Section 125b
Warning against ambitious pride
Perea → Jerusalem
| Matthew 20:20-28 | Mark 10:35-45 |
|---|---|
| 20Then the mother of the sons of Zebedee came with her sons to Jesus, and bowing down she asked him for a favor. 21So he said to her, “What do you want?” She said to him, “Say that these two sons of mine may sit, one on your right and one on your left, in your kingdom.” | 35Then James and John, the sons of Zebedee, came to him and said, “Teacher, we want you to do for us whatever we ask.” 36So he said to them, “What do you want me to do for you?” 37They said to him, “Grant to us that we may sit, one on your right and one on your left, in your glory.” |
| 22Jesus answered, “You do not know what you are asking. Are you able to drink the cup that I am about to drink, or to be baptized with the baptism that I am baptized with?” The two brothers said to him, “We are able.” | 38But Jesus said to them, “You do not know what you are asking. Are you able to drink the cup that I drink, and to be baptized with the baptism that I am baptized with?” 39They said to him, “We are able.” Then Jesus said to them, “You will indeed drink the cup that I drink, and be baptized with the baptism that I am baptized with, |
| 23So he said to them, “You will indeed drink my cup and be baptized with the baptism that I am baptized with, but to sit on my right and on my left is not mine to give, but it is for those for whom it has been prepared by my Father.” 24When the ten heard this, they were indignant with the two brothers. 25So Jesus called them over and said, “You know that the rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and their great men exercise authority over them. 26But it shall not be so among you. Instead, whoever wants to be great among you must be your servant, 27and whoever wants to be first among you must be your slave, 28just as the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.” | 40but to sit on my right and on my left is not mine to give, but it is for those for whom it has been prepared.” 41When the ten heard this, they began to be indignant with James and John. 42So Jesus called them over and said to them, “You know that those who are recognized as rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and their great men exercise authority over them. 43But it shall not be so among you. Instead, whoever wants to be great among you must be your servant, 44and whoever wants to be first among you must be a slave to all. 45For even the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.” |
Notes
Perea
Perea was the term used by the historian Flavius Josephus, and others, for a section of the territory east of The Jordan River, opposite Judea and Samaria. Although the word Perea is not found in the Scriptures, the area was mentioned frequently in the Gospels as the “land beyond the Jordan”. John the Baptist baptized in Perea, and was also martyred there at Herod’s fortress of Machaerus. Jesus Christ often visited Perea during His ministry, and had many followers from there, which at the time had a large Jewish population.
Jesus spent most of his final 3 months before Passion Week traveling around Perea, teaching in its towns and villages. Jesus had been in Jerusalem for the Feast of Dedication (John 10:22-39), and the Jews tried to stone him again. He escaped their grasp and went back across the Jordan into Perea for the final months before his crucifixion. During these months he taught his disciples about the cost of following him and he tried to prepare them for his coming death.
Today, most of Perea is in the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan.