Pray For the Peace of Jerusalem

This amusing story about Mrs. Zebedee lobbying for her two sons (who were, by now certainly adult men) is important for many reasons. Otherwise, it would not have been recorded in the Gospels at all.

First of all, it shows that James and John, along with Peter, had become confidants of Jesus and were being introduced to deeper mysteries than the rest of the Apostles. As this became more and more obvious, the Apostles began jostling for position and arguing over "Who was the 'Greatest." Mrs. Zebedee could see it as well, and used the situation to lobby for her two sons.

The general impression seems to be that Jesus was indeed a King, but that His Kingdom was to be an earthly one. Jesus quickly dispelled this error with His words, but the perception persisted among the people, and would be the basis of false accusations at His trial before Pilate.

One gets the impression that James and John were genuinely embarrassed by their mother's meddling. Not only did it earn her a rebuke from the Master, but it caused even MORE dissension among the other Apostles.

However, Jesus used this gaffe as a "teachable moment" and spoke of the Eternal Kingdom, of His suffering yet to come, and, eventually, the persecution of His followers.

James will be the first of the Apostles to meet a violent death, at the hands of Herod. Somehow, that distinction, I feel, was NOT what Mrs. Zebedee had in mind.

Come and Pray For the Peace of Jerusalem, For Our FRiends in Need, For Persecuted Believers, and For Our Beloved Nation.

Blessings To All Who Visit This Garden of Prayer.

This Symbol Represents Christians in The Middle East, who desperately need our Prayers.

Hallelujah and Amen

ML/LTOS

Joining in prayer. God bless.

May God save His faithful everywhere.

PRAYERS ASCENDING ON HIGH FOR
THE PEACE OF JERUSALEM!
And for the Preservation of the Valiant
Israeli Nation!

"Jesus Meeting the Mother of James and John"
Paolo Veronese

_ HEN came to him the mother of Zebedees children with her sons, worshipping him, and desiring a certain thing of him.

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.

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.

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.

And when the ten heard it, they were moved with indignation against the two brethren.

But Jesus called them unto him, and said, Ye know that the princes of the Gentiles exercise dominion over them, and they that are great exercise authority upon them.

But it shall not be so among you: but whosoever will be great among you, let him be your minister;

And whosoever will be chief among you, let him be your servant:

Even as the Son of man came not to be ministered unto, but to minister, and to give his life a ransom for many.

___________________________________________Matthew 20:20-28 (KJV)

PRAYERS ASCENDING ON HIGH For ML In This Time Of Tribulation.

PRAYERS ASCENDING ON HIGH For the Repose of the Soul of ML's Mom.

PRAYERS ASCENDING ON HIGH For A Rapid Recovery For Our Own Yorkie.

PRAYERS ASCENDING ON HIGH For A Rapid Recovery For Our FRiend Uri'el2012.

PRAYERS ASCENDING ON HIGH For The Safety Of Our Gallant Troops And For The Success Of Their Vital Mission.

PRAYERS ASCENDING ON HIGH For The Repose Of The Souls Of Our Embassy Staff In Libya Who Were Assassinated 11 September 2012.

PRAYERS ASCENDING ON HIGH For The Deliverance Of Our Beloved Nation From The Lion’s Mouth.

PRAYERS ASCENDING ON HIGH For Our Brethren Of All Faiths Throughout The World Suffering Persecution.
We pray in particular on behalf of our brothers and sisters in Syria, Iraq, Egypt, Libya and throughout the Mideast. The members of the oldest of our Christian Communities, some of which date from the days of the Apostles, suffer under cruel, merciless and unrelenting persecution. They are Orthodox and Catholic, Protestant and Evangelical, Coptic, Pentecostal, and Baptist. To the persecutors, we are all "Nazarenes."

Amen.

Joining in prayer, left that other site, for Israel, our beloved America, and all God’s people.

Lifting up prayer for the Peace of Jerusalem, for our families, our friends, those facing persecution, for our nations.