Dear Lord God, we come before You in worship and praise, for You are the orchestrator of Your creation. Be with us as we spend time with You, and guide us to what You want to show us.
After the heights of seeing resurrections and hearing the Voice of God, John tumbles, and his humanity is on full display. Luke shares briefly in Luke 9:46 what is shared in more detail in Mark:
“Then James and John, the sons of Zebedee, came to him. “Teacher,” they said, “we want you to do for us whatever we ask.” 36 “What do you want me to do for you?” he asked. 37 They replied, “Let one of us sit at your right and the other at your left in your glory.” 38 “You don’t know what you are asking,” Jesus said. “Can you drink the cup I drink or be baptized with the baptism I am baptized with?” 39 “We can,” they answered. Jesus said to them, “You will drink the cup I drink and be baptized with the baptism I am baptized with, 40 but to sit at my right or left is not for me to grant. These places belong to those for whom they have been prepared.”
41 When the ten heard about this, they became indignant with James and John. 42 Jesus called them together and said, “You know that those who are regarded as rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and their high officials exercise authority over them. 43 Not so with you. Instead, whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant, 44 and whoever wants to be first must be slave of all. 45 For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.” –Mark 10:35-45
John and the other disciples were jockeying for position, and he wanted a really good one! Also in this passage in Luke, we see John irritated at people not in their group casting out demons. He got that one wrong, too. Lastly, when a Samaritan village rejected Jesus, John, and James’ solution was to call down fire from heaven to burn them up. Jesus rebuked them for that one! John had a long way to go in the humility department. Perhaps that’s why he was so amazed Jesus loved him – even when he got a whole lot of things wrong.
My verse: “But Jesus knew their thoughts, so he brought a little child to his side.” Luke 9:47
My response: I love that you used a small child as Your example! Help me to be as innocent and trusting as a little child, knowing that You know far more than me and will care for me. God Almighty, thank You that I don’t have to be big and smart. YOU are big and wise. I can be small. And I can trust You to lead me wisely. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.
What’s next?
As the Spirit leads, share what He has laid on your heart in the comment section below. Then join us again tomorrow for the next commentary.
