Expositor's Bible Commentary Commentary Mark 10:37

"And they said unto him, Grant unto us that we may sit, one on thy right hand, and one on [thy] left hand, in thy glory." — Mark 10:37 (ASV)

The request made by James and John seems utterly preposterous. They vainly came to Jesus with a carte blanche request! When Jesus asked what that might be, their answer was that they might have the positions of highest honor in the messianic kingdom. The request reveals clearly that before the Crucifixion the disciples believed Jesus to be the Messiah; and since it was now clear that he was going up to Jerusalem, they expected his messianic glory to be revealed there. James and John wanted to be sure of a prominent place in this about-to-berealized kingdom.