The twelve disciplines responded to the call of Jesus with alacrity and enthusiasm, yet it took the whole of his ministry to teach them that to follow him involved much more than pledged support: “If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me” (Matt. 16:24). The literal implication of taking up a cross was starkly demonstrated much later when Simon of Cyrene was compelled to carry the cross. It taught that in following Jesus, one must be prepared to deny self to the extent of sharing in (involvement with) his humiliation and suffering. But the twelve, walking behind their leader and debating about who was the chief among them, had their eyes fixed on their own glorification rather than suffering. The debate became heated and escalated into a quarrel over who would be granted the most honored position in the Kingdom of God.
The seeds of the problem were very likely planted immediately after the transfiguration. Naturally, the apostles would have eagerly questioned Peter, James and John about the incident on their return from the mount, and the silence imposed by the Lord probably irritated them immensely (Mark 9:1-9). Any twinges ofjealousy from those who had been left behind must have been heightened when Jesus implied that it was their lack of faith that prevented the healing of the deaf and dumb child, (v. 29).
Unseemly feelings of resentment and rancour increased to the point of open hostility along the journey to Caper-naum. Jesus, fully aware of the issue, intervened upon arrival at the city. “And he came to Capernaum: and being in the house he asked them, What was it that ye disputed among yourselves by the way? But they held their peace: for by the way they had disputed among themselves, who should be the greatest” (Mark 9:3334).
The child model
Patiently sitting down with them, the Lord gently drew a child to him and taught the requirement of humility: “Whosoever shall receive one of such children in my name, receiveth me: and whosoever shall receive me, receiveth not me, but him that sent me” (Mark 9:37). To acknowledge the unquestionable humility of the innocent little one was a step toward accepting the attribute in Christ himself. The great thing about children is that their quarrels are short-lived and totally without malice. Much later, the apostle Paul wrote to an ecclesia that had many factions saying, “In malice be ye children, but in understanding be men” (I Cor. 14:20).
Tracing the account of the dispute in Matthew, it becomes apparent that in spite of the object lesson from the Lord, grudges still remained. This can be detected in Peter’s question as to how often he should forgive his brother (Matt. 18:21). That this was part of the same quarrel is confirmed by the concluding words of Jesus at the end of the chapter, “So likewise shall my heavenly Father do also unto you, if ye from your hearts forgive not every one his brother their trespasses” (Matt. 18:35). “From your hearts” is the most important part of the admonition, since this is how we expect God to forgive us. It leaves us with absolutely no excuse for harbouring grudges.
Incredibly, the disciples did not learn from the example of the little child. Their arbitrary dismissal of the children clambering to be near Jesus necessitated that the lesson be repeated. “Then were there brought unto him little children, that he should put his hands on them, and pray: and the disciples rebuked them. But Jesus said, Suffer little children, and forbid them not, to come unto me: for of such is the kingdom of heaven” (Matt. 19:13-14). It was a gentle but firm reminder that being his chosen disciples did not excuse aloofness toward others.
Positions in the kingdom
Peter’s next inquiry shows that the message had still not been understood: “Behold, we have forsaken all, and followed thee; what shall we have therefore” (Matt. 19:27)? The question backed by the rest of the disciples was surely “loaded.” It was asked in hope the Lord’s answer would reveal their individual positions in respect of importance in the Kingdom, and by implication settle their immediate status. No specific information was given however, because the Lord’s answer was noncommittal; there would be a future throne for each of them. Knowing the hidden agenda Jesus added: “But many that are first shall be last; and the last shall be first” (Matt. 19:30).
Yet they refused to give up. “Twelve thrones might not mean equality; would not the two on either side of the King be deemed higher than the rest?” they pondered. So James and John (with assistance from their mother) made a direct bid for these positions. Not only was the request highly inappropriate, it presented Jesus with a potentially inflammable situation in that it may have been a thinly disguised manoeuvre to totally eclipse Peter. The Lord was equal to it: “But Jesus answered and said, Ye know not what ye ask. Are ye able to drink of the cup that I shall drink of, and to be baptized with the baptism that I am baptized with? They say unto him, We are able. And he saith unto them, Ye shall drink indeed of my cup, and be baptized with the baptism that I am baptized with: but to sit on my right hand, and on my left, is not mine to give, but it shall be given to them for whom it is prepared of my Father” (Matt. 20:22-23).
The greatness of servitude
The indignation that this conversation created amongst the other disciples indicates that the original problem was not only still there, it was growing worse. Once again a lecture was necessary: “But Jesus called them unto him, and said, Ye know that the princes of the Gentiles exercise dominion over them, and they that are great exercise authority upon them. But it shall not be so among you: but whosoever will be great among you, let him be your minister; and whosoever will be chief among you, let him be your servant: even as the Son of man came not to be ministered unto, but to minister, and to give his life a ransom for many” (Matt. 20:2528).
Sadly, the dispute remained right up to the time of the last supper (Luke 22:24-30). The persistent battle among the disciples to elevate self at the cost of others was finally defeated by the poignant sight of the Lord washing their feet. The action spoke more eloquently than a thousand words. At last understanding dawned, but it was accompanied by an acute sense of shame.
Clothed with humility
We should not be too hasty in criticizing the apostles in their resistance to teaching and redirection. Do we learn quickly from admonition? Out of fifty or so exhortations a year, how many of them invoke within us a firm resolution to change our ways?
The temptation to mentally elevate one’s self above another because of intellectual, cultural, business, financial, or even ecclesial status, is very strong. The world around us puts great emphasis upon self-esteem, making the concept of considering others better than one’s self totally unacceptable. Nevertheless, humility must be part of our makeup if we are to be pleasing to God. Like Peter, we must integrate the lesson that he never forgot after the Son of God had knelt to wash his feet: “Likewise, ye younger, submit yourselves unto the elder. Yea, all of you be subject one to another, and be clothed with humility: for God resisteth the proud, and giveth grace to the humble. Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God, that he may exalt you in due time” (I Pet. 5:5-6).
Humble unto death
Human exaltation is God’s work. In His mercy we pray that we may be invited to “come up higher” (Luke 14) at the marriage supper of the Lamb. Our task in the meantime is to strive for humility, not pre-eminence. Paul considered himself to be “less than the least of all the saints” (Eph. 3:8). It was no false humility. He felt deeply the shame of having once persecuted the ecclesia of God and though he threw himself selflessly into his great apostolic work, with all its privations and sufferings, he acknowledged that it was by the grace of God that he was what he was. Similarly, our glory is not in human achievement.
We can learn from the mistakes of others and their vain striving for human renown in comparison with the one whom we meet to remember, “Who being in the form of God, thought it not a thing to be grasped to be equal with God: but made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, being made in the likeness of men: and being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross” (Phil. 2:5-8 RSV).
The Origin of the Organic World – Part One