“When the ten others heard about this, they lost their tempers, thoroughly disgusted with the two brothers. So Jesus got them together to settle things down. He said, “You’ve observed how godless rulers throw their weight around, how quickly a little power goes to their heads. It’s not going to be that way with you. Whoever wants to be great must become a servant. Whoever wants to be first among you must be your slave. That is what the Son of Man has done: He came to serve, not be served—and then to give away his life in exchange for the many who are held hostage.”
Matthew 20:28 MSG – A verse of the day from the Bible presented in Eugene Peterson’s contemporary version called The Message. Accompanied by a personal reflection below.
This little concept of the first being last and the last being first is a recurring theme through Scripture, and especially in Jesus’ teachings. We have here another example of how puzzling it must have been to those around him, including the two brothers who were bickering. I daresay this must still be one of the most unfathomable tenets of the Christian faith to a non-believer. But if you are a follower of Christ, this is as good a time as any to be reminded of how important a concept this is and to check oneself from trying too hard to be too good or too big or better than your friend or brother. Jesus tells us it doesn’t work that way: it is the undeserving and the one who is unworthy who is elevated.
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