Strengthen Your Brothers

"I’m the king of the castle and you’re the dirty rascal." Sound familiar? Looking for status and power? The disciples are. Jesus flips the disciples’ thinking with, “Forget the power play. Serve others. Later, there’s a kingdom where you will sit at the banquet table with me, like kings. But for now, do everything you can to help someone. Don’t think you are better than others. You stood by me all this time—surely you get the picture: serve others. If I served them, you serve them.”

Jesus warns. “Satan’s got it in for you, Simon [Peter]. And for all of you. But I have prayed that you will be strong.” Jesus predicts how Peter will soon deny him, and Peter protests. But Jesus doesn’t dwell on it. He tells Peter, “When it’s all over and you turn back to me, help the others.”

Jesus looks past Peter’s pending denial to the disciples’ future work of spreading the gospel. “I always provided for your journeys, didn’t I, though you didn’t pack a thing?” They agree. “Well, from now on, prepare. Pack a bag, take money, wear a coat and a sword. It’s going to get rough.”

From “Who’s the king of the castle?” to “Serve others” to “Strengthen your brothers,” Jesus realigns his disciples with his purpose on earth—to draw all people to himself, to a friend forever.

In all of us, just as in Peter, there is a deep humility borne through our personal failures that can rebound in compassion for others who struggle to persevere. If we are in Christ, he is faithful to restore us to him. And we can be his hands to help restore others.

Respond in Prayer

Heavenly Father, thank you for forgiving me and looking past my sin and error. Thank you for leading me out of failure and giving me a heart for others. Increase my love for all your people. Use me to help them. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Adele Simmons

Unless otherwise indicated, all Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version® (NIV®).