Are You Willing to Drink the Cup?

Mark 10:39
39"We can, they answered. Jesus said to them, "You will drink the cup I drink and be baptized with the baptism I am baptized with,

The sons of Zebedee, James and John, desired to sit at the right hand of Jesus. Jesus wouldn't guarantee them their wish but he did guarantee something else. It was rare for Jesus to not grant someone's desire but in this case, Jesus said the decision belonged solely to God the Father. To "drink the cup I drink" was a very familiar Jewish phrase for "be prepared to go through what I've gone through". Wanting a title, status, wisdom or other spiritual gifts someone has acquired seems ideal but we don't know the price paid to have them. As followers of Christ, Jesus said we would have trials and tribulations but He also said He overcame the world.  It means there's a level of sacrifice we have to endure to walk with Him. But we also have to suffer some of the same hatred He endured as well. Jesus was and still is hated by some because He is the light. Who do you represent? When representing Jesus in spirit and in truth the light of Jesus can not be contained. But Jesus overcame in a way no one on earth could ever imagine. And that's the miracle of how He works in the lives of those who are truly willing to follow Him. Are you willing to drink the cup or do you only want the benefits?