Untitled Sermon (2)

Passover Meal

Jesus is telling these men that He wants to spend tis intimate time with them before he suffers

Jesus has dismissed Judas to go do his deed

Jesus has told them that one of them will betray him to death

the men were wondering who it would be

but the next thing we find them doing is arguing who of them is the greatest

V 24

the kingdom is close the king needs His trusted advisors

there needs to be a vise king right?

and a good cabinet

so these men were jockeying for positions

so Jesus uses this opportunity to teach

The Upside Down Kingdom

this worlds system is to claw your way to the top

think of a pyramid with the little people at the base holding up all of the rest

people at the bottom are trying to get higher

the people at the top are doing their best not to let the people below them get up

this is the way that Jesus is describing the world

V 25

this is what the world does. this is how leaders in this world act

V 26

but you are a part of the kingdom of God

this kingdom is not like anything you have ever seen before

the greatest is to be like the youngest

the one with dirty jobs

when Samuel came to Jesses home to anoint the next king

Jesse’s boys were all lined up oldest to youngest

Samuel went down the line then asked for another

David the youngest was out with the sheep doing the nasty job

David the youngest became the king

pastors are called shepherds

shepherds keep the flock safe, feed the flock, nurture and care for the sheep

have to leave the 99 and go out looking for the one

the shepherds we the lowest class of citizen along with the tax collector and prostitutes

the instructions of Jesus to his disciples are to be the youngest, the shepherd, the servant

this might have been the point in which Jesus took off his clothes and wrapped a towel around himself and washed the feet of His men

this act is only done by the lowest servant

V 27

Jesus is telling these men I want you to be like me

whoever here thinks that he is the greatest its time you serve the others

this pyramid is an upside down pyramid

you are on the pointy bottom supporting everyone else

this is what God’s kingdom looks like

but there are

Rewards for Faithfulness

V 28

Jesus is moving from this age to the age to come

from our work here to the millennial kingdom

his rewards for us for faithful service

Revelation 22:12 LSB

“Behold, I am coming quickly, and My reward is with Me, to render to every man according to his work.

Jesus has a few parables about the faithful servants and their rewards

V 29

Jesus is telling these men of their rewards for faithful service

remenber that John and James wanted to sit on the throne of Jesus?

well Jesus is going to give them their own thrones

they will have their own kingdom

V 30 they will sit at the round table just like king Arthur and his nights

they will be the inner circle with Jesus in the millennial kingdom

their job will start out as Judges of the tribes of ISRAEL

then it appears there will be sub kingdoms under the Hand of Jesus the king

This present world the greatest in the kingdom will be a servant to the rest

but there will be rewards for faithful service

lets look at some of the rewards Jesus is bringing for his bride

Future Rewards

the rewards we will receive will be fruit of how we were joined with Christ in his ministry and suffering

V 28

Turn to 1 Peter 1 3-9

we are by faith joined with Jesus.

we share in His suffering and because we share with Jesus we will share in the rewards

the rewards in heaven are not something valuable like here on this earth

our rewards in Heaven are precious because we did the work for and ith Christ

the apostles and the early church suffered greatly because of the witness of Jesus

they joined in with the suffering of Jesus

Romans 8:17 LSB

and if children, also heirs, heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ, if indeed we suffer with Him so that we may also be glorified with Him.

wouldn’t that be a much better reward than road tar / gold

to share in His glory

lets look at some of the rewards that are promised

there are 5 different crowns that we could receive

these crown are for actions that we take here on this earth

these are crowns that in an act of worship we will cast at the feet of Jesus who richly deserves them

the first one is the Victors Crown / Imperishable crown

1 Corinthians 9:25–27 LSB

Now everyone who competes in the games exercises self-control in all things. They then do it to receive a corruptible crown, but we an incorruptible. Therefore I run in such a way, as not without aim; I box in such a way, as not beating the air; but I discipline my body and make it my slave, so that, after I have preached to others, I myself will not be disqualified.

The Crown of Righteousness.

2 Timothy 4:1–8 LSB

I solemnly charge you in the presence of God and of Christ Jesus, who is to judge the living and the dead, and by His appearing and His kingdom: preach the word; be ready in season and out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort, with great patience and teaching. For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine, but wanting to have their ears tickled, they will accumulate for themselves teachers in accordance to their own desires, and will turn away their ears from the truth and will turn aside to myths. But you, be sober in all things, endure hardship, do the work of an evangelist, fulfill your ministry. For I am already being poured out as a drink offering, and the time of my departure has come. I have fought the good fight, I have finished the course, I have kept the faith. In the future there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award to me on that day, and not only to me, but also to all who have loved His appearing.

The Crown of Glory

1 Peter 5:1–4 LSB

Therefore, I exhort the elders among you, as your fellow elder and witness of the sufferings of Christ, and a partaker also of the glory that is to be revealed, shepherd the flock of God among you, overseeing not under compulsion, but willingly, according to God; and not for dishonest gain, but with eagerness; nor yet as lording it over those allotted to you, but being examples to the flock. And when the Chief Shepherd appears, you will receive the unfading crown of glory.

The Crown of Life

Revelation 2:10 LSB

‘Do not fear what you are about to suffer. Behold, the devil is about to cast some of you into prison, so that you will be tested, and you will have tribulation for ten days. Be faithful until death, and I will give you the crown of life.

James 1:12 LSB

Blessed is a man who perseveres under trial; for once he has been approved, he will receive the crown of life which the Lord has promised to those who love Him.

this world there will be trial tribulations.

but we need to keep our eyes on Jesus

look forward to his return

but keep a focus on the the prize

we need to have blinders on to keep Jesus and His work as our goal

we need to be shepherds to others

and servants to all