Skip to main content

262. One More Argument to Get Through!

Luke 22:24-30,
Key Verse: "Who is greater, the one who is at the table or the one who serves? Is it not the one who is at the table? But I am among you as one who serves."
Luke 22:27

This subject must have come up a lot among the disciples during Jesus’ ministry. We've had to deal with this already on several occasions. To have it take place even tonight, however, must have grieved our Lord bitterly. If you've ever taken your children out for a special occasion or served a special meal to celebrate something and then had it marred by constant squabbling, you may have some idea of the frustration and disappointment Jesus may have felt at this moment. These were supposed to be grown men after all!

Nevertheless, here we are again, talking about what the world worries about, who will get the credit? Who will get the honor? What's in it for me? Here is Jesus, wanting to have a close, warm last few minutes with His closest friends before He dies for them and they are distracted by, what is in God's view, pettiness.

How could this have happened, considering what Jesus had just done? Well, after the first part of the meal, so rich in symbolism, it is common for a feast to be served. After all, in many ways, this is similar to our American Thanksgiving. The liturgy is set aside for a time and the participants enjoy a wonderful meal together. While this is taking place, it makes sense that normal conversation would follow.

Perhaps there was discussion over where each disciple was placed around the table. After all, Judas had been given a position of honor. Now that he was out doing, who knew what, perhaps John and James grumbled a bit. After all, they had asked to be seated at Jesus’ right and left hands when He came into His kingdom. They were all probably angling for positions. It's part of our human nature to want to be recognized.

Again, Jesus, knowing who He was, pointed out, "I'm not concerned about such things. If I were, shouldn't you all be serving me? Yet, here I am, sitting among you as a friend." Did the disciples feel shame as Jesus pointed this out? If they didn't at the time, surely, as events unfolded, they soon would see for themselves just how petty they had been.

We are all guilty of this from time to time. Churches and individuals seem to be obsessed with the "bigger is better," mentality. We think that if we are honored by man, or impressive to others, surely God is of the same opinion! That's the foolishness of the disciples' behavior and recurring attitudes of worldliness. It's a tough habit to shake. Yet, we must keep in mind, the creator was born in a barn. The creator allowed Himself to be poor. The creator washed His betrayer's feet. Are we really asked to stoop so low that our Lord Himself has not gone yet lower for us?

Paul reminds us: "Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus: who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be grasped, but made Himself nothing, taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness. And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself and became obedient to death—death on a cross!" (Phil. 2:5-8) As a servant, He sat among them, though He had created them and had the right to rule over them. He has set the example for how we are to live among one another, not clawing for greatness, but begging to serve.

Perhaps, for our sake, it is good that the disciples had this dispute one more time so that we can be reminded once more, during this meal, how low Jesus was willing to go for the worst of sinners and for us.

Hymn: "The Servant Song

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

211. The Sons of Thunder's Request

Matthew 20:20-28 , Mark 10:35-45 , Key verse: "Whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant, and whoever wants to be first must be slave of all." Mark 10:43B-44 In our readings for yesterday, in which Jesus outlined what was about to happen to Him, for His disciples, the passage in Luke ends: "The disciples did not understand any of this. It's meaning was hidden from them, and they did not know what He was talking about." ( Luke 18:34 ) Now, we see just how truly clueless they were. Jesus had laid out a plan before them of pain and suffering and death and now James and John are focused on a promotion. The disconnect is so obvious. It's really not important to know whether James and john came up with this request on their own or if their mother put them up to it. The request was made and James and John thought that they could handle the responsibility that would come with it. What is that saying, "Fools rush in where angels fe...
Post a Comment
Read more

These Boots are Made for Walking

Scripture: Ephesians 6:10-15 These Boots are Made for Walking. Of course, I picked that title because it has a reference to popular culture, and it connects with our text today about “feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace.” I was tempted to play the video of that song, but it’s really not amenable to worship. If you remember that old song, it was quite confrontational. The singer had a righteous complaint against a boyfriend or spouse who was cheating on her. She’s not going to put up with that, and the song goes on to say, “One of these days these boots are gonna walk all over you!” And that “take a stand” bravado made her a hero! It was a #1 hit in 1966. I mention it because it has one interesting parallel and one major contrast with the message of grace and forgiveness. That parallel is this. God has a righteous complaint against the entire human race for cheating Him out of the loving relationship He desires with us. As the God who created us, he h...
Post a Comment
Read more

186. Ten Healed, Or One?

Luke 17:11-19 Key Verse: Then He said to him, "Rise and go; your faith has made you well." Luke 17:19 At last, Jesus has left the crowd behind and again is continuing His journey toward Jerusalem. His path takes Him and His disciples along the border of Judea and Samaria, between the pure Jews, and the hated half breeds of the day. On His way, Jesus encounters an interesting group of people. We only learn the nationality of one of them and, though we don't know the nationality of the others, because Jesus sends them to the priests in Jerusalem we can probably assume that at least some of them are Jews. Isn't it interesting that through leprosy, a disease that causes much suffering, the dividing wall of hatred has come down for the sake of companionship? We encountered one leper earlier on our Journey. Lepers were the dreaded untouchables of the day. Their disease cut them off from all they loved. It was a very lonely life. No wonder these people had ...
Post a Comment
Read more