Luke 22:24-30

Please stand with me This morning as we open our Bibles to Luke 22:24-30.

When we look back in history, We generally have heard in passing the names of faithful kingdom citizens in which God used them in furthering His Kingdom. We can think of a few Martian Luther, John Calvin, Charles Spurgeon, Adoniram Judson, Lottie Moon, George Whitfield, Johnathan Edwards, Hudson Taylor, or Elisabeth Elliot. As I often read articles of missionaries and leaders of the church who made way for reform, there is one that I have found in this past couple of weeks stuck with me. As I was looking through the website of desiring God, I ran across an article titled The Best Leaders are often Least noticed by Jon Bloom (which I will quote a lot of my introduction from). In this article Bloom describes a man who and I quote “tried his best to be forgotten,” This man’s name was Robert Cleaver Chapman and he lived from 1803-1902, pastoring a church in the southwest part of England where he would minister there for seventy years. Chapman was described as a “man strong in the scriptures, full of wisdom and deeply concerned that Jesus’s church not veer into unfaithfulness.” Chapman would serve faithfully talking with people on the streets and at their houses or rooms, he would serve the homeless and inmates, and often open aired preached. Chapman was a financial supported and a representative for the China inland mission that Hudson Taylor used to further the Gospel in China. Throughout his years of ministry, he continued to evangelize, visit, counsel, teach and intercede those under his care. He preached his last sermon when he was 98, that lasted an hour and 15 minutes. Chapman was a humble shepherd that did not enjoy the spotlight of the Christian celebrities in his day. This would cause him to discourage most efforts to publish his sermons and other writings, and even burned most of his personal papers to discourage the publication of his work after his death. Because, as he once said, “what is most precious in the sight of God is often least noticed by men.” While he didn’t want people “thinking more highly of him than they out to think. He wanted people not to look at him; he wanted them to look at Jesus Christ and He didn’t want to distract others from Christ.” God knows all the faithful Christians that have labored in His Kingdom, those who deserve both a book or even an article, however they will not receive it. Were their labors for that purpose? No. They labored faithfully, just as Robert Chapman, so that Jesus would be seen. The manner in which they served the Kingdom of God showed their love for the king. They replicated King Jesus and they served him faithfully. Our main idea that I would like for us to understand from these verses in Luke is: That we as kingdom citizens must serve faithfully the king of the kingdom.

While we have been traversing the gospel of Luke, we are brought to a point where we are in the final hours before Jesus’s betrayal and of his death. Jesus takes a last meal with his disciples, explaining to them of the kingdom was to be fulfilled, there was to be a new covenant by his blood poured out for them. Jesus pronounced a woe of grievous sin to the one that was to betray him at the table. Jesus taught that he was going to Die. The disciples heard this straight from the mouth of Their friend, their Lord, their King. the same Jesus whom the disciples had been traveling with for three years watching from him, learning, eating with, ministering with, and Jesus was to be betrayed and die. And this is the reaction of the disciples. “A dispute also arose among them, as to which of them was to be regarded as the greatest…” Jesus Just said that he was to be betrayed. And the disciples started arguing about who would be the greatest in the kingdom. The disciples had the opportunity to be someone great, in fact they came from nothing. The disciples were made of fisherman, tax collectors, Government oppressors, and even one who was a betrayer. They were nobodies in the political arena. They had an opportunity because they were about to be apart of something great. This Kingdom that was to come was going to be Huge. It was never going to end and they had the front row seats, to the kingdom. Jesus was going to be their king and they were to rule with him.

This isn’t the first time that this had happened. Jesus tells them something important about his death and they mistake what Jesus says by thinking only about their place in the kingdom. Luke 9 43-48. Jesus tells about his death and they started arguing about which one would be the greatest. In Mark 10:35-45 after Jesus tells of his death for a third time, James and John approach him and ask for Jesus to grant one of them to sit at the right and left hand when he is in his glory. Then when the rest of the disciples heard of this, they became indignant with James and John because they also wanted this place of honor. Here we are again, the hours before Jesus’s death, and they are grumbling again with each other about their place in the kingdom of Jesus.

Jesus shows the disciples the posture of servants of the kingdom. Listen to Jesus’s reply V25-27

Jesus explains to his disciples how those who are apart of Jesus’s kingdom are not going to look. They are not to be as Benefactors. A benefactor is a gentile ruler, in which has gained fame or power because of their money or favors that they have used, they would be seen as champions to the people. Benefactors would come to power based on self-promotion and desire for recognition. However, the way they would rule would be as if they were ruthless oppressors. They would oppress the people causing them to suffer, looking after their own name or title. Their greatness would have been built buy their own will, money, or work. Jesus says you should not be like them. However, the people of the kingdom should be servants. Not great as the benefactors saw themselves but servants of the kingdom. Jesus in this contrast of standards, from the benefactor to the servant doesn’t show a behavior to be avoided but rather an alternative way of life that is to be lived. Jesus in his speech is showing them what Citizens of the kingdom of God should look like. The criteria for greatness is different in Jesus’s kingdom than the kingdom of the world. This is a new kingdom that is being brought forth. not one that has been seen before, one with a new king. We are not to be those in the kingdom of God after power or authority. Rather we should be those who serves.

Jesus then describes three ways that We are to posture ourselves in the kingdom.

Let the greatest among you become as the youngest

Jesus shows a different idea concerning those who are in the kingdom, that they should be like the youngest. This word for youngest means new, fresh, childlike. They are to serve as the lowliest. Just as Jesus taught in Luke 9:48. The youngest child would be the least. in The ancient world age gave you certain privileges. The youngest was by definition the lowest. Shouldn’t we be the lowest, the humblest? The least of these? There is nothing great about us. Remember what Paul says in 1 Corinthians, God did not call those who were wise according to worldly standards, not many of us were powerful or noble. God chose what were foolish in the world to shame the wise. God chose the weak, God chose the low and despised, so that no human being might boast in the presence of God. We were sinners apart from Christ, we were nothing apart from Christ, but in Christ we are all equal, There are no division, each one of us are the same. we must be humble servants, humble leaders, we must think and serve as the lowliest of all that is near. True greatness is not shown in the way the world sees us but rather our posture in the kingdom of God. Are we working with a humble readiness to do anything? Are you willing to serve anywhere, are you willing to serve in the lowly positions even if it is unpleasant?

The Leader as the one who serves.

Leadership is not about the greatness in you as the world would have it, Leadership is shown in those who serves the kingdom. This word for serve here in verse 26 is the same word to describe the one who serves tables. A lowly place, a place of humility, serving the tables of others as they get to feast upon the food, you are to be the one who gives them bread and wine. Those who would feast at dinner would be the ones that were valued or esteemed. While you the servant would have to provide for them as they ate, waiting till the end till after all was clean before you were able to eat. You wouldn’t partake in the celebration or the conversation but rather you are ordered to stay quiet working diligently until all the work was done.

imitate the Lord as a perfect Servant.

Jesus reminds the Disciples in verse 27, that The one who is greater is not the one who reclines at the table but the one who serves. Jesus demonstrates the posture that the disciples should reproduce. They should be servants like him. Jesus painted a perfect picture of this in the feet washing illustration that he performed on this same night in John 13. It was customary that the servant or the lowliest of the group would be the one to clean the other feet as they entered a house. After days of traveling, wearing sandals, in the dust and dirt, sweat, walking down roads in which animals also traveled on. It would be customary to have your feet washed as you entered a house. However, this wasn’t the case for that night. No one washed their feet. As you reclined at the table to partake of the supper, your head would be here, and someone’s feet would be right beside your head. So, feet washing was a necessity. A quick point of application is it still is a necessity now. Kids Jesus washed his feet you should too I didn’t want to miss that point. The disciples were all too proud to do it, it was the servant’s responsibility, and the disciples were more concerned about who would be the greatest in the kingdom of God. Jesus showed this perfectly to them as he was the one that washed their feet. Jesus took the place as one who serves, even though he held the supreme place.

Jesus says but I am among you as one who serves. Look at the verses above he was the one who served the Passover. He is the one who serves us, in that he is our Passover. He was the defining suffering servant. Jesus who was in perfect harmony with God as the Son from all eternity past, humbled himself, and took the form of a servant. A man. One who was supposed to serve him. Do you realize the Love and grace that he shown us in his humbling service? He left communion as God to become his own creation, and he washed he served us. He humbled himself to make way for man to have fellowship with God again, for their sins to be forgiven, to take the wrath of God upon himself. He provided himself as a substitute for his own creation so they would not have to face the wrath of God for their sin, he provides each of us opportunity to repent and come to him. Look at the servant, look at what he has done. For those of you that are here that may be trying out Christianity or thinking through who Jesus is. The world would tell us opposite than what Jesus says here. The world would tell you that true greatness would be from what you can do to gain it, not serving in a lowly place. I ask you to think of the way that Jesus has described himself, and how he has served, by obeying the father to the point of death on the cross for those who should be serving Him. He showed love and service to those who sinned against him, you and I and has loved us completely by offering us forgiveness of our sins in Himself.

This Statement I am among you as one who serves is a distinct way in which we are to serve. We are to imitate the Love of Christ in the way we serve others. We are to be like him. This is why we are call Christians. The Christ ones. The ones who follow Christ. Disciples of Christ. We are of Christ. So therefore, our serving should look like him. Our service should be characterized by humility, love for Jesus, in imitation of Him. Greatness is not shown in your rank, power or authority, it is shown in those who serve, for the Glory of God!

J. C. Ryle said it this way.

The hero in Christ's army, is not the man who has rank, and title, and dignity, and chariots and horsemen, and fifty men to run before him. It is the man who does not seek his own things — but the things of others. It is the man who is kind to all, tender to all, thoughtful for all — with a hand to help all, and a heart to feel for all. It is the man who spends and is spent — to make the vice and misery of the world less, to bind up the broken-hearted, to befriend the friendless, to cheer the sorrowful, to enlighten the ignorant, and to raise the poor. This is the truly great man in the eyes of God!

How does this look like in your life? Are you seeking greatness of your own accord? Or Have you humbled yourself in servitude to others? In dyeing to yourself, taking up your cross and following Jesus, Are you imitating Jesus in the way you serve others at work? Do they see Jesus in the way you help them? What about in the church? Are you seeking authority or recognition because of what you do? Or is it done out of humble service so that those who can hear know Jesus? Are you self-sacrificing in the way you serve others? Do you sacrifice your time to do kingdom work?

What about serving other members of this church? Are you showing this type of humble servitude to them, do you talk to others as you leave, participate in the community in our local gathering? What about when some new comes into the local gathering. Do you miss a meal so that you can get to know them?

How about in a marriage? Are we showing this to our spouses? Are we letting down our pride so that we can serve each other? Erik Raymonde the husband, the leader, is to serve his wife. He is to, like Jesus, be willing to set aside his interests when presented with the opportunity to serve his wife. Think about it. We could never conceive of Jesus being too busy to hear from us in prayer. He is not distracted. He is not uninterested. No, he loves us and continues to listen and help us. He is always doing us good. Jesus is not too busy checking his phone, scrolling through social media, when we are trying to talk to him. He is not drifting off thinking about hobbies or work when we are pouring our hearts out to him in prayer. He is not daydreaming when we are laying bare our weaknesses before him. No, he is present, faithful, caring, and serving.He is attentive and sympathetic (Heb. 4:15-16).

What does this look like in the way we parent? Are we showing our children how to serve Christ by the way we serve him? Are we becoming like the youngest in the way we show them what disciples of Christ look like?

Jesus calls us as kingdom citizens to humble ourselves, and faithfully serve for his kingdom is greater than ours. As one commentator puts it, “faithful service in a lowly place is itself true greatness”.

VS 28-30 The Trials of the kingdom

Jesus in v:28 addresses the trails that disciples are to face in the kingdom. Since Jesus did not enjoy a Satan free environment since the temptation. Neither has the disciples. They were with him through the trials. They persevered with Jesus through each of the trials, and there would be more to come. Jesus has served in their midst; while the disciples have remained with him through the trials. Satan has worked in their midst to stop the will of God throughout Jesus’s ministry. We see this final trail coming to the disciples. Judus the betrayer was to betray Jesus. However, this was in the plan of Jesus, that He would go to his death, for the salvation of sins. Trials for disciples of Christ are coming in full force. Jesus was about to leave them. He is reminding them that they have endured through the trials. True faith perseveres through trials in the kingdom, living as disciples. The true test of discipleship is not participation in Christ’s glory, but commitment to endure “with him in his trials,” “deny self and take up the cross daily and follow Jesus. However, shallow faith wants all the blessings and none of the trials. It is like the seed sown on the rock. It received the gospel joyfully but when trials come it forsakes the faith it once rejoiced in. If the disciple’s faith was for the kingdom of God so they would be great, when trials came the would go running. Trials thresh the kingdom to separate those who are truly in the kingdom and those who are not. If the disciples were receiving the kingdom for the benefits, then they would abandon it for the costs. Jesus had not too long ago talked about the trails that would soon fall on Jerusalem. The there would be wars and tumults, persecutions, and Jerusalem would be destroyed. These things were coming. There were to be more trials.

However, up the time of the trial the disciples have remained faithful. These are words of praise to the disciples. You have remained with me. Often the disciples seem stubborn or ignorant. Even a soon they would forsake him, forget what he had said, and go back to their former businesses till Jesus showed himself to them again. Jesus had more grace in him than sin in his disciples. This is the same for us. As we travel through this life, living for the king, we will make mistakes. Trials will come upon us, Jesus promises this in John 16:33, we will face tribulations, heartache, distress, temptation, Jesus continues but take heart, I have overcome the world. Jesus has won the battle, he is the King upon the throne. There is no ruler, nor principality, nor angel….. NOTHING that can separate Those who are in Christ Jesus. No matter the trial or tribulation, Jesus rich in mercy still loves us. He still cares for us. He still shows us grace. If we are in Christ, we know that he will not deal with us according to our sins. Often, we may fail in trials, we may fail in our patience, we may stumble. But let us persevere through trials looking to our savior that watches over us working the assignment that he has given us.

3. Next we see the assignment of the kingdom

Look at verse 29… Jesus says I assign you to you, as my father assigned to me, a kingdom. Jesus has assigned to us a kingdom. Not our own kingdom but Jesus’s kingdom. The Kingdom that was assigned to him. The same kingdom that was bought by his blood, the same kingdom that was inaugurated by his resurection, the same kingdom that was promised that he would be given, his rule and dominion would be new fresh great. The greatest kingdom that all of history will ever known. The kingdom that was greater than the one that was bought with the Passover that they were celebrating. One that would be issued in not by the blood of the lamb but of the blood of Jesus himself. While those who are disciples of the kingdom, disciples of Christ, we have been given an assignment. In this assignment of the kingdom: we are to work. We are to be busy about our masters business. There is a mission of the kingdom that we are assigned to, we are commanded to make disciples of all nations. This is exactly the same thing that Jesus tells his disciples in Mat. 28 That he has been given all authority, in heaven and on earth, the kingdom, Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the father and the son and the holy spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you and behold I am with you always to the end of the age. This kingdom has an purpose, that Jesus’s name be made known. As we participate in the mission of Christ, we are able to share in the responsibility of his rule. We have been given opportunity to labor for King, to be about the masters business.

There is much work to be done. In our homes, we have wives to be shepherding, children to raise in the way and admonition of the Lord. Souls to be won, evangelizing to be done, disciples to be made. Sinners to be saved. This is why in Acts the disciples didn’t waste any time in their apostleship. They ran out and started laboring for the Lord. They were working for the master’s kingdom, not theirs, So should we. “The goal of the redemptive work of Christ is not simply to save sinners but to transform them to be servants of Christ, and as servants to be made siblings who rule with Christ. “

4. Finally we see the reward of the kingdom.

For those who faithfully serve, perservearing through trials, working out their assignment, there will be a reward. See verse 30 that you may eat and drink at my table in my kingdom. The disciples reward is to be with Jesus in his kingdom. Remember what Jesus said before in Luke22:16, “for i tell you i will not eat it until it is fulfilled in the kingdom of God” and in verse 18, i will not drink of the fruit of the vine until the kingdom of God comes. The full consumption in Jesus allows for us to feast with him in his kingdom. This kingdom has been bought with a price, Jesus broke his body and gave his life for you and me. There is a new covenant that has come. Those who believe by faith that Jesus is lord are brought into the new covenant the everlasting kingdom. And as we are made new in the kingdom, those who continue in faith will eat with Jesus in the marriage supper of the lamb. Jesus there when we are seated with him, will then eat and drink with us in the kingdom. As they come to Jesus they are brought into this new kingdom. This is the reward of the assignment that we have been given that we receive the blessing of Jesus. We are now able to sit at the same table as Jesus, as brothers and sisters of Jesus, sharing in his rule.

Jesus also tells his disciples that they are to sit on thrones judging the twelve tribes of Israel. A promise that disciples of Jesus will benefit from Jesus’s rule when the kingdom is consummated. Or as one commentator writes: Judgment over the tribes of Israel was a common reward for the elect in Israel. Sitting on thrones does not denote a holiday but a work day. Those who are in Christ Jesus will be with him, eating and drinking at his table, in the end of the age. He is to be with us as we labor through this age. His kingdom will have no end, we will be able to feast with him, be able to sit at his table as brothers and sisters. With him. In that we have true greatness. This where the true greatness is found. Not in what we can do, or what we can offer, but rather in Jesus, and the blessings that are given to us by his death and resurection, by the glorious grace in Christ.

Therefore brothers and sisters

We must be Faithful servants that persevere to the end, laboring humbly looking forward to the time we get to sit at the table with Jesus, eating and drinking in His Kingdom.