The gospel is filled with misunderstandings, paradoxes and reversals. James and John seek places of prominence in Jesus’ kingdom and Jesus informs them that real prominence is found in service, not in wielding authority over others. The willingness of the sons of Zebedee to accept the cup that Jesus will eventually drink and to be baptised in his baptism is another example of their misunderstanding. They could hardly have imagined the implications of their words. Jesus never denies that he would be prominent in the reign of God. However, whenever he discussed either the reign itself or the role that he will play in it, he always indicated that it was God’s reign and that he had been appointed by God to do God’s work.