Day 6: With Jesus as the Disciples Argue over Greatness
Take a moment to quiet yourself: close your eyes and take some deep breaths.
Pray this prayer or something similar in your own words: Jesus, help me draw close to you by seeing my suffering in yours and your suffering in mine.
Jesus is celebrating the Passover meal with his disciples. These are his last few hours with them, teaching and preparing them for what is coming. The disciples still do not understand.
As you read, imagine you are in the Upper Room. Perhaps you're standing along the wall as a servant, or sitting at the table. What do you see, smell, hear, touch, and taste?
Luke lays out a jarring contrast. Jesus tells his disciples that he is about to suffer, that his body is given for them and his blood will establish a new covenant, and that he is about to be betrayed. Their response is to argue about which of them is the greatest. As you read the passage again, imagine Jesus' voice, tone, posture, and presence as he shares these words, and then what it would be like to watch them bicker in response.
As you close your time in prayer, share with Jesus what this time has been like for you.
Reflection Questions
Personal reflection:
What might Jesus have been feeling or experiencing as his disciples argued about greatness right after he told them of his coming suffering?
Community discussion:
Have your concerns ever been minimized or missed by people you love, or have you faced deep struggles while others focused on trivial concerns? What is it like to know Jesus experienced this, too?