Greatness: Serving Others, Not Messy Self-Promotion
Daily Scripture
Luke 22:24-34
24 An argument broke out among the disciples over which one of them should be regarded as the greatest.
25 But Jesus said to them, “The kings of the Gentiles rule over their subjects, and those in authority over them are called ‘friends of the people.’ 26 But that’s not the way it will be with you. Instead, the greatest among you must become like a person of lower status and the leader like a servant. 27 So which one is greater, the one who is seated at the table or the one who serves at the table? Isn’t it the one who is seated at the table? But I am among you as one who serves.
28 “You are the ones who have continued with me in my trials. 29 And I confer royal power on you just as my Father granted royal power to me. 30 Thus you will eat and drink at my table in my kingdom, and you will sit on thrones overseeing the twelve tribes of Israel.
31 “Simon, Simon, look! Satan has asserted the right to sift you all like wheat. 32 However, I have prayed for you that your faith won’t fail. When you have returned, strengthen your brothers and sisters.”
33 Peter responded, “Lord, I’m ready to go with you, both to prison and to death!”
34 Jesus replied, “I tell you, Peter, the rooster won’t crow today before you have denied three times that you know me.”
Daily Reflection & Prayer
Things got messy even among Jesus’ disciples. Luke said an argument about which of them should be the greatest erupted even at their Passover Supper with Jesus. In response, Jesus reminded them that true greatness means serving others, not ruling over them. He also warned them they would all falter in their faithfulness—a warning outspoken Peter resisted, claiming his fellow disciples were more likely to fail than he was (Mark 14:27-31).
- John Wesley, Methodism’s founder, encouraged his followers to regularly ask themselves pointed questions. One was: “Do I thank God that I am not as other people?” * Peter’s words—”Even if everyone else stumbles, I won’t”—perfectly illustrated this “I’m better than others” dynamic. When are you most tempted to compare yourself favorably with others?
- With an emotional crisis just ahead, would you expect Jesus to give his disciples a pep talk, assuring them they could handle what lay ahead? Jesus giving them a somber warning might surprise us. Would a pep talk have helped them handle things better? Spiritually, which matters more for you—looking inside yourself for the strength to handle anything, or choosing to ask Jesus’ to give you God’s greater power to deal with situations that seem humanly impossible?
Prayer
Lord Jesus, you know me better than I know myself. Guide me today and every day, nudging and challenging me to become more fully the person you call me to be. Amen.
GPS Insights
Janelle Gregory
Janelle Gregory, who serves as Resurrection's Human Resources Lead Director, wrote today's Insights. Janelle finds that her heart is constantly wrestling with the truth that she needs a Savior, and the times when she's at her very best are when she's just too tired to put up a fight.
© 2026 Resurrection: A United Methodist Church. All Rights Reserved.
Scripture quotations are taken from The Common English Bible ©2011. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
References
* For a fuller study of this searching question, see Chris Folmsbee, The Wesley Challenge: 21 Days to a More Authentic Faith. Abingdon Press, 2017.
