Matthew 20:20-21 Then came to him the mother of Zebedees children with her sons, worshipping him, and desiring a certain thing of him. 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.

A loving mother, trusting and worshipping in her Lord asks a favor of Him. Was it wrong for her to desire good things for her sons? I think not. A mother’s love will always seek good things for her children and a Godly woman, Godly things.

Matthew 20:22 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.

Did they understand what they were committing to do? Maybe yes, maybe no. Either way this was Jesus reply to mother and sons.

Matthew 20:23 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.

While Jesus could not grant her request, He did tell her that they were still in the running. How so? Because they committed themselves to follow in His footsteps, Jesus foretold of their success. They would die for the gospel, obedient, faithful, and fervent; the sons of thunder that they were.

Jesus did not grant her request, nor did He dismiss her either. The issue at hand here is in being careful what we ask for because if we do not understand the demands of success, we might end up surprised at what we have to endure.