The Greatest Among You
Notes
Transcript
Introduction
Introduction
The Olympics finished up last week, and if you were paying attention, you probably saw a lot of amazing feats of athleticism. Katie Ledecky broke her own Olympic record. In the 1500 meter relay, she won gold finishing more than 10 seconds before the silver medal winner. Some consider her the GOAT. Simone Biles, after the Olympics is the most decorated gymnast to have ever lived. She has 7 gold medals in her Olympic career. She is the GOAT. At the end of the Olympics, China and the US ended with 40 gold medals each. But the US had a total of 126 medals while China had only 91; thirty-five more medals than second place. The US is the GOAT.
When one is the GOAT, there is often a sense of pride that comes along with it. The person did not just become the greatest, that person worked hard to be the greatest. She was up hours before anyone else. He skipped out on most of the fun that all his friends were having so he could train. Sacrifice and patience and working through pain and disappointment helps one to be the Greatest Of All Time.
Now it’s one thing for fans to argue about who is the GOAT. I mean, we all know Superman is the greatest superhero of all time. And it’s one thing for us to have our little debates about it. I’ve heard students argue over whether Michael Jordan or Lebron James is the greatest basketball player of all time. But if we were to see and hear MJ and King James arguing about which one of them was the greatest, we’d find it to be petty. It takes pride and boastfulness to a whole new level.
This morning we are looking at a passage that, quite frankly, could leave us scratching our heads. Jesus just announced that he’d be betrayed and that the betrayer was at the table with him, and the disciples start arguing about which of them is the greatest. How self-focused does one have to be to do something like that?
As we look at this passage, I want us to see three types of greatness that are on display in these seven verses. The first type of greatness is Private Greatness. The second is Public Greatness. Finally, there is Providential Greatness.
Private Greatness
Public Greatness
Providential Greatness
A dispute also arose among them, as to which of them was to be regarded as the greatest.
And he said to them, “The kings of the Gentiles exercise lordship over them, and those in authority over them are called benefactors.
But not so with you. Rather, let the greatest among you become as the youngest, and the leader as one who serves.
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.
“You are those who have stayed with me in my trials,
and I assign to you, as my Father assigned to me, a kingdom,
that you may eat and drink at my table in my kingdom and sit on thrones judging the twelve tribes of Israel.
Private Greatness
Private Greatness
That first type of greatness that we see in this passage is what I would call Private Greatness. And what I want us to see at this moment is that it all happened quite naturally. We may be aghast that it happened when it did, but if we had been there, we may have participated just as much as the others did.
Jesus revealed that someone was going to betray him. And so we see that the argument started with accusations as to who it might be.
And they began to question one another, which of them it could be who was going to do this.
Clearly the worst of them was the betrayer. No competition there! But who was the greatest? That was yet to be known. Let the competitors make their arguments! And they would make those arguments because in the hearts of each one of them, there was this belief of being the greatest. Each one had this estimation of himself that he was the greatest; its there in verse 24: which should be regarded as the greatest? To regard is to think or consider in the mind. I privately think I’m the greatest and you should too. Private greatness was on full-display at the dinner table, and we get to be the flies on the wall watching it all. It may seem petty to us from a distance, but it is an example of how easily our pride displays itself at a moment’s notice.
I want you to stop and think about something for a moment. Nothing on earth makes us proud. We like to think that circumstances make us proud. But it’s not true. Sometimes we might hear someone say something like, “all the attention has gone to his head. It’s made him proud.” Or perhaps when someone wins a competition we hear that person say, “Finally, something I can be proud about.” But nothing actually can make us proud. We are proud by nature.
When we look at the disciples accusing one another in verse 23, we see pride. Andrew thinking James could do it, but not himself. James thinking Matthew had it in him to betray, but not himself. Matthew thinking Simon would, but not him. When accusations like this come, it displays pride. The circumstance only gives an occasion for what is already in the heart to display itself. We already compete with others privately; it is only a matter of time before it raises its ugly head. When push comes to shove, the heart will overflow with what’s already there.
But when they began to ask the question Matthew wrote, “Is it I, Lord,” it was from wounded pride. Not me! Surely it can’t be me? Jesus, put it on record that I would not betray you. How could anyone point the finger at me? How could anyone think I would do such a thing? Having fingers pointed at us wounds our pride and we begin to display wounded pride with defensiveness.
When we look at this passage, it’s easy to think that pride began at this moment in the argument, but it had crept out of the hearts the moment the word “betray” had been uttered. It was always there, just waiting for the opportunity. And once that opportunity presented itself, the disciples were off to the races,in some sick competition about who was greatest. Being great wasn’t enough. Each wanted to be and argued that he was “the greatest.”
Beloved, pride lurks in every one of our hearts. And it presents itself in a million ways when opportunities arise. But nothing outside of us causes pride; whatever is outside of us only gives the opportunity to put our pride on display as we use it to compare ourselves and puff ourselves up. Listen to the words of C.S. Lewis:
Pride gets no pleasure out of having something, only out of having more of it than the next man. We say that people are proud of being rich, or clever, or good-looking, but they are not. They are proud of being richer, or cleverer, or better-looking than others. If someone else became equally rich, or clever, or good-looking there would be nothing to be proud about. It is the comparison that makes you proud: the pleasure of being above the rest. Once the element of competition has gone, pride has gone. . .
As long as you are proud you cannot know God. A proud man is always looking down on things and people: and, of course, as long as you are looking down, you cannot see something that is above you.
This was true with the disciples as they forgot all about Jesus, the greatest person who had ever existed. It is true of us.
Public Greatness
Public Greatness
And this leads us to the second type of greatness. There is first Private Greatness which is in the heart of every human being always looking to compare and display itself. The second is Public Greatness.
And he said to them, “The kings of the Gentiles exercise lordship over them, and those in authority over them are called benefactors.
But not so with you. Rather, let the greatest among you become as the youngest, and the leader as one who serves.
In a matter of seconds, Jesus gives the distinctions between what public greatness looks like in a Christless world and a Christian world. In a Christless world, the private greatness becomes public greatness, in that the private estimation of oneself spills over into the public. And it comes out in two ways, generally speaking.
The first focuses on power and the second focuses on people. Those who focus on power show how great they are. They can get things done. They’ll fix the economy. They’ll stop the corruption. They’ll do this and they’ll do that because they have the power to get it done.
Those who focus on the people are just as prideful as those who focus on power. They’re just better at hiding it. They make the people feel important. They’re doing this for the regular Joe Schmoe. What would we do without such and such a person in office. We need him. We need her. She is our benefactor; we benefit when she is in power. That’s how this kind of person presents himself or herself.
And we know that both of these are true, don’t we? We are in the middle of an election-cycle. And we see countless political ads and all of them tout one or both of these types of public greatness. Either the politician is bragging about how great he is and how things get done when he is in power or she is pretending to be the people’s candidate; the people are better off with her in power. She’s their benefactor; he’s their benefactor. He’s the greatest, no she’s the greatest!
And people fall for it. Even Christians! Yet, brothers and sisters, both are Christless ways of displaying public greatness. Both show that the ruler of their hearts is self. Jesus said that this is the way of Gentiles, of pagans. And then he says, “But not so with you,” and the emphasis is on the you. Not my followers.
What does public greatness look like in a Christian world? It looks like a nobody. Jesus said it looks like the youngest or a servant. In biblical days, the youngest was nothing special; the servant was a nobody. Both were often overlooked.
Let me ask you, who was Israel’s greatest king? King David. Where did he fall among his siblings? He was the youngest. And when Samuel went to anoint Israel’s new king, where was young David? He was serving his family by watching sheep. No one had thought to call him. He was overlooked, passed over—until, that is, God said he’s the one.
Now, Jesus didn’t mean that the youngest are the best leaders. Nor did he mean that all servants make fantastic powers that be. What he says is that those who are Christian leaders become as the youngest and as the one who serves. We become the ones that don’t need the limelight. We are the ones that don’t need to tell how great we are or that we are here for the people. Our actions speak louder than words.
And he uses himself as an example.
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.
Jesus knows he is the greatest, but he shows it not by lording it over the disciples, but by serving them. John tells us that before serving Passover, he took a cloth and washed the disciples’ feet. He is the one who hands them the bread and the cup. He is the one who is soon to die for them. Jesus, being the greatest, should have been able to rest and relax. People should have been feeding him grapes and massaging his shoulders. Instead, he took the form of a servant. That was his main role in all of life. He went to the those in need to heal them and to teach them. He would meet with people wherever it was necessary: at a wedding, at a well, or in the wilderness. He served the hungry, the hurting, and the hopeless. He met with the poor and the rich. And most of it he did in public. His life was the life of a servant and yet he was the greatest man to have ever lived.
Providential Greatness
Providential Greatness
Which leads us to the last type of greatness. There is first private greatness which is the natural bent of self in the heart. Then there is public greatness when what is in the heart oozes out in our words and actions. But lastly there is Providential Greatness.
“You are those who have stayed with me in my trials,
and I assign to you, as my Father assigned to me, a kingdom,
that you may eat and drink at my table in my kingdom and sit on thrones judging the twelve tribes of Israel.
By God’s design, greatness will be given to the followers of Christ. We don’t need to seek it. We don’t need to aspire to it. There is a lot that is going on here, so I want to take just a moment to look at each of these verses.
In verse 28, we see that Jesus stated that the disciples had stayed with him in his trials. Throughout his ministry, these were the ones that never gave up. They witnessed all that Jesus went through. They heard all the hard sayings that Jesus spoke. They witnessed all the temptations that befell him. And they did not go away. They did not quit. Ultimately, his suffering would become their suffering.
Then in verse 29, Jesus states explicitly, that these followers would reign with him. Just as surely as he would reign, they would reign.
And in verse 30, Jesus hearkens back to the Last Supper. They will all eat together again one table and rule together on thrones of glory.
What does all this mean? It means that their true greatness—our true greatness—is not determined by our estimation of ourselves. It is not determined by the power we wield or the names we are given (like benefactor). It is determined by our being linked to Jesus. Jesus is truly the greatest, and our greatness comes only by our being in him and with him. As much as the disciples wanted to think of themselves as the greatest, Jesus was truly the greatest. As much as pagan leaders want to be lord and present themselves as the benefactor, Jesus is the Lord of lords and the Benefactor of benefactors. True greatness and true blessings come only through our closeness to Jesus.
Paul understood this concept completely. If you’re familiar with 1 Corinthians, you probably will remember that there arose arguments among the church in Corinth as to which tribe they belonged. I’m of Paul. I’m of Apollos. I’m of Cephas. I’m of Christ. Toward the end of his rebuke, Paul said these words. Listen closely.
This is how one should regard us, as servants of Christ and stewards of the mysteries of God.
Moreover, it is required of stewards that they be found faithful.
But with me it is a very small thing that I should be judged by you or by any human court. In fact, I do not even judge myself.
For I am not aware of anything against myself, but I am not thereby acquitted. It is the Lord who judges me.
Therefore do not pronounce judgment before the time, before the Lord comes, who will bring to light the things now hidden in darkness and will disclose the purposes of the heart. Then each one will receive his commendation from God.
I have applied all these things to myself and Apollos for your benefit, brothers, that you may learn by us not to go beyond what is written, that none of you may be puffed up in favor of one against another.
For who sees anything different in you? What do you have that you did not receive? If then you received it, why do you boast as if you did not receive it?
Paul said they were servants of Christ and stewards of the mysteries of God. That was their position. It was not a position of authority and greatness. It was a position that linked them to Jesus himself. And so what does he say? It doesn’t matter to him what the Corinthians say about him. Whether they’re in “his camp,” or not. Whether they like him and think he’s the greatest thing since sliced bread or whether they aren’t all that impressed. He doesn’t care. Why? Because his greatness and his benefits are not tied to them. He is not judged by them or anyone else.
Then he says, I don’t even care what I think about me. I’m not even the judge of me. So my private greatness and my public greatness mean nothing at all. The Lord is my judge. And I’m not going to allow anyone’s judgment of me to distract me—whether its in my favor or against me. Everything I have. Everything I am, I have received from Jesus. He is the Benefactor of benefactors. He is Lord of lords.
Brothers and sisters, let me ask you this. How much of a difference would you experience in life if you took the attitude of Paul? If you suddenly committed to only caring what Jesus thought of you instead of what you thought of you and what others thought of you? What if you took seriously the idea that everything we are and have comes from the Benefactor of benefactors and there was no reason to worry about what others called you or how others judged you?
Would that not be freeing? When the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed.
Conclusion
Conclusion
As we finish up with this portion of Luke, we’ve seen three types of greatness. There is the private greatness—the greatness of our prideful hearts. It’s always looking to compete and show itself. Then there is the public greatness. If pagan, it will either focus on power or people; if Christian, then overlooked selfless service. Finally, we have seen providential greatness. By God’s plan and power, Christ and all who are in him are exalted.
You may ask, how is it that one goes from private greatness that is full of pride to a public greatness full of selfless service? Certainly, one can fool the masses. They can pretend to be selfless while all the while they are looking for power. The true test of course is within them. Are they upset when they are overlooked? Are they weary of being so selfless and want to be served themselves. That shows the pride is still in their hearts.
But there is the true way and that is to have the very heart and mind of Christ in us. It is through repentance of our old self, the part of us that is self-focused, self-serving, and self-empowering. It is faith in Christ who died on our behalf and rose for our righteousness—not in theory or declaration alone, but in all its fulness and reality. If we are ever hoping to live a life that is truly as Christ described in this passage today, we must live in repentance and faith. As T. W. Hunt wrote, “Genuine conversion means a change of life and especially a change with our attitude toward sin.” And he reminds us that “Freedom from bondage to sin is not accomplished by will power, but by the grace of the Holy Spirit.” That’s how we live in selfless service. Not by will-power, but by grace. The grace of the Holy Spirit not only regenerated our hearts toward salvation, but also toward service.
Beloved, we will never be the greatest, but we can be in the greatest by the grace of the Holy Spirit.
Prayer
Our heavenly Father,
Renew our hearts, our egos, our minds so that we have the same attitude as Christ Jesus our Lord. By your grace accomplish what our will-power can never do. Set us free from the tyranny of our own self-evaluations and the evaluations of others, and rest in you and your thoughts toward us.
In Jesus’s name. Amen.