[chette777]

I believe the cup cannot be the cup of the wrath of God, nor can the Baptism be death on the cross (taught some of us at Bible College).

Luke 12 has Jesus yet to be Baptized, in Matt 20 and Mark 10 Jesus is already Baptized. look at the wording, "and to be baptized with the baptism that I am baptized with?" see the past-tense of the English. Jesus is already Baptized with the Baptism that He asks them if they are able.

He calls the cup "my Cup". the cup of Jesus Christ is something that needs to be considered here it is not the cup of Gods wrath, but the Lords cup given at the last supper the cup of the New Testament in his blood. And they partook of the cup of the New Testament, of which Judas did not drink from. Christ drank from it and so did the 11 Apostles.

And the Baptism that Jesus already was baptised with, was the Holy Ghost. Biblestudent saw it Paritally, they were later Baptized with the Holy Ghost just as Jesus was. it came upon Christ like a dove but upon the Apostles witha sound of a mighty wind and as tongues of fire.

Neither John nor James were crucified nor did they die for the sins of others. so the cup is not the cup of Luke 12, 22 or the one in the garden, and the Baptism is not that of crucifiction. neither one died because of the wrath of God nor in the same manner as Christ were they killed. Both James and John suffered for thier faith. One dies at the hands of Herod who saw that he got the favor of the Jews descided to do it again by taking Peter. John by tradition died in Ephesus.

He was asking them if they will be able to enter into the Kingdom in which they were asking to be coregents over. remember the Gospel of the Kingdom has to be accompanied by works "are ye able to" is a work.

they would indeed enter into the Kingdom but for the places in which they requested it was the Fathers to give not Christs. before one can get a seat in the Kingdom they must first enter into it. today we enter in not by our own works but by Christ's finished work on the His cross. and we are baptized the moment we beleive.

the topical context ends in verse 24. the next section Jesus addresses the desire to rule over others. which may be what the others thought James and John were asking for when they became angry with them in verse 24. However as mentioned in goph's post they will reign from 12 thrones over Israel. which makes the seats on Jesus left and Right something higher than those 12 thrones, and in the power of the God the Father, Jehovah.

But under the Gospel of the Kingdom of which Jesus taught them and gave them commandment to preach, and knowing the ways of that Gospel we see that works always need to accompany it. that same gospel pops up again in the Tribulation period after the church is removed and the Church Age ends also taking with it the Gospel of Grace, salvation through grace by faith alone in the finished work of Christ.

I know there are a few ways to look at these scriputres and this is one of them. It matters not as to my or your salvation. but makes for interesting study.

God bless you all in your study of His Word