²⁰ At this point the mother of the sons of Zebedee arrived with her sons and knelt in front of Jesus to ask him a favour.

²¹ “What is it you want?” he asked her. “Please say that these two sons of mine may sit one on each side of you when you are king!” she said.

²² “You don’t know what it is you are asking,” replied Jesus. “Can you two drink what I have to drink?” “Yes, we can,” they answered.

²³ “Ah, you will indeed ‘drink my drink’,” Jesus told them, “but as for sitting on either side of me, that is not for me to grant—that belongs to those for whom my Father has planned it.”

²⁴ When the other ten heard of this incident they were highly indignant with the two brothers.

^55-56 There were many women at the scene watching from a distance. They had followed Jesus from Galilee to minister to his needs. Among them was Mary of Magdala, Mary the mother of James and Joseph, and the mother of Zebedee’s sons.

An ill-timed request

³⁵ Then Zebedee’s two sons James and John approached him, saying “Master, we want you to grant us a special request.”

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

³⁷ “Give us permission to sit one on each side of you in the glory of your kingdom!”

³⁸ “You don’t know what you are asking,” Jesus said to them. “Can you drink the cup I have to drink? Can you go through the baptism I have to bear?”

^39-40 —“Yes, we can,” they replied. Then Jesus told them, “You will indeed drink the cup I am drinking, and you will undergo the baptism which I have to bear! But as for sitting on either side of me, that is not for me to give—such places belong to those for whom they are intended.”

⁴⁰ There were some women there looking on from a distance, among them: Mary of Magdala, Mary the mother of the younger James and Joses, and Salome.

⁴¹ These were the women who used to follow Jesus as he went about in Galilee and look after him. And there were many other women there who had come up to Jerusalem with them.

Early on the first Lord’s day: the women are amazed

16 ^1-2 When the Sabbath was over, Mary of Magdala, Mary the mother of James, and Salome bought spices so that they could go and anoint him. And very early in the morning on the first day of the week, they came to the tomb, just as the sun was rising.

Early on the first Lord’s day: the women are amazed

16 ^1-2 When the Sabbath was over, Mary of Magdala, Mary the mother of James, and Salome bought spices so that they could go and anoint him. And very early in the morning on the first day of the week, they came to the tomb, just as the sun was rising.