Day 4 Are James & John the Greatest?

God Is Just Like Jesus

This is the continuation of the "Who Is the Greatest" argument which is blatant sin in the disciples lives. At this point James and John actually get their mom in on the argument and try to get her to manipulate Jesus to give them the greatest honor of human history. They want to sit at the right hand and the left hand of Jesus the God-man when He enters human history to assess the nations and review peoples hearts one by one.
If Jesus was anything like me, or anything like a religious Pharisee or a harsh Pastor, he would come down on James and John for their ruthless arrogance and self-seeking motives pretty hard. But Jesus isn't like you or I.
Jesus doesn't get angry and he doesn't get moody. Jesus doesn't sideline James and John and ignore them or demote them. In fact, I kind of think He likes getting the issues and sin out on the table, under the light so that He can work with them and us.
When the other 10 disciples hear about James and John's request to Jesus they were furious and indignant. I think they were afraid that James and John got to Jesus first and knowing Jesus, they feared He would give them exactly what they asked! Ha!
Instead of criticizing James and John or yelling at them for being self-focused and narcissistic, He calmly reasons with them and explains to them that He wants them to be great, but they are called to serve others to become great rather than trying to grab all the recognition and glory.
This is an amazing example of Jesus dealing with blatant sin (pride). And He does it by instruction James and John and reasoning with them calmly.
If you see Jesus, you have seen God the Father (John 14:9). Therefore, when you sin and fail, can you image God speaking to you calmly and talking you through your sin so that you can change and grow in goodness?
Because that is often what He is doing.
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