Jesus said, "You have no idea what you are asking." Mark 10:38
James & John have just asked Jesus if they would be awarded the highest place of honour in glory. What an outrageous question. How selfish.
Having read Jesus' responses to the Pharisees and other religious leaders I would have expected him to explode. Yet he doesn't. There isn't even an excalmation mark next to what he has said. It seems as though his response is calm and measured, even gentle.
Maybe his response of "you have no idea what you are asking", explains it. It seems it was an almost innocent question which they had not thought through.
Jesus' response was totally different to that of the other disciples when they heard the conversation. They got into a fight with James & John.
Jesus has incredible wisdom when dealing with people. He knows when to be angry and when to be gentle. We don't. Like the other disciples we often end up dealing with things in totally the wrong way.
Help me God to have the wisdom to choose the right response to every situation I face, not to choose the irresponsible and inappropriate way.
