It seems to me that the apostles were basically asking Our Lord, “What's in it for me? What do we get out of all these sacrifices we are making for You?”
Indeed, we know that the mother of James and John wanted her sons to be rulers on earth and asked that they be seated at His Right hand when He began to rule His kingdom. The other apostles resented their request. After all, they thought, they wanted “jobs” too.
