The cup ( Matthew 10 v 21 - 42 )

In Matthew 20 v 20 ff we read how the mother of Zebedee's sons came to Jesus,kneeling before Him,asked that her two sons would sit ,one on His right hand,and one on his left hand,in His Kingdom.. I wonder what she meant by His kingdom,at this stage the Jews were expecting an earthly King, who with the Jews would rule over the nations. Whatever it may mean she wanted her sons to have a special place in that Kingdom, all the disciples likewise wanted that special place.( 18 v 1) Jesus reply was,'' do they really understand what that meant, and were they prepared to drink from the bitter cup of suffering that he was going to drink. Jesus knew what lay ahead the cross was never hidden from Him (C. P. 20 v 17 v - 19 ) The cup of suffering has been the lot of many Christians  from the beginning ,  right down to this present day.This is graphically shown in pictures  of Christians kneeling before Islamic State  people,and they are about to be beheaded.This will always be,for some of those who put there faith in Jesus,in will not change,this world is not a friend of Jesus, what can we do? we can pray for  those who are called by God to suffer for Christ.Such actions by the like of Islamic S. is not only evil ,but,' utterly evil'.and has with it a demonic character,it goes beyond the person suffering, it is directed at God'( quote by W. Grundmann )