True Greatness

Hello everyone.

We continue today in Luke 22.  You may remember that in the previous verses, Jesus has just revealed that there was someone among them that would betray him.  The apostles begin to discuss who it might be.  Soon they were arguing, once again, about which of them was the greatest.  Here is my translation of Luke 22:25-30:

24 Then they started arguing about which of them was considered to be the greatest. 25 Then Jesus told them, “The kings of nations lord it over their people, and those who have authority are called benefactors.  26 But you are not to be like this.  Instead, the greatest among is to be like the youngest, and the leader must be like those who serve. 27 Because who is greater, the one seated at the table, or the one who serves him? Is it not the one who sits at the table?  Yet I am among you as one who serves.  
28 You are the ones who have stayed with me in my times of trouble.  29 I give you the kingdom, just as the Father has given it to me, 30 so that you may eat and drink at my table in my kingdom and sit on thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel.”

Again, as many of their discussions did, the disciples’ discussion over who would betray Jesus turned into an argument of which of them was the greatest.  I can only speculate, but I imagine that it went something like this: 

Disciple 1:  “Well, I know it isn’t me, because I am Jesus’ most loyal disciple.” 

Disciple 2: “How can you say that?  Everyone knows that I am Jesus' most loyal and greatest disciple.”

This seems to be a constant concern of the disciples.  "Who is the greatest?"  We all want to be great. We like to be told that we are great. I will admit that when my students tell me I am the best teacher, I really like it. So, I do understand where these apostles are coming from here. But, I also see how much they are missing of what is actually going on here.     

Jesus then instructs them on what true greatness was.  They assumed that greatness came with power and authority.  Truly, Jesus had all power and authority, but that is not what makes him great.  Jesus is great because, in spite of the fact that he has all power and all authority, he set that aside to serve us in our time of need.  Jesus tells them what true greatness is, and the next day, he shows them what true greatness is, by giving himself for them. 

Jesus’ description of the leaders of his time doesn’t paint a very nice picture.  He says that they lord it over the people, meaning they are oppressive of the people they rule over, yet call themselves benefactors.  They want to be acknowledged for how great they are and how much they do for the people, but in reality, the opposite is true.  The people act for the benefit of the leaders.

The point that Jesus makes to his apostles then becomes that they are not to be like that.  Jesus’ church and its leaders are not to be like the leadership that takes advantage of those who are led.  Instead, leadership in Jesus' church is to serve.  

Jesus makes his point by saying, “the greatest among is to be like the youngest, and the leader must be like those who serve.”  In their culture, those who were younger would get stuck with the more menial tasks, and would be the ones expected to serve the older. (Bock, 1738.)  Jesus’ leadership means that those who lead continue to serve, rather than expecting to be served.  

Jesus asks, ‘who is more important, the one seated at the table, or the one who serves him? Is it not the one who sits at the table?” Jesus is telling them that they are to serve others and make others greater than themselves.  That is greatness. 

And who was greater than Jesus?  No one, yet he was there as one who serves. That was the example that Jesus left for his disciples.  While Luke doesn't record it, somewhere in here Jesus washes their feet. (John 13.) 

In verse 28, Jesus commends the Eleven for staying with him through the times of trouble.  Judas has likely departed at this point.  Their faithfulness will bring them reward.  (It seems that they were messed up and confused most of the time, and yet Jesus commended them here for their faithfulness.  Perhaps we can be a little messed up and confused and still be faithful.)

In verse 29 and 30, Jesus tells them that he is giving them the Kingdom.  With Jesus about to leave, the Kingdom will be coming to them.  God has given Jesus a kingdom, and he gives it to them, and assures them that they will have a place at the Lord’s banquet table. 

In verse 30, Jesus, who has been given all authority, gives them authority.  One day, they will sit on thrones of judgment. They would one day get all that they wanted, authority and power, but if they were truly going to imitate their master, they would use such authority for the benefit of others.  They would find grestest as servants.