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A dynamic and charismatic leader of today will try hard to select talented and gifted people around him to form his team. He can then carry out his agenda for transformation and reformation of his group, society or country. However, Jesus’ choice disciples were a motley group made up of fishermen, a tax collector, political radicals and included a secret thief. They continually frustrated Jesus and normally were “blur”about His plans for dynamic change of the whole world. His call to “Seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well” (Matt. 6:33) must have left them totally bewildered. Their interests were in “What’s in it for me?”, “How can I advance my career by following you?”and “What are my privileges and benefits sticking with you?” “I want it and I want it now!” seems a good way of stating their desires. Sounds very much like us in Singapore too, right?

Jesus had just washed the disciples’ feet and taught them about the need for humility. He talked of His impending suffering and death. He demonstrated, using bread and wine, that soon He will be given up as a sacrifice. He even mentioned that “the hand of him who is going to betray me is with mine on the table”(Matt. 22:21). They understood for they discussed “among themselves which of them it might be who would do this” (Matt. 22:23). Yet, in such a tense situation, their focus was only on themselves! Their dispute was: “Which of them was considered to be the greatest?” (Matt. 22:24). How more ego-centric could they have been? Jesus probably sighed to Himself: “Oh no, not again”. But the Master-Teacher patiently taught them again that: “the greatest among you should be like the youngest, and the one who rules like the one who serves” (Matt. 22:26). He was always prepared to be: “I am among you as one who serves” (Matt. 22:27). Only after His death did the disciples finally learn the lesson. Peter wrote: “If anyone serves, he should do it with the strength God provides” (1 Pet. 4:11b) and “Humble yourselves, therefore, under God’s mighty hand, that he may lift you up in due time” (1 Pet. 5:6). All sense of individual pride and greatness was absent in such teachings. Peter learnt his lesson from Jesus the Master-Teacher well – so should we.