Luke 22:24 (NRSV) A dispute also arose among them as to which one of them was to be regarded as the greatest.
It is good to know how difficult it was for the apostles to follow Jesus. Here they are in today’s gospel lesson, bickering with each other about who is number one. I can relate to their self-centeredness—it makes them real. If they were these perfect followers who always did things right and never stumbled along the way, well, I could not relate to that.
The apostles often seem like they are in a fog as they try to grasp the meaning of Jesus’ teachings; they jockey for position as “teacher’s pet;” they fall asleep when he asks them to stay awake and support him. They run off children and others when Jesus wants them nearby, and then they themselves run away when Jesus is killed. Some friends. One would think Jesus could have done a better job choosing followers.
But…Jesus has also chosen us and calls us his friends, not because we are perfect people. Take heart. The apostles finally understood.
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