Sabbath, November 28, 2020

Lesson 22 – Salome and the Salvation of Our Children

Salome means “happy” or “peace.”12

“Then came to Him the mother of Zebedee’s children with her sons, worshipping Him, and desiring a certain thing of Him.” Matthew 20:20.

“Their mother was a follower of Christ, and had ministered to Him freely of her substance. With a mother’s love and ambition for her sons, she coveted for them the most honored place in the new kingdom. For this she encouraged them to make request.” –The Desire of Ages, p. 548.

 

SUNDAY

  1. Based on what Bible texts does tradition reveal that Zebedee’s wife’s name was Salome? Who were her children, and what was their family business?

Matthew 27:56 Among which was Mary Magdalene, and Mary the mother of James and Joses, and the mother of Zebedee’s children.

Mark 15:40 There were also women looking on afar off: among whom was Mary Magdalene, and Mary the mother of James the less and of Joses, and Salome.son of Zebedee, and John his brother, in a ship with Zebedee their father, mending their nets; and he called them.

 

MONDAY

Request for a special favor

  1. As any mother who wants the very best for her children, what did Salome request from Jesus for her children? What was His prophetic answer?

Matthew 20:20, 21 Then came to him the mother of Zebedee’s children with her sons, worshipping him, and desiring a certain thing of him. 21And he said unto her, What wilt thou? She saith unto him, Grant that these my two sons may sit, the one on thy right hand, and the other on the left, in thy kingdom.

Mark 10:37-39 They said unto him, Grant unto us that we may sit, one on thy right hand, and the other on thy left hand, in thy glory. 38But Jesus said unto them, Ye know not what ye ask: can ye drink of the cup that I drink of? and be baptized with the baptism that I am baptized with? 39And they said unto him, We can. And Jesus said unto them, Ye shall indeed drink of the cup that I drink of; and with the baptism that I am baptized with shall ye be baptized.

“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 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.’” –The Acts of the Apostles, p. 541.

“Christ did not reprove John and James and their mother for offering this request to sit upon His right hand and upon His left hand in the kingdom. In presenting the principles of love that should actuate them in their dealings one with another, He presents to the indignant disciples the instruction that He would have them practice in their daily lives. They were to take His life as an example, and follow in His steps.” –Daughters of God, p. 66.

 

TUESDAY

  1. What cup of affliction did Jesus drink? What baptism of affliction did Salome’s sons endure?

Matthew 26:36, 39 Then cometh Jesus with them unto a place called Gethsemane, and saith unto the disciples, Sit ye here, while I go and pray yonder…. 39And he went a little further, and fell on his face, and prayed, saying, O my Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from me: nevertheless not as I will, but as thou wilt.

Acts 12:1, 2 Now about that time Herod the king stretched forth his hands to vex certain of the church. 2And he killed James the brother of John with the sword.

Revelation 1:9 I John, who also am your brother, and companion in tribulation, and in the kingdom and patience of Jesus Christ, was in the isle that is called Patmos, for the word of God, and for the testimony of Jesus Christ.

“‘Ye shall drink indeed of My cup, and be baptized with the baptism that I am baptized with,’ Christ declared, before Him a cross instead of a throne, two malefactors His companions at His right hand and at His left. James and John were to be sharers with their Master in suffering, the one, destined to swift-coming death by the sword; the other, longest of all the disciples to follow his Master in labor and reproach and persecution.” –The Acts of the Apostles, p. 542.

 

WEDNESDAY

The Missionary effort of Salome

  1. To what group of missionary women close to Jesus did Salome belong? Where is she seen on the day of the resurrection?

Mark 15:41; 16:1, 5 (Who also, when he was in Galilee, followed him, and ministered unto him;) and many other women which came up with him unto Jerusalem…. 16:1And when the sabbath was past, Mary Magdalene, and Mary the mother of James, and Salome, had bought sweet spices, that they might come and anoint him…. 5And entering into the sepulchre, they saw a young man sitting on the right side, clothed in a long white garment; and they were affrighted. “The disciple John with the women from Galilee had remained at the cross.”–The Desire of Ages, p. 772.

“All our actions are affected by our religious experience, and if this experience is founded on God and we understand the mysteries of godliness, if we are daily receiving of the power of the world to come, and hold communion with God, and have the fellowship of the Spirit.” –This Day with God, p. 94.

 

THURSDAY

  1. Although the sons of Salome were called “Boanerges”–sons of thunder– where do their names appear because of God’s work in their lives to change their characters? What place do the children of Salome occupy today in God’s church?

Revelation 21:14 And the wall of the city had twelve foundations, and in them the names of the twelve apostles of the Lamb.

Ephesians 2:19-21 Now therefore ye are no more strangers and foreigners, but fellowcitizens with the saints, and of the household of God; 20And are built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief corner stone; 21In whom all the building fitly framed together grows unto an holy temple in the Lord.

“These women who are doing with ready willingness what their hands find to do, with cheerfulness of spirit aiding their husbands to bear their burdens, and training their children for God, are missionaries in the highest sense. They are engaged in an important branch of the great work to be done on earth to prepare mortals for a higher life, and they will receive their reward.” –Testimonies for the Church, vol. 2, p. 465.

 

FRIDAY

  1. What words can we imagine Salome repeating to her sons? What is God’s promise to all parents who educate their children in God’s ways, as did this woman?

2 Timothy 2:1 Thou therefore, my son, be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus.

Proverbs 6:20-22; 22:6 My son, keep thy father’s commandment, and forsake not the law of thy mother: 21Bind them continually upon thine heart, and tie them about thy neck. 22When thou goest, it shall lead thee; when thou sleepest, it shall keep thee; and when thou awakest, it shall talk with thee…. 22:6Train up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old, he will not depart from it.

“Go forward, my son, and if you make God your trust, your strength and counselor, you will be triumphant at last. Walk with lowliness of mind, esteeming others better than yourself, and may God give you wisdom that you may conduct yourself with so much prudence that you can be an instrument in His hands of doing great good in His cause in forwarding the important work for these last days. Do not think your mother is critical and severe. She feels the most intense interest for you that you should make a success of this life and gain the future, immortal life.” –This Day with God, p. 230.

 

SABBATH

  1. What  was Salome  and  Zebedee’s greatest joy? In what way did she represent Jesus?

Proverbs 23:22-25 Hearken unto thy father that begat thee, and despise not thy mother when she is old. 23Buy the truth, and sell it not; also wisdom, and instruction, and understanding. 24The father of the righteous shall greatly rejoice: and he that begetteth a wise child shall have joy of him. 25Thy father and thy mother shall be glad, and she that bare thee shall rejoice.

Isaiah 49:15, 16 Can a woman forget her sucking child, that she should not have compassion on the son of her womb? yea, they may forget, yet will I not forget thee. 16Behold, I have graven thee upon the palms of my hands; thy walls are continually before me.

“How much stronger than death is the love that binds the mother’s heart to her afflicted child; yet God declares that even a mother may forget her child, ‘yet will I not forget thee.’ No; not a single soul who puts his trust in Him will be forgotten. God thinks of His children with the tenderest solicitude and keeps a book of remembrance before Him, that He may never forget the children of His care. Every human tie may perish, Friend to friend unfaithful prove, Mothers cease their own to cherish, Heaven and earth at last remove; But no changes Can attend Jehovah’s love.” –Testimonies for the Church, vol. 4, pp. 329, 330.

 

Additional study – a touching story

“God loves you. He inquires, ‘Can a woman forget her sucking child?’ Isaiah 49:15. You have probably heard of the sad story of the mother who, with her husband and child, attempted to cross the Green Mountains in midwinter. Their progress was arrested by night and a storm. The husband went for help and lost his way in the darkness and the drifted snow, and was long in returning. The mother felt the chill of death coming upon her, and she bared her bosom to the freezing blast and the falling snow, that she might give all that remained of her own life to save that of her child. When the morning came, the living babe was found wrapped in the mother’s shawl, vainly striving with smiles and with a babe’s pretty art to arrest the attention of the mother’s fixed and frozen eye, and wondering why she did not awaken from her sleep.

“Here is seen love stronger than death, that binds the mother’s heart to her child. And yet God says that the mother will sooner forget her child than that He will forget a soul that trusts in Him. That the Lord loves us is enough to call forth deepest gratitude, every hour of our lives. God’s love is speaking to you. Give attention or you will not apply His words to yourself. Only trust the love of Jesus, and you will realize the deepest joy.” –This Day with God, p. 230.