On another occasion James and John presented through their mother a petition requesting that they might be permitted to occupy the highest positions of honor in Christ's kingdom. Notwithstanding Christ's repeated instruction concerning the nature of His kingdom, these young disciples still cherished the hope for a Messiah who would take His throne and kingly power in accordance with the desires 542 of men. The mother, coveting with them the place of honor in this kingdom for her sons, asked, "Grant that these my two sons may sit, the one on Thy right hand, and the other on the left, in Thy kingdom."

Ved en anden lejlighed fremkom Jakob og Johannes gennem deres moder med en anmodning, idet de bad om, at de måtte få lov til at indtage de højeste æresstillinger i Kristi rige. Trods Kristi gentagne belæring om, af hvilken art hans rige var, nærede disse unge disciple stadig håbet om en Messias, der ville overtage tronen og kongelig magt i overensstemmelse med menneskers ønsker. Deres moder, der ligesom de begærede rigets æresstillinger for sine sønner, bad således: "Sig, at mine to sønner må få sæde i dit rige, den ene ved din højre, den anden ved din venstre side."