Who are the people sitting next to Jesus?

[George1]

From those verses:

Matthew 20:20 Then came to him the mother of Zebedee's children with her sons, worshipping him, and desiring a certain thing of him.
21 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.
22 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.
23 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.

 

[Hidden In Him]

From those verses:

Matthew 20:20 Then came to him the mother of Zebedee's children with her sons, worshipping him, and desiring a certain thing of him.
21 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.
22 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.
23 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.

It's an interesting question. Mark 10:35 identifies them as James and John, though there is some confusion on the matter based on other Biblical references. Why do you ask?

 

[George1]

It's an interesting question. Mark 10:35 identifies them as James and John, though there is some confusion on the matter based on other Biblical references. Why do you ask?

Yes, in the verses are James and John, but I am asking who will be the real people who will sit next to Jesus based on those verses, that there will be two people sitting next to Jesus. Because to James and John in the verses was denied by Jesus, saying it is not for them, but for whom it is prepared by his father.

 

[Hidden In Him]

Yes, in the verses are James and John, but I am asking who will be the real people who will sit next to Jesus based on those verses, that there will be two people sitting next to Jesus. Because to James and John in the verses was denied by Jesus, saying it is not for them, but for whom it is prepared by his father.

I don't think there is any way to know, actually. Jesus said, only to whom it is given.

Now if I were guessing, I think I would wonder if Paul might be one of them. He seems to have suffered the most and had the most impact upon the development of the early church. But that's just a guess.

Do you have a theory?

 

[WIP]

Yes, in the verses are James and John, but I am asking who will be the real people who will sit next to Jesus based on those verses, that there will be two people sitting next to Jesus. Because to James and John in the verses was denied by Jesus, saying it is not for them, but for whom it is prepared by his father.

As a matter of semantics, Jesus didn't deny John and James. He only said it was not for Him to say who it would be but the Father will make that determination. Aside from that, Scripture doesn't tell us and in fact, not even Jesus knew then. I guess, I'm wondering why it matters to us.

 

[George1]

I don't think there is any way to know, actually. Jesus said, only to whom it is given.

Now if I were guessing, I think I would wonder if Paul might be one of them. He seems to have suffered the most and had the most impact upon the development of the early church. But that's just a guess.

Do you have a theory?

Yes, I have theory. It can be people who are equal to martyrs, which is to say from what I understand fighting against the sin with all their strength, this way they can have suffering for the faith, equal to martyrs. Also I don't think it is only two persons like from the gospel. Because I don't think they will literally sit next to Jesus and doing nothing for whole eternity. I think in Heaven the saints, angels and everyone have a work to do, not to be idle. Jesus said my father works until now, I work also. And people there have the life the Father has (so they must be working). So, no need to be two people next to Jesus, both in left and right side of him on his throne. They must be first martyrs (fighting for faith with all their strenght), second saints, and third I am not sure what they must be, to sit next to Jesus, because this is the highest position in Christianity, and I don't think they will be many people on earth (lived in all times) of this position. Then it must be prepared by his father, like the verse saying, before time or since the beginning. They are chosen to be so, from before they would be. Also God knows everything, so it will happen if he seen it.

 

[George1]

As a matter of semantics, Jesus didn't deny John and James. He only said it was not for Him to say who it would be but the Father will make that determination. Aside from that, Scripture doesn't tell us and in fact, not even Jesus knew then. I guess, I'm wondering why it matters to us.

To me, it seems he denied. Based on his way of talking. And of Bible as a whole. I think Jesus knew, but did not said. It matters because this is the highest position of Christianity and many want it.

 

[WIP]

To me, it seems he denied. Based on his way of talking. And of Bible as a whole. I think Jesus knew, but did not said. It matters because this is the highest position of Christianity and many want it.

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.

He didn't say one way or the other. So, is it possible we might be inferring our own ideas rather than just accepting the answer given? Wanting it is of no consequence for in the end, it is given to whom the Father chooses.

"What shall we say then? Is there unrighteousness with God? Certainly not! For He says to Moses, “I will have mercy on whomever I will have mercy, and I will have compassion on whomever I will have compassion.”
Romans 9:14-16 NKJV (ref. Exodus 33:19)

 

[Hidden In Him]

I think in Heaven the saints, angels and everyone have a work to do, not to be idle. Jesus said my father works until now, I work also. And people there have the life the Father has (so they must be working).

Ok, this much I certainly agree with, George.

As for being seated next to Jesus, I don't think that means they have to sit there for all eternity, any more than that Jesus cannot get up and move about Heaven either. It just means that that is their position of authority in the kingdom, like you said.

 

[George1]

He didn't say one way or the other. So, is it possible we might be inferring our own ideas rather than just accepting the answer given? Wanting it is of no consequence for in the end, it is given to whom the Father chooses.

"What shall we say then? Is there unrighteousness with God? Certainly not! For He says to Moses, “I will have mercy on whomever I will have mercy, and I will have compassion on whomever I will have compassion.”
Romans 9:14-16 NKJV (ref. Exodus 33:19)

This is how I understand Bible. And the speaking of Jesus.
They must want it. God does not give things to people on force which they don't want.

 

[WIP]

This is how I understand Bible. And the speaking of Jesus.
They must want it. God does not give things to people on force which they don't want.

And they obviously wanted it (to sit on His right and His left in heaven). They asked after all. But we don't always get everything we want either. Jesus didn't say they would get what they asked for nor did He say they would not get what they asked for. All He said was that it was not for Him to say whether or not they got what they asked for but the Father will or has determined who will get that which they asked for. It might be them, or it might not.