The disciples had high regard and love for the Lord Jesus – no doubt about that! 
  But…did they have that high regard and love for each other?
  Consider three of the twelve that probably did have braggin’ rights.
  Peter, James and John were singled out by Jesus on several occasions.

  Jesus asked these three men to go up a mountain with Him to pray.  While they were there, Jesus was transfigured – they saw the glory that was rightfully His.  They saw Moses and Elijah talking with Jesus.  There they heard the voice of God “This is My Son, Chosen One, listen to Him.” 
(Luke 9:28-36)
  Yet these men could not have braggin’ rights because they were not to tell anyone what they had seen.

  Another time, Jesus chose the same three men to go with Him into the home of a synagogue official whose little girl had died.  There those three men saw Jesus raise her to life.  (Mark 5:35-43)

  Yet another time with the addition of Andrew, they were told by Jesus what to expect in the future.  Some of this prophecy would take place in their lifetimes and some still future to us today.  They did have bragging rights!  (Mark 13:1-4)

  Later the same night at that last Passover meal, these three men would once again be chosen to go with Jesus deeper into the Garden of Gethsemane to pray. 
(Matthew 26:36-38)

  With what measure do you think of yourself (or others) as “the greatest” among many?
  Do you consider a person’s position?  Or being in the “inner circle”?  What about power due to being chosen by vote? 

  Surely Peter, James and John had bragging rights as being regarded by Jesus as the greatest among the disciples.
  Perhaps you have bragging rights as being regarded as the greatest in your church, or community, or city, or nation.  But…do you?

  Tomorrow’s devotional will give what Jesus said about such a dispute among His disciples.

  Followers of Christ consider the following Scripture:
(Amplified Bible) Romans 12:3 “For by the grace (unmerited favor of God) given to me I warn everyone among you not to estimate and think of himself more highly than he ought [not to have an exaggerated opinion of his own importance], but to rate his ability with sober judgment, each according to the degree of faith apportioned by God to him.”