God’s responses to our prayers – Part 3

“They said to Him, ‘grant us that we may sit, one on Your right hand and the other on Your left, in Your glory,” (Mark 10:37).

10:37 The disciples, like most Jews of that day, had the wrong idea of the Messiah’s kingdom as predicted by the Old Testament prophets. They thought Jesus would establish an earthly kingdom that would free Israel from Rome’s oppression, and James and John wanted honoured places in it. But Jesus’ kingdom is not of this world; it is not centred in palaces and thrones, but in the hearts and lives of his followers. The disciples did not understand this until after Jesus’ resurrection.

10:38-40 Jesus didn’t ridicule James and John for asking, but he denied their request. We can feel free to ask God for anything, but our requests may be denied. God wants to give us what is best for us, not merely what we want. He denies some requests for our own good.

“So He said to them, ‘you will indeed drink My cup, and be baptised with the baptism that I am baptised with; but to sit on My right hand and on My left is not Mine to give, but it is for those for whom it is prepared by My Father,”’ (Mat 20:23).

Mat 20:23 Jesus was showing that he was under the authority of the Father, who alone makes the decisions about leadership in heaven. Such rewards are not granted as favours. They are for those who have maintained their commitment to Jesus in spite of severe trials.

“Just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life a ransom for many,” (Mat 20:28).

Mat 20:28: A ransom was the price paid to release a slave from bondage. Jesus often told his disciples that he must die, but here he told them why—to redeem all people from the bondage of sin and death. The disciples thought that as long as Jesus was alive he could save them. But Jesus revealed that only his death would save them and the world.

1. Unconfessed sin
“If I regard iniquity in my heart, the Lord will not hear,” (Ps 66:18).

“If I regard iniquity in my heart.” Those who take pleasure in unrighteousness have no hope of answered prayer when they call on God. God wants us separated from sin; only then will He respond to us as a Father to a son (2 Cor 6:14-18; see Jas 4:3; 1 John 3:22).

“One who turns away his ear from hearing the law, even his prayer is an abomination,” (Prov 28:9).

“His prayer is an abomination.” God will not answer the prayers of those who have no sincere commitment to obey Him and His Word.

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