Wow, the Bible doesn’t hide any of the disciple’s character flaws does it?
This is a classic description of the disciples and their human nature that is as weak and pathetic as ours... they bickered over wanting to be the greatest just like we do... but they changed under Jesus' guidance to be more noble men in the end.
It kind of encourages me to know that they made mistakes!
Passage 1: The Bible says: Mark 9:33 ( also Matt 18:1 & Lk 9:46)
"They came to Capernaum. When He was in the house, he asked them, ‘What were you arguing about on the road?’ But they kept quiet because on the way they had argued about who was the greatest."
Passage 2: Mark 10:35 ( also Matt 20:20 ) & Matt 20:24
"Then James and John, the sons of Zebedee, came to Him. "’Teacher,’ they said, 'we want you to do for us whatever we ask.’ ‘What do you want me to do for you?’ he asked. They replied, ‘Let one of us sit on your right and the other at your left in your glory.’" "When the ten heard about this, they were indignant with the two brothers." (Sounds like they think whoever calls ‘shotgun’ gets to sit next to Jesus in Heaven - like calling the front passenger seat in the car, huh?)
Passage 3: Luke 22:24
This selfishness even extends right into their last dinner together before Jesus atones for their ( and our ) sins:
"Also a dispute arose among them as to which of them was considered the greatest. . ."
It is embarrassing but doesn't it remind you just a little bit of ourselves?
