You can make exceptional music sitting ‘second chair.’ Don’t despise small places.

On the Sunday of Jesus’ resurrection, both Peter and John raced to the empty tomb to verify the report of Mary Magdlene. In John 20 verse 4 it says that “Both were running, but the other disciple outran Peter and reached the tomb first.” It should be noted that the ‘other disciple’ was John, the disciple Jesus loved… and the one who gave us the winner of this race!

Whatever race we’re in, we love to win. We like to sit ‘first chair’ in the band, get the biggest office, own the nicest car and home.

It appears that at the Last Supper, the normal custom of hospitality and hygiene wasn’t followed; no one had washed the disciples’ feet. It was almost always done by a slave. I can imagine the twelve inwardly wondering, if their feet had been washed by ‘low man on the totem pole’ in their group, who would that person have been?

Certainly not Peter or James or John. They were ‘upper tier.’ It might have been Nathaniel or Judas… personal mind games building the correct or logical hierarchy; attempting to judge people on behalf of Jesus! How preposterous and dangerous.

Their infamous ‘come-to-Jesus’ meeting actually came from Jesus Himself: “Jesus knew that the Father had put all things under his power, (He was at the top of the pole!) … wrapped a towel around his waist. After that, he poured water into a basin and began to wash his disciples’ feet…” John 13:3-5 NIV  Obviously the point was made.

Putting people in order of their seeming importance is always wrong, nasty and definitely not “Kingdom building!” How do we rid ourselves of this ungodly habit?

Let’s get our lesson from Andrew (Peter’s brother.) His lesson could be taught as “Learning To Lead From Second Chair In Life.” When Andrew is listed among the disciples, he’s always introduced as ‘Andrew, Peter’s brother!’ Check it out: Matthew 10;2, Luke 6:14, John 1:40 and John 6:8.

What kind of ministry can we have if we aren’t as important or talented or awesome as many around us? You may be surprised…

• Andrew was the first to follow Jesus as a disciple – John 1:34-42
• He immediately sought out his brother
• At the feeding of the 5,000, after Philip expressed total lack of faith, Andrew (Peter’s brother) brought a boy and his personal lunch to Jesus – John 6:8,9
• Andrew brings some Greeks to meet Jesus even though they were not Jews – John 12:20-22

Pretty significant contributions to establishing and building God’s Kingdom… all while ‘sitting in the second chair!’

Don’t try to be someone else. Be yourself. But yield all of who you are to the plans of your King!