“For who is the greater, one who reclines at table or one who serves? Is it not the one who reclines at table? But I am among you as the one who serves.”
- Luke 22:27
We have entered the last night of Jesus’ ministry, for the next day He will fulfill His ministry by carrying the cross. Yet for tonight, Jesus enjoys the Passover meal with His disciples. No crowds, no religious leaders, just the disciples. Jesus had been long awaiting this meal for He knew its importance, His last meal until after His resurrection.
You would also think that after about 3 years of closely following Jesus, the disciples would be in a whole different mindset about the Kingdom of God, yet we still see where they see the Kingdom a little bit more like the Pharisees than they do like Jesus.
Who’s the Greatest?
As a rowdy bunch of young men, knowing that they are following a King, they imagine and discuss the positions they are going to hold in the Kingdom. They don’t quite have an Eternal mindset though, rather they see this as a fast-approaching earthly kingdom that Jesus will usher in. So they imagine positions of power and start thinking about their roles. No doubt some thought a little more militant and others thought a little more diplomatic or economic. A new kingdom of Israel after all is going to need some strong and capable leaders and rulers!
But the disciples are missing the point, just as we often do too! So Jesus has one last lesson for them…
Jesus doesn’t blame them either for missing the point. Even in this chapter, we see the corruption of the leaders even before Jesus’ arrest. At the very beginning of this chapter, we read,
“The chief priests and the scribes were seeking how to put Jesus to death, for they feared the people.”
- Luke 22:2
The most powerful people in the land, besides the Romans, were seeking a way to secretly off Jesus. They wielded power to do a lot of harm, and were seeking to serve themselves and not the people.
Along with the corrupt religious leaders of the time, we also have the Romans who used their authority ruthlessly and excessively. Order was their priority and achieving it by any means necessary.
The disciples missed the point because the only rulers they knew were corrupt and ruthless. They used their authority for their purposes, pleasures, and priorities, rarely ever seeking to serve. So then we get to Jesus’ lesson, “I am among you as one who serves.”
Servant:
Jesus wants the disciples to change their view that leadership and greatness are about exercising authority over others. No lesson may be more valuable to them than this as Jesus is going to be arrested and crucified within 24 hours of this dinner. You may think that Jesus would want to explain all that is about to happen, but instead this lesson will prove more impactful for the disciples than an explanation about His arrest.
The disciples are about to see with stark contrast the “greatness” of the world versus the Greatness of Jesus. The world's “greatness,” which the disciples think they are about to take over, is one of power, manipulation, betrayal, and murder. Meanwhile, the Greatness that Jesus has always shown and will continue to show is one of service and love, even toward the corrupt world.
If you keep reading the chapter, we read about Jesus’ arrest. In the heat of the moment, Peter grabs a sword and starts swinging at the leaders who came to arrest Jesus. Peter manages to hack off the ear of one of the chief priest's servants. Jesus puts an end to the needless violence, stopping Peter, but also then healing the ear of the victim. Jesus not only exemplifies a better way for Peter but also shows Himself again as the servant by healing the very man who came to arrest Him. The Greatest is not one who exercises power over others but is one who serves.
Flipping the Script:
Now we may think, what are the benefits of servant leadership? There are many, but we also must choose it because of its earthly benefits, we must choose it because we want to follow the One who Serves!
The moment the change comes about because we want better organizations or more money, we detract from the posture of a servant. Whatever there is to gain selfishly, must not be present in the servant. Yet, the servant has so much to gain when they posture themselves after Jesus and gaze upon the endless Kingdom.
Jesus is inviting the disciples and us to posture ourselves like Him. To become ones who are quick to serve, exercising authority on behalf and for others rather than for us.
Final Blessing:
Praise be to the Father who so desired we change our ways that He sent Jesus to us to save us and change us. Praise be to Jesus that we have much of His life recorded so that we can study it and emulate it. Praise be to the Holy Spirit who dwells in us to help us be ones who serve.
Now may the Lord of Life and Redemption be with you in every step, every breath, and every heartbeat of your journey!
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