the transfiguration (Mark 9:2–13). James and John's mother is one of the few who stay near Jesus during the crucifixion (Matthew 27:55–56). It's easy to mock James and John for their request, especially as it comes on the heels of Jesus' third prophecy of His death. It's important to remember three things, however. First, we don't know how long after Jesus' prophecy James and John make their request. Second, other Scripture makes it clear that these men don't fully understand Jesus will die (Luke 18:34). Third, their mother apparently either pushes them to ask or makes the request on their behalf (Matthew 20:20–21).

In addition, although James and John have heard Jesus prophesy His death three times, they have seen Him glorified, speaking with Moses and Elijah, and heard Him honored by God (Mark 9:2–8). And Jesus consistently refers to Himself as the "son of man" whom Daniel describes as a ruler given dominion over the world (Daniel 7:13–14).

We aren't told how many people are with Jesus and the Twelve at this point (Mark 10:32). James and John's mother is part of a group of women who followed Jesus from Galilee (Matthew 27:55–56), and sometime before, Jesus had sent out seventy-two disciples to perform miracles (Luke 10:1–12). Shortly, Jesus will enter Jerusalem to a crowd who greets Him like the Messiah (Mark 11:1–10), so it's reasonable to think Jesus and the disciples are followed by a mob that means to make Jesus king (John 6:15). James and John see the signs that Jesus' kingdom is imminent, and they want to make sure their seats are reserved.
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