Looking out for #1

“When the ten other disciples heard what James and John had asked, they were indignant.” Matthew 20:24 NLT

            During my years in the corporate world I’ve seen opportunities for advancement present themselves in various ways. Some were decisions made by company executives promoting individuals into vacated positions or newly created positions of which I was the recipient and also passed over at times. Other opportunities were posted within the corporation with proper procedures in applying for the open positions. It is within this framework that one might try to take advantage over others if they have a contact with influence in the decision making process. Sometimes it worked to their advantage and sometimes not, but what was consistent was the resentment felt of others who had no such advantage. 

            Trying to work your way into an inside track is a tactic used for thousands of years and by those we would think would be above implementing such a maneuver, such as Jesus’s disciples. Jesus had told His disciples they would be ruling with Him in the kingdom sitting on twelve thrones judging the twelve tribes of Israel. (Mt. 19:28) Two of His disciples, James and John, used an influential contact, their mother, in asking Jesus if they would be granted to sit on His left and on His right in the kingdom. To be fair, the gospel of Mark records James and John as asking Jesus, but there is no contradiction here in Matthew’s account. It is possible that all three were present in asking Jesus, or as John MacArthur notes, ‘more likely that they had discussed it among themselves beforehand, and each posed the question to Jesus privately.’ The bottom line is they were seeking an advantage for themselves over the other disciples.   

            Scripture tells us, “When the ten other disciples heard what James and John had asked, they were indignant.” (Mt. 20:24) There are the two sides to this coin we need to understand. It is true the other disciples felt resentment, but they were sorry they did not get to Jesus first to ask Him. They were, in fact, jealous. They were all looking out for #1. Jesus then explains to all His disciples His kingdom is not like the kingdoms of the world. It’s not about being #1, but serving. He uses Himself as the greatest example of serving, “For even the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve others and to give his life as a ransom for many.” (Mt. 20:28)

            Temptations are always present in our day to look out for #1, But as Christians, when we look out only for ourselves we leave a trail behind us of those who now look at us defiantly, the very ones we are to help and serve.

Read Jesus teaches about serving others: https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Matthew+20%3A20-28&version=NLT