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Reader: | Luke 9.37-45. |
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Jesus and His disciples were on their way to Capernaum. Peter,
John and Philip were discussing the events of the past days -
the things that Jesus had said and done... |
| PETER: | He just said it again, Philip. |
| PHILIP: | He did, Peter. "The
Son of Man will be handed over to men who will kill him. Three days
later, however, he will rise to life." |
| PETER: | What do you think, John? |
| JOHN: | I don't understand it at all, Peter. Remember how you
said that Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of God? |
| PETER: | Up at Caesarea Philippi. |
| PHILIP: | What he's said just now doesn't make sense if he's really
the Messiah! |
| JOHN: | I think he said that before, didn't he, just after you
said He is the Messiah? |
| PETER: | You're right, but I didn't understand it then, and I still
don't! |
| PHILIP: | And I'm not game to ask him, either! |
| JOHN: | I've been thinking lately that it's good for us that we've
been picked as His disciples. |
| PHILIP: | Can't you imagine what that means for us when he reveals
himself publicly? |
| PETER: | We'll have to go down to Jerusalem. He would have to take
the throne of David there. |
| JOHN: | That will put us in his inner cabinet! |
| PHILIP: | Which one of us will be first in his Kingdom? |
| PETER: | Well, I was the first one He called to follow him. |
| PHILIP: | With Andrew. |
| JOHN: | But I think I'm closest to him. I get to sit next to him
at meals. |
| PETER: | That's because you push in! |
| JOHN: | I don't shove - anyway, Jesus doesn't mind me being close
to him! |
| PHILIP: | Your brother, James, is a bit pushy, too! Anyway, I think
you're both wrong. If you've been listening to Jesus, I've got
a better chance than either of you. |
| PETER and JOHN: | You? |
| PHILIP: | Yes, me! |
| PETER: | Of all the extravagant, self-centred... |
| JOHN: | Philip, admit it! You've got no special claim for consideration! |
| PHILIP: | I think that, with Jesus, it may be to my advantage!
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| PETER: | Preposterous! |
| JOHN: | I'm more clear, definite, out-spoken... |
| PETER: | But don't forget what you said before! |
| JOHN: | What do you mean? |
| PETER: | You acknowledged that I was the one who said Jesus is the
Messiah. |
| PHILIP: | But you were speaking on behalf of all of us! |
| PETER: | But I said it. I was the leader. |
| JOHN: | But you - we - were saying something about Jesus, not about
you. |
| PHILIP: | And Jesus has made it clear that the power to open and
shut is for all of us, not just for you! |
| JOHN: | When Jesus called two of the sons of Zebedee, I knew it! |
| PHILIP: | Knew what? |
| JOHN: | Knew that I was to be the one on his right hand and James
on his left in his Kingdom! |
| So the conversation continued. The other disciples heard it and
were incensed. Each felt his own claim to be the greatest in the
Kingdom. |
| Reader: | Luke 9.46-48. |