Who is The Greatest Among You. Part [8] 08/23/2025 (Evening thought)

Matthew 26:24 The Son of man goes as it is written of him: but woe unto that man by whom the Son of man is betrayed! it had been good for that man if he had not been born. 25 Then Judas, which betrayed him, answered and said, Master, is it I? He said unto him, Thou hast said.

Judas started writing off the disciples one by one as he sought to big up himself for the top position. He begins with James and John, who were just mere fishermen and who did not even have the education or the finesse necessary, to be at the top. It's true they could fish, but they were not proficient with computers, so they would lack the necessary skills and the know-how for the job.

He also scratches off Matthew, as being in bed with the Romans on the issue of taxes, because the Jews viewed those who collected taxes for the Romans as national traitors. Judas even writes off Jesus Christ as being too timid to wrest the reins of control from the Romans, and so, one by one, everybody else seems not to be up to the challenge in his mind and thus, lo and behold, there’s only one left standing, me myself and I.

[The Desire of Ages pp 717] Judas was highly regarded by the disciples, and had great influence over them. He himself had a high opinion of his own qualifications, and looked upon his brethren as greatly inferior to him in judgment and ability. The church would never prosper with such short- sighted men as leaders. Peter was impetuous; he would move without consideration.

Matthew 26:14 Then one of the twelve, called Judas Iscariot, went unto the chief priests, 15 And said unto them, What will you give me, and I will deliver him unto you? And they covenanted with him for thirty pieces of silver.

May God add His blessing to the study of His word. “Good night” and God bless!

Who is The Greatest Among You. Part [7] 08/22/2025 (Morning thought)

Isaiah 57:15 For thus saith the high and lofty One that inhabits eternity, whose name is Holy; I dwell in the high and holy place, with him also that is of a contrite and humble spirit, to revive the spirit of the humble, and to revive the heart of the contrite ones.

When the news of what they had done came to the attention of the other ten disciples, it sparked bitter feelings of resentment, and deep animosity among them in so much that it threatened to shatter unity, and peace, which Jesus sought to establish within His own inner circle. Judas in particular was incensed at the brazenness and bold-facedness of the request made by James and John, that they should have the gall to take it upon themselves by asking for the highest place in the kingdom, and worst yet, to do so secretly.

This then triggered a race to the top, because, even though James and John had harbored the desire of being first and greatest in the kingdom, the other 10 disciples also were cherishing the same sentiments, and now, the question spilled out into the open, as they vied and jostled for the highest place. Of course, as it always will be with those who crave worldly greatness, the elimination process begins, for each one estimates himself as being superior or more worthy than the other.

And so they begin to check off each other, one by one, as in the game of survivor. And, in this frame of mind, they would be in danger of doing whatsoever it takes, to push their fellows down while lifting up themselves, for whenever it is the case that there is a craving for worldly greatness the end will justify the means, whatever the means may be.

Proverbs 13:10 Only by pride cometh contention: but with the well advised is wisdom.

May The Lord add His blessing to the study of His word. God bless!