On the road to Jerusalem (Mark 10:32-52; Matthew 20:17-34; Luke 19:31-43)

Jesus again informs the Twelve they are going to Jerusalem where he will be flogged, beaten and killed, but on the third day, he will rise.

Luke 19 informs us that the disciples did not understand this.  This might give some clarity as to what happens next in Matthew 20 and Mark 10.

John and James, the sons of Zebedee, approach Jesus with their mother.  They request that when Jesus is in his glory, that James and John be seated at the left and right of Jesus.

Jesus explains that they do not know what they ask for and ask if they could drink from the cup that Jesus drinks and be baptized from the same water that Jesus was baptized in.  They probably do not understand this question either because they say yes.  Considering that Jesus had just spoken about being killed, this could imply martyrdom.  

Jesus responds that they will drink from the same cup as Jesus, but Jesus cannot allocate who will be seated at the left and right of Jesus.  The places belong to people to whom they have been prepared.  Jesus does not state to whom these seats are prepared.

The other ten disciples get mad James and John for requesting this honor.  This prompts Jesus to tell them that greatness in heaven depends on one's level of being a servant.  

Jesus' procession goes through Jericho.  In Jericho, a blind man sits by the road (in Matthew 20, this account involves two blind men).

The blind man hears Jesus coming and starts shouting to get Jesus' attention.  The people in front try to silence him but he continues shouting.  Eventually, Jesus stops the procession and instructs the man to come to Jesus.  Jesus then heals the man and he starts following Jesus.

This story comes right after Jesus instructing his disciples (again) that to be great, they must be a servant.  We do not know who else is in this procession other than possibly the mother of James and John.  Regardless, it is quite possible that the Twelve were some of the people who told the man to be silent as the text says "many rebuked him".  Regardless, it seems the disciples are not going out and trying to find people with physical ailments to bring them to Jesus.  

I don't want to read too much into this story when the details are scant, but at the very least, it seems that they are not practicing what is required to be great, I.e., being a servant to this blind man.  Rather, Jesus has to instruct the man to come to him.