The Patience of Jesus: “Who is the Greatest?” (Part 3)
The next post I will send out, after this one, will be a Roll Up or summary of the previous 8 posts. All of these will be looking at Jesus patience and instruction for Peter’s failures, screw ups or outright sin. Today let’s look at the disciples struggling with the outright sin of Selfish Ambition.
Three times in the Gospels Jesus announces that He will be killed and subsequently the disciples began arguing about “Who Is the Greatest.” (Mk 9:33, Mk 10:35 and Lk 22:24) In fact the text in Mk 9:34 says that when Jesus asked them what they were talking about on the road, “they were silent.” They did not want to tell Jesus that they were fighting about which of them was the “best!” It isn’t just a screw up, it is outright sin. Paul, in Phil 2:3 says “Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility consider others better than yourselves.” That is a pretty striking contrast to what the disciples were struggling with.
At the very last night at the last supper the disciples were arguing and contenting again. Luke 22:24 (CEB) says: “An argument broke out among the disciples over which one of them should be regarded as the greatest.” Knowing human nature you wonder if they were saying things like: “Well, I was one of the very first disciples!” (Andrew) “Sure, but Jesus trusts me with the money. None of you guys could think through all the issues that come up with that!” (Judas) “Yeah, but neither of you were with Jesus on the top of the mountain when He was transformed right before us! And you couldn’t even cast that demon out of the boy at the bottom of the mountain when we came down (Mk 9:18,29).” (James and John) “Yeah, but I am the only one who even got out of the boat and walked on water!” (Peter) “Sure, but you almost sank and drowned!” (James & John) “Yeah, but you 2 didn’t get the right and left Thrones next to Jesus! You got denied! And Jesus had to discipline you both for trying to call down a lightening bolt on the Samaritans! (Luke 9:51) I have been with the Master more times than anyone when big stuff has happened!” (Peter)That is all made up conversation… but you have to wonder exactly what were they saying.
During each of the 3 recorded events (there may have been more) when the disciple argue about “who is the greatest,” Jesus does only 2 things. He is patient with them and instructs them. Interestingly He has more of an instructive position that even one of correction. He reminds them how the Gentile form a hierarchy over people, the top person controlling everyone below. Jesus says that instead of this, they must learn to care and serve each other. It is basic instruction regarding how to grow in maturity. Jesus isn’t angry nor is He moody like normal human leaders might be.
Putting this together with the previous 7 events forms a real bedrock of Jesus’ patience and how wonderful it really is. Next month we will look at His correction a bit. But for now, it is good to mediate on how steady, patient and focused Jesus is when the disciples fail or sin. And God is just like Jesus.
