Page 1 Luke 22:24-30 True Greatness What does true greatness look like? In Luke s depiction, Jesus has just initiated the Lord s Supper. As we looked at this last time, we noted that Jesus initiated 1) a new custom 2) a new community 3) a new covenant. Jesus breaks bread and shares the cup of wine, and he marks the dawning of a new day. This last supper is pregnant with meaning, rich in symbolism and central to marking and remembering Jesus mission and message of salvation. Jesus says: this bread depicts my body my sacrifice my life - every time you eat this, I want you to remember what I have done for you. That I have given my life for you, my all for you. I have saved you from your sins. I have forgiven you. I have opened up the way to the Father and to eternal life and to every heavenly blessing. And this cup. This wine represents my blood which is going to be poured out for you. This is the blood of a new agreement between God and you. This blood will wash away your sins once and for all. This is no longer bread and wine that represents the Passover and the deliverance of God s people from Egypt, the affliction of times gone by and the blood of a lamb daubed on a doorpost for your deliverance. On the next day, Jesus knows that he will lay down his life for them, for you and for me. He knows that he will be mercilessly whipped and brutally scourged, and he will be beaten around the head and have long thorns pushed into his skull, and he will be spat on and mocked and ridiculed and goaded. He knows that he will be physically abused and mentally, emotionally and spiritually attacked and tormented. He knows that he will be paraded half-
Page 2 naked, wounded and bleeding before baying crowds, and he will have his hands and his feet nailed to a cross. In the words of the prophet one of his prophets he will be led like a lamb to the slaughter. He knows that death is waiting for him. And no-one is going to take his life from him he will lay it down in the ultimate act of service and sacrifice he will give his very life for these men in this room. This is why he has come from heaven. The God-Man. Jesus. Coequal with God the Father and God the Holy Spirit. Part of the Trinity. Present at creation. The only-begotten son of God. Paul describes him in his letter to the Colossians like this: The Son is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation. For in him all things were created: things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities; all things have been created through him and for him. He is before all things, and in him all things hold together. And he is the head of the body, the church; he is the beginning and the firstborn from among the dead, so that in everything he might have the supremacy. (Colossians 1:15-18) This is Jesus. This is Jesus, who, at this meal, as recorded by John, in an act that demonstrates his humility and his servanthood, takes of his outer garments, kneels down at the feet of his followers, dips the towel in the water, and starts to wash the dirt and the dung off their feet. Do you ever feel that there is dirt and dung in your life? Dirty feet anyone? Dirty hearts?
Page 3 So here we have it. Jesus washing and cleaning his disciples feet. Jesus serving up emblems of his death and sacrifice. Jesus preparing to give everything for them and for us. And what is the response of his followers at this very moment this tipping point of history when Jesus sits with the weight of the world on his shoulders? 24: A dispute arose among them as to which of them was considered to be greatest. A dispute among the followers of Jesus. Have you ever, in all of your life, heard of such a thing?! Christians arguing! Fighting. Disputing. What are they arguing about? At least it might be something noble, something grand and important? Something central to the kingdom of God and to the mission of the church and the followers of Jesus. This is the eve of Jesus death after all. This is the last supper. He is about to be betrayed. So what is this grand argument about. What they are arguing about is status. Position. Pecking order. Influence. Importance. Who s in the in-crowd? Who s closest to Jesus? What would that argument look like? They were arguing about who was considered to be greatest. What stats would they use? What evidence would they offer in this game of theological top trumps? Number of miracles performed- 5:4 Time spent alone with Jesus- 120 hours: 115 hours
Page 4 Position at the table- 2 from Jesus: 4 from Jesus What does it sound like this conversation? How do you argue for greatness? We would never fight over status would we? We would never talk about the in-crowd? And whether or not we are in it? We would never fight for position or influence would we? Would we? In the presence of Jesus? In light of his sacrifice for us? In view of his mission to us? There would never be any disputes like this in our church would there? 25: The kings of the Gentiles lord it over them; and those who exercise authority over them call themselves Benefactors. But you are not to be like that. There is a way of the world where people assume certain positions and then lord it over others. They give themselves titles. They become do-gooders from a place of superiority and position. They even call themselves Benefactors. But you are not to be like that. The world loves perceived success. The powerful. The players. The wealthy. The influential. We create structures and systems that give credence to this. There are pecking orders. There are class systems. There are greasy poles to climb up. But, Jesus said, you are not to be like that. Not you. Not Christians. Not Christian leaders.
Page 5 26-27: There are those who are seen as the greatest, there are those that rule or lead in some position. There is some degree of recognised hierarchy if you like. But you, you have to be like the youngest, like the children, you have to be like the servants. Jesus provides his followers with a little picture, a little parable of what he has just done as he has washed their feet. Who is greatest? The one who is at the table or the one who serves? Normally, of course, it would be the one who is sitting at the table eating the meal. The others, who serve the food, who wash the feet, are servants. 27: But I, Jesus says and demonstrates, am among you as one who serves. It s not that Jesus just told them to be humble, taught them to be humble, instructed them to be humble. Here is my book: The seven steps to servanthood. You guys need to read it, digest it and do it. Jesus is the servant King. I am among you as one who serves. He kneels at their feet. He washes. He wipes. He serves at the table. He takes the bread. He takes the cup. This is my body. This is my blood. Here is my life Henri Nouwen was a Dutch Roman Catholic priest who left a highly acclaimed academic career at Harvard to share his life with people with mental disabilities. He wrote a book entitled In the Name of Jesus in which he reflected on Christian leadership. He identified our desire to be relevant, our desire for popularity and our desire for power. He writes the following:
Page 6 When I ask myself the main reason for so many people having left the Church during the past decades [ ] the word power easily comes to mind. One of the greatest ironies of the history of Christianity is that its leaders constantly gave in to the temptation of power [ ] even though they continued to speak in the name of Jesus, who did not cling to his divine power but emptied himself and became as we are. we always see that a major cause of rupture is the power exercised by those who claim to be followers of the poor and powerless Jesus. Then Henri Nouwen asks the question: What makes the temptation of power so seemingly irresistible? Maybe it is that power offers an easy substitute for the hard task of love. (Henri Nouwen In the Name of Jesus) Why do we grab for status? Why do we seek position? Why do we crave the inner circle? Why do we exercise power? Is it because we do not feel loved? We do not feel secure? We are not confident of our identity as a beloved child, a beloved son, a beloved daughter of God? Jesus knew who he was, he knew where he had come from, and he knew where he was going and he knew that the Father had put all things under his power so he got up from the meal, took off his outer clothing, and wrapped a towel around his waist. After that he poured water into a basin and began to wash his disciples feet (John 13:4-5) When we don t know who we are in Christ, when we are not convinced of the Father s love and provision, when we are not sure of our position in Christ, we will not take up the towel we will insist on staying at the table, because that is what makes us feel important and loved and significant. We all of us need the love of God poured out into our hearts by the Holy Spirit, we all of us need the witness and the conviction of
Page 7 the Holy Spirit, and we all need to let God s love flow more through us to one another. I want you to notice something about what Jesus says and promises to his disciples: 28-30: You are those who have stood by me in my trials. And I confer on you a kingdom, just as my Father conferred one on me, so that you may eat and drink at my table in my kingdom and sit on thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel. What is Jesus saying here? He is saying to his followers to these men who are about to enter the fieriest of trials - it is not always easy following me. It is not always easy. There is a sharing in the trials of Jesus. There is a sharing in the fellowship of Jesus sufferings. There is a cost involved. There are trials. It is not easy serving. It is not easy leaving the table. It is not easy associating with and following Jesus. But the reward. The reward is the kingdom of God. I confer on you a kingdom. The kingdom my Father has given to me, says Jesus, I am giving to you. It is a kingdom of righteousness and joy and peace. It is an everlasting kingdom that will never fade away. And there is going to be a table there and you will be seated at it, you will eat and drink at it, and you will sit on thrones and you will judge Israel.. The saints, the church, will judge the world and the angels, Corinthians says. Now now I am asking you to serve. Now I am asking you to leave the table. Now I am asking you to take up the towel. Thank you for serving with me, says Jesus. Thank you for sharing in my suffering. Thank you for sharing in my trials. But in return in the midst of all these trials and temptations and sorrows I am giving you my kingdom all of it, and in that day, you will put down you dirty and
Page 8 dusty towel, well used and worn out and you will come to the table, and take up your seat, and you will eat and drink with me in my eternal kingdom. This day may be hard. But that day is coming. Community group questions and discussion points: 1) Describe the scene of the last supper. How does Jesus mark his impending death and sacrifice? 2) Read the account of Jesus washing his disciples feet in John 13. How does this tie in with what Jesus says in verse 27? 3) At this important moment what do the disciples argue about? How does this contrast with Jesus and his attitude? 4) What is the normal way of the world when it comes to leadership? What does Jesus expect of us? 5) What do you think makes us seek position and power and what is the alternative? 6) How can we emulate Jesus and have the same attitude that he has? (see also Philippians 2:6-8) 7) What does Jesus promise his disciples in view of their faithful service (28-30)?
Page 9 8) What are some of the things that prevent us from serving and how can we overcome these obstacles and areas of discouragement?