by Doug Bratcher
Growing up as an only child I never had to stress over things like “who gets the last slice of pizza.” Sometimes when my cousins would come over they would do barbaric things like lick their fingers and touch the last slice so no one else would take it or stuff their face so fast that they were done first, thus laying claim to the last slice. These were not the rules of engagement I was used to, and frankly, it stressed me out! I would love to say that I was above the fray and did not partake of such actions, but when push came to shove I was just like the rest. I’m still not used to them as an adult even with multiple children who constantly want the best, most, last of all things in the house and will feel slighted and pout for hours when things don’t go their way.
I wonder if that is how Jesus felt dealing with the disciples sometimes. I wouldn’t put it past Peter to lick his finger and rub it on the last piece of bread to make sure he got it and no one else did. Right after Jesus tells them that one of them will betray him, the question of which of the disciples is the “greatest” is brought up. Jesus’ reply is simple, profound, and game changing. The one who serves is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven, not the one who reclines at the table and is waited on. The greatest is the one who forgoes his last slice of pizza so another can be full. We are in a time right now where it is easy to be selfish. Those are our basic, sinful tendencies. Jesus even turns to Peter after they have asked about who would be considered the greatest (and I would bet Peter assumed it would be him) and tells him that Peter will deny him when the moment comes.
I caught myself saying things that sounded very similar to this just the other day. I said something that sounded like “right now we have to worry about team Bratcher,” and in retrospect, all I was saying was “I want that last slice of pizza” or “will I be considered the greatest”. Now is NOT that time for those kinds of thoughts. The world needs us to stand and be the servants, the givers, and helpers to a hurting world during a dark time.
VC Devotionals 