"Salome"
Overview
Salome: A Mother's Ambition and the True Glory of God
Salome is one of the quieter figures in Scripture, named directly only in the Gospel of Mark, yet her story carries weight far beyond her few mentions. As the wife of Zebedee and mother of James and John, she helped raise sons of such faith that when Jesus called them from their fishing boat, they left immediately to follow Him Matthew 4:21-22. That kind of response doesn't happen in a vacuum—it speaks to a household where Christ was recognized and trusted, even before everything about Him was understood.
But Salome was also a mother with ambition for her boys. In Matthew 20:20-23, she kneels before Jesus and asks that James and John be seated at His right and left in the kingdom—the highest places of honor next to the king. Like many parents, she wanted greatness and glory for her children, and she was willing to use her family's relationship with Jesus to secure it. Her motives may have been loving, but Jesus' response cuts through: "You do not know what you are asking." She had confused the kingdom of God with a temporal kingdom of power. Then Jesus turned to her sons with a sobering question: "Are you able to drink the cup that I am about to drink?"
That cup became visible at Calvary. Salome was among the women watching from a distance as Jesus hung on the cross Matthew 27:55-56. The "greatness" she had requested for her sons was now revealed in a battered, bleeding Messiah—mocked, naked, and dying. Whatever she had imagined when she asked for thrones, this was not it. And yet on the first day of the week, Salome was again present, this time at the empty tomb Mark 16:1-6, among the very first to hear the words, "He has been raised. He is not here." The cross she had witnessed in sorrow was overturned by resurrection glory.
Salome's story presses a question on all of us: when we seek greatness—for ourselves, for our children, for our work—whose glory are we actually pursuing? Even good ambitions can mask a desire to be seen, praised, or counted among the great. The greatness of this world is real, but it is also passing; medals tarnish, influence fades, and earthly thrones crumble. The greatness Salome ultimately witnessed was of a different order entirely: a tomb emptied, sin conquered, death defeated. That is the glory believers are invited into—not by climbing to a throne, but by being washed in the blood of Christ and called children of God. Seek that greatness. It is the only kind that lasts.
Transcript
The other morning when I woke up, I looked at my pedometer watch and it had a nice little 1s
message of motivation for me. It said, grab the glory, grab the glory. I'm going to go ahead 7s
and grab that glory for myself and I thought how appropriate that this would be the weekend 15s
that the summer Olympics of 2020 would have begun. And you think about the greatness 21s
of the athletes. When you think about great athletes in the Olympics, you think of people like 29s
Michael Phelps or Simone Biles or Carl Lewis and how they achieved such greatness in their 35s
lifetime, such athletic greatness and glory. And they didn't get there alone. They had 44s
help along the way. They had people who would take them to practices. They had coaches who 52s
would train them and work with them, helping them and urging them on to get that greatness. 59s
And they had people who were invested in making sure they were able to achieve a status 67s
of greatness and glory in their lives. What parent or guardian among us doesn't want to 75s
help their child achieve greatness. Doesn't want glory for their child. We will pay for extra 84s
lessons for extra time with the coaches. We will get tutors. We will always work to help our 93s
children. You think of the stereotypical stage mom and that person who is trying to achieve and 103s
help their child achieve greatness. Or maybe there's a business colleague and there's some net 112s
working that will do on behalf of our children and it's all to help them gain glory and greatness 119s
in their own lives. And generally it is done out of affection and love for our children. Most 128s
parents are not attempting to live by carriers, lead through their children. It really is out of 137s
effort of wanting the best for their child. Today we are going to find one of those parents. 144s
We're going to find Salome who is working on behalf of seeking her children's greatness, 154s
seeking glory for her children. When we hear the name Salome we often think of the daughter or the 163s
requested the head of John the Baptist to be brought to her on a platter because her mother 174s
did not like what John the Baptist was saying about them. And so that's what we generally think of 181s
with Salome but there's another Salome that is named in scripture and she is the mother. 188s
She is a follower of Jesus. She's only named in the gospel of Mark but we know that she was 197s
the wife of Zebady and as the wife of Zebady that made her the mother of James and John. 204s
And it's very interesting. I love this summer series of the supporting cast because sometimes 211s
these supporting cast are named only once or twice in all of scripture and yet we can know so 218s
much about them and how they have such an important part in God's story for us. And Salome is one of 227s
these people. It also, learning about these supporting cast, it also helps us to see how important 236s
interpreting scripture through scripture is. So that's what we're going to actually start with 244s
this morning as we study Salome. Instead of beginning in our gospel text for the day, we're actually 252s
going to start in the gospel of Matthew to learn a little more about Salome. Salome and Zebady, 260s
her husband, they would have known who Jesus is and they would have had at least some sort of 269s
okness or belief in being okay with following him, belief in him, being disciples of Jesus. 278s
Because when Jesus comes to the fishing boat and says to James and John, follow me, scripture tells 287s
us that James and John got up and they left their father's Ebbady on the boat. So we're going to 294s
actually turn to chapter 20 of the gospel of Matthew, chapter 20 in the gospel of Matthew. Now, 300s
this must say something when the boys leave Zebady on the fishing boat and there wasn't any sort of 312s
fuss that was raised that really has to say something about Salome and Zebady both that they raised 319s
their sons to be people of faith that they were recognizing even if they didn't know the details, 326s
even if they didn't fully understand what was going on with Jesus, they recognized his call and they 334s
followed and there was no fuss about it and they also must have been sons who were raised in faith 341s
because Jesus called them. He called them to be his own and when they saw they recognized him 349s
and they recognized that they would follow him, they didn't let anything deter them from following him. 359s
So Salome would have been like any other mother. She wanted the best for her children and if she 368s
had an ability to help them attain the best, she was going to do it and that's where we're actually 376s
turning today first in Matthew 20 starting with verse 20. Salome had a lot of ambition for her 383s
boys and she was going to give them this little boost that they needed. She was going to go ahead 391s
and do a little bit of networking on behalf of her boys. She came to Jesus, the mother of the 396s
sons and kneeling before him, she asked a favor of him and he said to her, what do you want? 405s
She said to him, declare that these two sons of mine will sit. One at your right hand and one at your 414s
left in your kingdom. That is a big request. She asks for a favor. She's making a request on 423s
behalf of her boys. It's a big request. She knows that her boys are part of Jesus in her circle. 435s
She knows that he already likes them and so she takes advantage and her opportunity in that position 443s
that they already hold with Jesus to ask for the highest positions to be with her sons. It's kind of 452s
the intruding mother who asks on behalf of her kids, go ahead and do this for them. She doesn't 462s
actually know what she's asking. She thinks that Jesus, she knows the kingdom of God is near. 469s
She knows it's with Jesus but like most followers of Christ at that time. She couldn't separate 476s
Jesus from the temporal kingdom of Israel coming to power. She thought they would be one in the same 486s
that Jesus rising to kingship to Lordship would also mean that Israel temporarily on earth 496s
here now would be in a position of power. And here she asks Jesus to put her boys at the highest 506s
positions of power next to him. She was seeking greatness for her boys. She wanted glory for her children. 514s
The right and the left hand to sit at the right or the left hand those, that represented the 528s
greatest positions of honor next to the king. You couldn't get any higher and so she's asking 535s
for Christ to sit at the right and the left. What more could a mother possibly want for her children? 542s
It was out of motherly love that she sought this greatness for her boys. Right? She was ambitious 552s
for her children which could be considered very commendable to try to help your child to achieve 562s
greatness to try to gain glory for your child. We all want better for the next generation and it was 569s
out of love as a mother that she did this for her children. But what we have to ask is her ambition 578s
in line with the will of God. Is her ambition for her boys in line with God's will for them 592s
for her or for anyone? When we seek greatness even even if we think we have the purest of motives 606s
when we seek greatness. Are we seeking God's glory? Or are we seeking to find glory for ourselves? 621s
When we seek greatness in our lives, are we seeking to use that greatness 634s
to influence others toward Christ, to share God and to glorify and praise Him? 641s
Or are we trying to get a little bit of that glory for ourselves? Do we approach the Lord in prayer? 651s
And do we ask Him, Lord, please give me a position of power, give me a position of greatness here 658s
and now give me wealth and fame so that I can be an influence on others. What are we trying to 669s
influence? Who are we trying to influence? How are we trying to influence and to what extent 676s
are we trying to influence? Even if we think we're coming to seek glory for the purest of motives 686s
in our altruism, are we still seeking our own glory? Have we ever served for a charity or done a good 703s
deed that we don't want to point out? Hey did you see that good thing I just did? Did you see the good 715s
action that I just made? Did you see what a great good Christian I just was? And we're seeking that 724s
glory for ourselves. We're seeking to be great and counted amongst the greatest, the great 733s
Christians of this world. And what was Jesus' response to Salome and then to Salome's kids? 743s
Let's look back into Matthew 20. In chapter verse 22 he said, you do not know what you are asking. 754s
And then he turned to the boys and he said, are you able to drink the cup that I am about to drink? 766s
And they said to him, we are able. Are you able to drink the cup that I am about to drink? 773s
What was that cup? What was the cup that Jesus was about to drink? Let's turn over to Matthew 27. And we're going to find Salome again. 783s
Matthew 27, starting in verse 55, many women were also there looking on from a distance. 797s
They had followed Jesus from Galilee and had provided for him. Among them were Mary Magdalene and Mary 804s
Mother of James and Joseph and the Mother of the Sun's of Zebadi. That is Salome. 811s
And what was she witnessing? What was she and the other women looking on from a distance? What were they seeing? 818s
They were seeing Jesus hanging on a cross. They were seeing Jesus with blood that was pouring down. 829s
They were seeing Jesus in anguish that is the cup that he was to drink. 838s
Do you think that Salome in her motherly love watched Jesus and remembered asking 849s
to have her sons at his right and left? Do you think that she prayed 860s
against her own request? 868s
Praying Lord don't let my boys drink a that cup. 872s
That didn't look so great. Jesus battered, beaten, naked and bleeding, 883s
mocked, spit upon. That did not look like greatness. What was Salome thinking? 898s
Did she know what was going on? Did she understand? Did she fear for her boys? 917s
Because if you go back to our Matthew 20, Matthew 20 when Jesus said you don't know what you're 925s
asking he knew where he would be shortly. He knew he would be on that cross. 933s
Separated from God on our behalf. He knew that he would be in anguish. 940s
And he turned to those boys and he said, are you able to drink the cup that I am to drink? 948s
And they answered, we are able. And he said to them, you will indeed drink my cup. 955s
But to sit at my right hand and at my left, this is not mine to grant. But it is for those 967s
for whom it has been prepared by my father. And so Salome stands there with the other women looking 973s
from far off. And she sees this bleeding Messiah, this bleeding man whom she begged to have her sons 981s
with. And he warned her, he said, you don't know what you're asking. And he looked at her boys and 991s
said, do you think you can drink the cup that I am to go to drink? And they said, yes, we can. 997s
And he confirmed for them that indeed they would drink that cup. Indeed they would suffer. 1004s
And do you think that as a mother, Salome watched the suffering Christ, the suffering Jesus, 1011s
the man whom she loved and followed and whom her boys loved, whom they spent day and night with, 1019s
for three years, do you think that she thought of those words of Christ and heard him telling her 1028s
boys, do you will drink the same cup? Knowing as a mother that her boys would suffer, 1036s
what do you think she thought of as she watched Jesus upon the cross? 1050s
And this is where we turn to our text, our gospel text for this morning. So I invite you to open your 1059s
bibles to the gospel of Mark chapter 16, starting in verse 1. When the Sabbath was over, 1068s
Mary Magdalene and Mary the mother of James and Salome bought spices so they that they might 1079s
go and annoy him. So Jesus had died, they witnessed his death, they knew he was buried, 1085s
they had to rest on the Sabbath. And so then they had bought spices and they were going to annoy 1093s
his body. Again, Salome was a follower of Jesus, she loved him, she was going with the other women 1099s
to take care of the corpse, to take care of the body of Jesus. And very early on the first day of 1106s
week when the sun had risen, they went to the tomb. They had been saying to one another, 1114s
who will roll away the stone for us from the entrance to the tomb? When they looked up, 1119s
they saw that the stone which was very large had already been rolled back. As they entered the tomb, 1125s
they saw a young man dressed in a white robe sitting on the right side and they were alarmed. 1131s
But he said to them, do not be alarmed. You are looking for Jesus of Nazareth who was crucified. 1137s
He has been raised. He is not here. And Salome heard, was amongst the first to hear the glorified 1146s
news that Jesus Christ is risen. He is risen indeed. And what do you think went through the 1161s
mind of that woman? Do you think she thought of the body which hung on the cross? Do you think 1168s
that she was perplexed, not knowing where this man was? Do you think that maybe it started to 1176s
sink in the words that Jesus had taught his followers that he would be raised on the third day? 1187s
That he would live. Do you think that the words that he spoke from the cross? It is finished 1198s
before he gave up his spirit? Do you think those began to ring in her ears? 1207s
It was the greatest greatness that has ever been achieved. The fact that Jesus of Nazareth 1217s
was no longer in that tomb meant that death had been overcome. That sin had been conquered 1227s
through his death and through his rising. The empty tomb was the greatest glory 1236s
of all time that ever was or ever will be. And there was Salome at the tomb witnessing 1246s
the greatness of God, the glory of God, the good news of salvation in and through God. 1256s
She sought greatness for her boys. We all seek greatness for our kids. We all want to share 1272s
in the glory of this world. We all want to share in the glory of this world for our children. 1283s
And yet the glory of this world, the greatness of this world is nothing. It's shattered. It's gone 1295s
because everything in this world is of this world and will remain in this world. 1309s
But Salome witnessed the empty tomb. She witnessed the glory of God before her. And that is 1318s
the greatness and the glory that we as believers in Jesus Christ, the Son of our Lord, 1328s
that is the glory and the greatness that we are invited to. That we are invited to live in 1335s
in this world here and now that we are invited to live in for all eternity. That is the promise 1342s
that we have in the empty tomb. When Jesus hung on that cross and Salome watched him die, 1351s
she watched him take all the sin of the world upon himself. She watched him anguish under the 1361s
path of God that he experienced for you. And then she went to the empty tomb, 1371s
expecting to find that body there. And instead she experienced the glory of the risen Christ, 1380s
the glory of the promise fulfilled that Salvation would come from God. The promise 1388s
that Jesus would live, it is such an honor to be a part of God's family. It is such an 1397s
honor to be counted amongst his witnesses. We have greatness in this world. We have glory 1413s
in this world. And it is amazing to see the athletes of the Olympics, 1426s
or it is amazing to see people of power in this world. That is great. That is wonderful. It is 1433s
wonderful to help our brothers and sisters of mankind. But it is nothing in comparison 1443s
with the glory that it is to be called a child of God. This is good news. The greatest news 1455s
seek the greatness that is yours through Jesus Christ. Seek the glory and to glorify God 1464s
because you have been called as his own. You have been washed clean in the blood of Christ. 1474s
He took your sin on that cross and he left it. He kept it for himself, giving you the righteousness 1483s
of the empty tomb, giving you the righteousness of his life. And that is the greatness 1493s
and glory that we are called to live in. 1500s