August 15th, 2023
Tuesday, August 15
Sometimes God Says No
By: Pastor Mark White
But Jesus answered by saying to them,
“You don’t know what you are asking!
Are you able to drink from the bitter cup
of suffering I am about to drink?"
—Matthew 20:22
Have you ever been given a nickname? You usually don’t get a nickname without some sort of reason. Jesus had given two of his disciples James and John the nickname “Sons of Thunder” in Mark 3:17. I think we get a glimpse of the reasoning behind it when the people in a Samaritan village were not responding to Jesus’ message. So, James and John said, “Lord, should we call down fire from heaven to burn them up?” (Luke 9:54 NLT).
We get another hint as to why these two became the Sons of Thunder. One day their mother, Salome, approached Jesus with her sons… and a request: “In your Kingdom, please let my two sons sit in places of honor next to you, one on your right and the other on your left.” (Matthew 20:21 NLT).
But Jesus told them, “You don’t know what you are asking! Are you able to drink from the bitter cup of suffering I am about to drink?” (Matthew 20:22 NLT).
What is this cup that Jesus is talking about? It is the cup of God’s wrath that Jesus bore on the cross for the sins of the world. Remember, in the Garden of Gethsemane Jesus prayed, “My Father! If it is possible, let this cup of suffering be taken away from me. Yet I want your will to be done, not mine” (Matthew 26:39 NLT).
God said no to their mother’s request, and no doubt they were thankful for that later. After all, Salome was there at the crucifixion of Jesus. As she stood at the foot of the cross, she would have seen the two criminals who hung on the crosses to the right and to the left of Jesus.
If God has said no to your prayer recently, don’t think that it’s necessarily a bad thing. It could be a very good thing because God loves you and sees the big picture. There is a place for faith and prayer. But God may say no to our request, especially when we ask for something that will harm us.
Sometimes God Says No
By: Pastor Mark White
But Jesus answered by saying to them,
“You don’t know what you are asking!
Are you able to drink from the bitter cup
of suffering I am about to drink?"
—Matthew 20:22
Have you ever been given a nickname? You usually don’t get a nickname without some sort of reason. Jesus had given two of his disciples James and John the nickname “Sons of Thunder” in Mark 3:17. I think we get a glimpse of the reasoning behind it when the people in a Samaritan village were not responding to Jesus’ message. So, James and John said, “Lord, should we call down fire from heaven to burn them up?” (Luke 9:54 NLT).
We get another hint as to why these two became the Sons of Thunder. One day their mother, Salome, approached Jesus with her sons… and a request: “In your Kingdom, please let my two sons sit in places of honor next to you, one on your right and the other on your left.” (Matthew 20:21 NLT).
But Jesus told them, “You don’t know what you are asking! Are you able to drink from the bitter cup of suffering I am about to drink?” (Matthew 20:22 NLT).
What is this cup that Jesus is talking about? It is the cup of God’s wrath that Jesus bore on the cross for the sins of the world. Remember, in the Garden of Gethsemane Jesus prayed, “My Father! If it is possible, let this cup of suffering be taken away from me. Yet I want your will to be done, not mine” (Matthew 26:39 NLT).
God said no to their mother’s request, and no doubt they were thankful for that later. After all, Salome was there at the crucifixion of Jesus. As she stood at the foot of the cross, she would have seen the two criminals who hung on the crosses to the right and to the left of Jesus.
If God has said no to your prayer recently, don’t think that it’s necessarily a bad thing. It could be a very good thing because God loves you and sees the big picture. There is a place for faith and prayer. But God may say no to our request, especially when we ask for something that will harm us.
Recent
Archive
2026
January
The Quiet Struggles Right Next to UsThank you... in advanceA New ThingA Personal GodNot a Moment of HesitationFaith, Family, and a Broken JarAll InThe SoapboxLord, Help Me See...Hidden for our GoodBorrowed KeysIncreasing CapacityDo You Feel It?Great BoldnessProlific SeedsChained, but not BoundRoadblocksI Can Do Hard ThingsNot the Easy WayThe OpportunistHoly Ground on the StairwellUrgent Work
February
United with PurposeGod Gives the GrowthWhat about me?A Guilty Mom, a Gracious God, and the Road HomeDiscipline over DesireWhat is your thorn?What does love require of me?Comparison is a ThiefTrying to be holy in a distracted worldReplacementThe Joyful MessengerTwo Wrongs Don't Make a RightBut How Does It End?Holy Intentions, Human DistractionsLive a Worthy LifePray for MeBut is it true?On this DayWords that Build a Better WorldFor What Is True
2025
January
Paralysis of AnalysisA Daily CommitmentChild Like FaithThe Battle of the MindGPSSTOP. THINK. ACT. REVIEW.Let. It. Go.Choosing the Path of MercyQuick to Listen, Slow to SpeakPeacemakersBe Careful What You Wish ForRunYour Old Self Vs. The NewOn Not Loving the WorldLove One AnotherTreasure ChestsWho Sets the Bar?Be the You God Made You to BeTread a PathSo Much Better
February
Trust and ObeyA Pivotal MomentOh to Be the Mama of JesusA Fresh StartVictory or DefeatThe Edge of the CliffAuthorityHis Personal TouchForged by FaithSabbath - Setting You FreeHave You Prayed About It?Don't Build Your House on Sandy LandThe Centurion's FaithDon't Be OffendedWe All Need ItLighthouseIt's a Family ThingWhere the Ministry isHolding on by a Thread - and That's EnoughTraveling Essentials
Categories
Tags
no tags
No Comments