Mother of James and John

Then, James and John came to Jesus along with their mother, the wife of Zebedee. The three knelt down and made a request of Jesus: “Teacher, we want You to do for us whatever we ask.”

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

They answered, “Grant that, in Your kingdom, one son may sit at Your right hand, and the other son may sit at Your left.”

“You do not know what you are asking,” Jesus replied. “Can you drink the cup I will drink, or be baptized with the baptism I will be baptized?”

“We can,” the brothers answered.

Jesus said to them, “Indeed you will drink the cup that I drink, and you will be baptized with the baptism that I will be baptized. But to sit at My right or left is not Mine to grant. These seats belong to those for whom My Father has prepared them.”

When the other ten apostles heard about this, they were indignant with James and John. So, Jesus called the Twelve aside and said, “You know that those regarded as rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and their superiors exercise authority over them. But it shall not be this way among you. Instead, whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant, and whoever wants to be first must be the slave of all. For the Son of Man also came not to be served, but to serve, and to give His life as a ransom for many.”

See Matthew 20:20-28; Mark 10:35-45; Matthew 27:56; Mark 15:40

Notes:

1. In the Gospel of Matthew, the mother of James and John made the request of Jesus. But in the Gospel of Mark, James and John made the request.

2. Salome: Matthew 27:55-56 and Mark 15:40-41 record that many Galilean women had followed Jesus and ministered to Him, and that three of the women were present at His crucifixion. In the listing of the three women, where Matthew 27:56 records “the mother of Zebedee's sons,” Mark 15:40 records the name “Salome.” For this reason, many believe that the mother of James and John was named Salome.