Had Christ now asked James and John, "Can ye drink of the cup that I drink of? and be baptized with the 104 baptism that I am baptized with?" they would not have answered so readily as they did before, "We can." Mark 10:38, 39. The Saviour's heart was filled with pity and sympathy at the weakness of His disciples. He feared that they could not endure the test which His suffering and death would bring upon them. Yet He did not sternly reprove them for their weakness. He thought of the trials that were before them, and said:

Havde Jesus nu spurgt Jakob og Johannes: "Kan I tømme den kalk, som jeg skal tømme, eller døbes med den dåb, som jeg skal døbes med?" så ville de ikke have svaret så rask, som de gjorde før: "Ja, vi kan". Mark. 10,38-39. Frelserens hjerte fyldtes af medlidenhed og medynk med sine disciple i deres skrøbelighed. Han frygtede for, at de ikke ville kunne udholde den prøvelse, som skulle komme over dem ved hans lidelse og død. Og dog gav han dem ingen hård irettesættelse for deres skrøbelighed. Han tænkte på de prøvelser, der ventede dem, og sagde: