Let me decrease
Luke 22:24 – Also a dispute arose among them as to which of them was considered to be the greatest.
The scene was the Last Supper. A dinner with Jesus and his 12 disciples. Those that he had walked closely with over the last 3 years. Those that had witnessed his service to humankind. Those that were eyewitness to the miracles, the healing of the blind, the paralyzed, even the dead.
At the dinner, Jesus cements a picture of service in their minds. He washes their feet to show them what they are to do for mankind. Serve others.
Once, I was with a small group headed to the Amazon Jungle to visit an orphanage. The night before we left, the leader of the trip held a prayer meeting, and he washed everyone’s feet. The room was quiet and still as he worked his way around the circle. We all looked at each other with tears in our eyes. This act of humility prepared us to completely lay our individual lives down to serve others in unity.
I imagine the room was quiet and still at the Last Supper. I imagine the lights were dim, and the men had tears in their eyes as they watched their leader humbly bow before them and wash their feet. I imagine that this event caused them to be unified that evening.
But, something startling happened. Luke 22:24 says that “a dispute arose among them as to which of them was considered to be the greatest.”
Unbelievable. After the most humbling of events, the disciples argued over who was the greatest.
And, the argument has never ended among mankind. We strive to be the greatest among whoever we compare ourselves to in life. Even in service, we want to be the greatest. Even in faith, we want to be the greatest. Our kids, we want them to be the greatest. Our jobs, we want to be the greatest. It is never-ending.
It is so fitting, then, that later in the story, Jesus prays for future believers. He could have prayed for many things, like protection from persecution. But he didn’t. In John 17, Jesus prays for unity among the believers, something we still battle today.
Let me decrease and you increase.
Impact others. Live generously.