I want to be last! Pick me first!!! – Matt 20:20-28

Russ Ramsey

One commentator said of pride, “Pride is a vice which clings so fast to the hearts of men that if we were to strip ourselves of all our faults—one by one—we would undoubtedly find it the last and the hardest to put off.” James’ and John’s question—asking Jesus if they could sit at His right and left hand in Glory— was not altogether innocent. They did expose their selfishness. There can only be one right side and one left side, and the Sons of Thunder were saying, like when kids want to ride in the front seat of the car, “We called it!”

Jesus had discussed earlier who shall be last and who shall be first, and it was on the minds of the twelve—and this is seen not only in James’ and John’s request, but also in the indignation of the other ten who did not think of this first. The Sons of Thunder’s selfishness brought out the selfishness of the others as well. And it is interesting to note that Jesus’ rebuke is directed toward the ten as much as it is to James and John. To the ten who did not ask he said, "You know that the rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and their high officials exercise authority over them. Not so with you. Instead, whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant, and whoever wants to be first must be your slave…”

The Gentile rulers use the system the disciples are familiar with. As Eugene Peterson paraphrases in The Message, “Gentile rulers throw their weight around to gain power and then they let it go to their heads.” This is not the way Jesus works—and it is not the way toward reward. Jesus says the last shall be first, and the great one is the one who serves… He said this knowing full well that He Himself was this truth in the flesh, and that His ultimate act of servanthood was going to be the laying down of His life for His people on the cross.