True Greatness

When Jesus chose twelve disciples he did not choose people who would normally be expected to form a harmonious team. The people he chose were from different social, economic and political backgrounds. The twelve disciples really had very little in common, and one wonders how many disagreements there were when they were together in the cramped conditions inside a small boat on the Sea of Galilee. There was only one reason that these men would be together, and only one purpose to keep them together: Jesus called them, and they had all followed him.

This small group of disciples represents a microcosm of the church of Jesus Christ. He is the center of our attention, and without him, we would have little in common. There are indeed members of the church who disagree on many things. However, we have this in common: we are followers of Jesus. If we choose to focus on him, then the disagreements are less important and our faith in the Son of God and in his work of redemption is the focus of our unity.

James and John illustrate what can happen when followers of Jesus turn their focus on themselves. They allowed pride to capture their thoughts, and their ambitions allowed their imaginations to run wild. With no consideration of how it would appear to the others, they believed they were worthy to claim the places of honor at Jesus’ left and right hand in the Kingdom to come. This selfish and foolish ambition created disharmony. How about us? Of course we would never be so crass! Would we ever create disharmony? Remember Jesus’ teaching on relationships: “So in everything, do to others what you would have them do to you, for this sums up the Law and the Prophets” (Matt. 7:12).

“So in everything, do to others what you would have them do to you, for this sums up the Law and the Prophets” (Matt. 7:12). How do you live by this principle?