Getting to Know Jesus' Passion #12

We found in Luke 22 yesterday that Jesus disturbed the disciples with His announcement that one of them would betray Him.  As things continued around the table, there were even more disruptions:  

24 A dispute also arose among them, as to which of them was to be regarded as the greatest. 25 And he said to them, “The kings of the Gentiles exercise lordship over them, and those in authority over them are called benefactors. 26 But not so with you. Rather, let the greatest among you become as the youngest, and the leader as one who serves. 27 For who is the greater, one who reclines at table or one who serves? Is it not the one who reclines at table? But I am among you as the one who serves.
28 “You are those who have stayed with me in my trials, 29 and I assign to you, as my Father assigned to me, a kingdom, 30 that you may eat and drink at my table in my kingdom and sit on thrones judging the twelve tribes of Israel.
31 “Simon, Simon, behold, Satan demanded to have you, that he might sift you like wheat, 32 but I have prayed for you that your faith may not fail. And when you have turned again, strengthen your brothers.” 33 Peter said to him, “Lord, I am ready to go with you both to prison and to death.” 34 Jesus said, “I tell you, Peter, the rooster will not crow this day, until you deny three times that you know me.”

Simply put, the men gathered around the table that night were more like bragging boys than the servant leaders Jesus had been training them to be.  Peter was not alone; he was just more vocal.  All of them, like us, prefer to think of ourselves as more faithful and less fearful than we are - especially when compared to others.  Like them, we still have a lot to learn.  Fortunately, Jesus nestles in between these two examples of negative attitudes a positive promise for the future: He has a plan, and they are included - maybe not in the way they envision it, but in a better way.  May we prefer His plan to ours.