Competing for the best seats

On the night I proposed, we went to the theater. I was young and broke—but I’d managed to buy two of the cheapest seats. It took forever to find them: dark hallways, endless stairs. I was sure my bride-to-be regretted saying yes. But when we finally sat down—surprise! We had the best view in the house. Cheapest doesn’t always mean worst. Sometimes, it means first.

That’s exactly what Jesus says in Mark 10: “Many who are first will be last, and the last first.” He speaks it just after James and John make their move: “Can we have the top spots in your kingdom?” The others, Simon Peter included, are furious. Not because it’s outrageous—but because they didn’t ask first. Even among the disciples, ambition and ego collide.

In The Chosen, you see this friction up close—Simon Peter, James, and John are all strong personalities. Tension brews when personal dreams bump into each other. They all want to matter, to be trusted, to rise. Most definitely, Simon Peter struggled with that. He’s bold, natural, driven—he wants to lead. But leading in Jesus’ way isn’t about control or recognition. It’s about washing feet, bowing down, walking the extra mile.

How about you? Maybe there’s competition in your life—at work, in your family, or even quietly in friendships. Maybe you're exhausted trying to keep up. Jesus invites you to stop climbing and start kneeling. To stop asking, “What’s my rank?” and start asking, “Whom can I serve?” It’s not flashy. But it’s where real greatness begins.

Simon Peter eventually became a foundational leader in the early Church—not by being loudest, but by being faithful. And just like those theater seats, God often reserves the best view for those willing to take the humble path. You may feel like you're climbing endless stairs right now—but keep going. You might just be walking toward the best seat in the house.

What if the seat you’re in right now—the one that feels hidden, small, or second-best—is exactly where Jesus wants to show you something only you can see?