Single lesson
James and John Ask for Places of Honour
Matthew 20:20–28; Mark 10:35–45
Jesus answers a request for honour by teaching his disciples what greatness looks like. Children will follow the account in Matthew and Mark, notice the choices people make, and hear Jesus point them towards serving others.
Before you teach
In Matthew 20:20-28 and Mark 10:35-45, a request is made for places at Jesus’ right and left. Jesus says they do not understand what they are asking. When the other ten disciples are upset, Jesus gathers them and teaches about serving rather than ruling over others.
Students will be able to retell the main steps of the account and explain that Jesus says greatness among his followers means serving others.
Welcome: Who wants to be first?
4 minAsk children to think about times people want the best place, to go first, or to be noticed. Explain that in today’s reading, disciples ask for places of honour near Jesus. Tell the group to listen for the request, Jesus’ answer, and what he says true greatness is like.
Matthew 20:21, Mark 10:37
Read and explain: The request for honour
8 minRead Matthew 20:20-23 and Mark 10:35-40. Point out that Matthew mentions the mother of the sons of Zebedee with her sons, while Mark says James and John came near themselves. In both accounts, the request is to sit at Jesus’ right and left. Jesus says they do not know what they are asking.
Matthew 20:20, Matthew 20:21, Matthew 20:22, Matthew 20:23, Mark 10:35, Mark 10:36, Mark 10:37, Mark 10:38, Mark 10:39, Mark 10:40
Discuss: Jesus gathers the upset disciples
7 minRead Matthew 20:24-27 and Mark 10:41-44. Let children sequence what happens next: the ten hear, they are indignant, Jesus calls everyone together, and then he teaches. Explain simple terms: to ‘lord it over’ means using power over people, while ‘servant’ and ‘bondservant’ describe humble service to others.
Matthew 20:24, Matthew 20:25, Matthew 20:26, Matthew 20:27, Mark 10:41, Mark 10:42, Mark 10:43, Mark 10:44
Make and respond: Sequence strip of the passage
7 minChildren make a four-part sequence strip showing: the request, Jesus’ warning, the ten becoming indignant, and Jesus teaching about serving. As they draw or write, prompt them to add key words from the reading such as ‘right and left’, ‘you don’t know’, ‘servant’, and ‘first’.
Matthew 20:21, Matthew 20:22, Matthew 20:24, Matthew 20:26, Mark 10:37, Mark 10:38, Mark 10:41, Mark 10:43
Closing: The Son of Man came to serve
4 minFinish by reading Matthew 20:28 and Mark 10:45 aloud together. Explain that Jesus gives himself as the example. Ask each child to say one serving action they can do this week, such as helping, sharing, or letting someone else go first, because Jesus spoke about serving, not seeking honour.
Matthew 20:28, Mark 10:45
Questions to explore
What was the special place being asked for in this account?
Look for the words about sitting near Jesus, one at his right hand and one at his left hand, in Matthew 20:21 and Mark 10:37.
Matthew 20:21, Mark 10:37
How did the other ten disciples react when they heard the request?
Find the verse that says they were indignant, then notice that Jesus answered their upset by calling them together to teach them.
Matthew 20:24, Mark 10:41, Matthew 20:25, Mark 10:42
According to Jesus, what does greatness look like among his followers?
Read the lines that say the great one should be a servant and the first should be a bondservant of all.
Matthew 20:26, Matthew 20:27, Mark 10:43, Mark 10:44
Make, think or respond
Four-Part Sequence Strip
What you’ll need
- paper
- pencils or crayons
- scissors
- glue or sticky tape
Try it together
- Fold or cut a sheet into four boxes.
- In box 1, draw the request for places of honour near Jesus.
- In box 2, draw Jesus saying they do not know what they are asking.
- In box 3, draw the ten disciples being indignant.
- In box 4, draw Jesus teaching that the great person is a servant.
- Join the boxes into a strip and use it to retell the passage in order.
This helps children sequence the account and remember that Jesus moves the discussion from honour to service.
Adapt for your group
- For younger children, pre-draw four empty boxes and let them add simple symbols such as a crown, two chairs, a group of disciples, and helping hands.
- For older or more confident children, ask them to add one short quotation from the text in each box, such as ‘What do you want?’, ‘You don’t know’, ‘indignant’, and ‘your servant’.
An optional closing prayer
‘Lord Jesus, please help us learn from your words. Teach us not to chase honour for ourselves, but to serve others in humble ways. Amen.’
Read the Bible passage World English Bible Classic
Matthew 20
20 Then the mother of the sons of Zebedee came to him with her sons, kneeling and asking a certain thing of him.
21 He said to her, “What do you want?” She said to him, “Command that these, my two sons, may sit, one on your right hand and one on your left hand, in your Kingdom.”
22 But Jesus answered, “You don’t know what you are asking. Are you able to drink the cup that I am about to drink, and be baptized with the baptism that I am baptized with?” They said to him, “We are able.”
23 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 hand and on my left hand is not mine to give, but it is for whom it has been prepared by my Father.”
24 When the ten heard it, they were indignant with the two brothers.
25 But Jesus summoned them, and said, “You know that the rulers of the nations lord it over them, and their great ones exercise authority over them.
26 It shall not be so among you; but whoever desires to become great among you shall be your servant.
27 Whoever desires to be first among you shall be your bondservant,
28 even as the Son of Man came not to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.”
Mark 10
35 James and John, the sons of Zebedee, came near to him, saying, “Teacher, we want you to do for us whatever we will ask.”
36 He said to them, “What do you want me to do for you?”
37 They said to him, “Grant to us that we may sit, one at your right hand and one at your left hand, in your glory.”
38 But Jesus said to them, “You don’t 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?”
39 They said to him, “We are able.” Jesus said to them, “You shall indeed drink the cup that I drink, and you shall be baptized with the baptism that I am baptized with;
40 but to sit at my right hand and at my left hand is not mine to give, but for whom it has been prepared.”
41 When the ten heard it, they began to be indignant toward James and John.
42 Jesus summoned them and said to them, “You know that they who are recognized as rulers over the nations lord it over them, and their great ones exercise authority over them.
43 But it shall not be so among you, but whoever wants to become great among you shall be your servant.
44 Whoever of you wants to become first among you shall be bondservant of all.
45 For the Son of Man also came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.”
World English Bible Classic. Public domain.