The Positional Debate: Greatest in God's Kingdom

I wonder how many of you enjoy watching shows that leave you with a suspenseful closing scene at the end of the year, only to leave you waiting for several months of anticipation.

A bombshell scene.

We experienced something like this but it was a 14 year wait for our boys, and Heather and I were unaware the boys have been waiting.

You see as children, we took them to the movies to watch the Incredibles. A animated movie about a superhero family and the struggles they went through. I believe we even had the DVD for them to watch and re-watch the movie.

When we were making plans to move out here, from Alberta and leaving the boys, now grown men, we decided to go as a family and watch in the movies the Incredibles 2. As it was being released in theaters as we were leaving.

“Great” exclaimed both boys, “we can now find out about the underminer!”

You see the movie left the cliff hanger about a character that appeared for a 3 second clip and then the credits rolled. We had forgotten, but the boys didn’t.

We are looking through Luke’s description of the last days of Christ leading up to his Crucifixion. It’s a small series as we look forward to the coming days of Celebrating the Easter story.

A story that is not only one day a year, but a celebration that we can live daily as we serve a risen saviour.

Last week’s bombshell was given by Christ that one of them would betray Him.

In the moment of an intimate meal of celebration, as the meal concludes, Christ drops a bombshell,

I left you with the cliff hanger of what will the disciples do with this news.

Well it’s not much of a cliff hanger if you continued reading the passage.

So let’s do that together.

Turn with me if you would to Luke 22:24-34

Luke 22:24–43 ESV

24 A dispute also arose among them, as to which of them was to be regarded as the greatest. 25 And he said to them, “The kings of the Gentiles exercise lordship over them, and those in authority over them are called benefactors. 26 But not so with you. Rather, let the greatest among you become as the youngest, and the leader as one who serves. 27 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. 28 “You are those who have stayed with me in my trials, 29 and I assign to you, as my Father assigned to me, a kingdom, 30 that you may eat and drink at my table in my kingdom and sit on thrones judging the twelve tribes of Israel. 31 “Simon, Simon, behold, Satan demanded to have you, that he might sift you like wheat, 32 but I have prayed for you that your faith may not fail. And when you have turned again, strengthen your brothers.” 33 Peter said to him, “Lord, I am ready to go with you both to prison and to death.” 34 Jesus said, “I tell you, Peter, the rooster will not crow this day, until you deny three times that you know me.” 35 And he said to them, “When I sent you out with no moneybag or knapsack or sandals, did you lack anything?” They said, “Nothing.” 36 He said to them, “But now let the one who has a moneybag take it, and likewise a knapsack. And let the one who has no sword sell his cloak and buy one. 37 For I tell you that this Scripture must be fulfilled in me: ‘And he was numbered with the transgressors.’ For what is written about me has its fulfillment.” 38 And they said, “Look, Lord, here are two swords.” And he said to them, “It is enough.” 39 And he came out and went, as was his custom, to the Mount of Olives, and the disciples followed him. 40 And when he came to the place, he said to them, “Pray that you may not enter into temptation.” 41 And he withdrew from them about a stone’s throw, and knelt down and prayed, 42 saying, “Father, if you are willing, remove this cup from me. Nevertheless, not my will, but yours, be done.” 43 And there appeared to him an angel from heaven, strengthening him.

Let’s Pray

This passage this morning looks at two different discussions.

The first is a debate, the second, although what could be described as a debate is really quite a declaration.

You see, they had just finished an intimate meal with Christ and

“There they were inquiring which would be the traitor, and here which should be the prince.”

The Positional Debate

It all began with a positional debate.

Before we become too hard on the disciples and their apparent lack of awareness, let me tell you it is a common story among people. In fact, it starts quite early in life.

On thursday morning, as some of the children were arriving for school as some come early, I asked their teachers if I could get their help with assembling the electronic drum kit. It had been fully disassembled and need assembly.

I could have easily done it myself, but I thought it would be fun for the children.

As I began to instruct them in the process, more and more children arrived, and it quickly became a lesson in crowd and people management on a macro stage.

I had several students sorting the items in their respective parts and assembling the parts.

Here is what I witnessed.

One student, as I quickly stepped out of the room to collect two parts in my office, had begun to tell the other students, what they were to do. (I was gone a minute)

upon my return, a few were complaining already that,

for the sake of not pointing out the children, let’s call him Peter, was telling them all what to do.

I had others wresting to help and be the ones to put the pieces together.

the funniest, let’s call him John, came up to me on the side.

He exclaimed to me, of course realizing that it was a drum set being put together, declared anytime we put things together, “I’m the tester to make sure it works!”

He wanted to play the drums.

in a 15 min gathering of kindergarten children, we discovered the same characteristics of the disciples.

The Question

A good debate always starts out with a question.

My Bible sums it up this way as a title for this passage,

Who is the greatest?

Luke 22:24 ESV

24 A dispute also arose among them, as to which of them was to be regarded as the greatest.

Luke places this discussion right after the discussion of treachery.

In fact, this was not just a one time discussion but had come up before and like our kindergarten class showed me,

this is a common problem

Who is the greatest?

turn with me to Matthew 20:20

Matthew 20:20 ESV

20 Then the mother of the sons of Zebedee came up to him with her sons, and kneeling before him she asked him for something.

A simple request from a mother’s heart.

A mother coming to the feet of Jesus.

Look at my boys..... Jesus… Look at what they have given up for you......

Matthew 20:21 (ESV)

21 ........ “Say that these two sons of mine are to sit, one at your right hand and one at your left, in your kingdom.”

She wanted the best for her boys. James, John, my boys. Are they going to be your favorite?

John, the writer of one of the Gospels even refers himself to “The one who Jesus Loves”

I often look at that statement and wonder if John was a little bias and self focused in his book.

Maybe you have asked yourself that question as well. Did John really think he was the most loved disciple of the group?

As I was reading and working on this message I came across an article answering this statement.

John didn’t state he was the writer, but was modestly focusing in on the news that God loved even him

We can read throughout the gospels that John was one of Jesus’ closest disciples as he, along with Peter and James were taken to various places with Jesus without the others.

He was at the table reclining with Jesus- John 13:23 “23 One of his disciples, whom Jesus loved, was reclining at table at Jesus’ side,”

He was at the transfiguration to witness Jesus conversing with Key figures

He was asked to walk with Jesus in the Garden of Gethsemane and support Jesus in his hour of need for prayer

These are all examples of what a close friend would do with one another.

3. Finally, John had a front row seat to the events of Jesus’ life and was in Awe of Jesus’ awesome love for the world.

as our good friend, Jim would say.

God’s unconditional Love

John was there as Jesus’ Crucifixion along with Mary and heard the words of Jesus,

Take care of my mother.

I’m not sure John thought to himself as the greatest when he wrote this Gospel as life had changed for him,

But at this point in the narrative,

There was a dispute among all the disciples for the who is the greatest.

The Response

The debate was rolling along with the disciples and Jesus decided to respond.

Quite simple. Your looking greatness the wrong way

Luke 22:25 ESV

25 And he said to them, “The kings of the Gentiles exercise lordship over them, and those in authority over them are called benefactors.

The World’s View

Jesus begins to answer this question with taking them to the world’s view of Greatness.

exercise Lordship, the greek word is

New American Standard Hebrew-Aramaic and Greek Dictionaries: Updated Edition 2961 κυριεύω (kurieuō)

κυριεύω kurieuō

(key-rear- ow)

it’s a word used very little in the New Testament but is used in the way to bring attention to the person who is holding power.

A ruler who is like a slave owner and holds this power over someone else.

In fact, Jesus describes the concept of a benefactor.

This was not just a description but that of a title.

A title sought out after and to the Jewish mind (namely at this point the disciples),

the gentile would do this to seek personal recognition.

Do we do things to seek personal recognition?

It wasn’t so much having the title

as it was to take all of your energy

and to strive to accomplish this title

so that you can lord or hold it over someone.

This was the negative description of what the Gentile would be doing.

The Disciple’s View

Jesus quickly points out to the disciples that they were falling into the trap of the gentile or the worldly view.

luke 22:26 “26 But not so with you. Rather, let the greatest among you become as the youngest, and the leader as one who serves.”

Jesus realized that there is a human nature in all of us that, if left unchecked, our nature will desire to be like this.

Not so with you.

A calling on how we are to approach leadership.

A way of a disciple that should be different than that of the world.

Jesus points to two ways this can be manifested in our lives.

First, The greatest

and

second, the leader.

The greatest should be that of a child like quality.

The reference to age in the ancient near east was that a child would receive little honor or respect.

Greatness is about seeking honor and respect because of your position.

Jesus was telling them that they should not seek out this praise to bring honor and glory to themselves.

The second was that of leading.

A leader in the mind of Jesus is one who is willing to do that what is considered below most people.

A servant leader is one who is giving up the glory for the gunk.

March in Mud out-

The greatness of the team was not an individual. It was all.....

shovelers, wheelbarrow haulers, gathering homes to help, gathering names of volunteers, preparing meals for the volunteers, supporting in prayer as you are not physically able to shovel.

Our faith was shown yesterday for those who drove by.

news......

A servant leader is one who is willing to do things for people that are sitting at the table demanding from them.

Jesus was saying a servant was considered that of a slave. The lowest on the social ladder.

Jesus tells his disciples that a servant leader is doing it not for the praise or glory, but the calling on their lives.

Jesus ends this reminder as He himself is the example of a true servant.

John shows us this in John 13 as he sets out and begins the process of washing his disciples feet. A lowliest of lowliest task of that day.

He then said to his disciples,

Go and do likewise

The Lesson

What lesson can we all learn from this example and positional debate among the disciples?

First off, last week I had a question about the table and how it relates to us after the second coming of Christ. As I mentioned the Lord’s Supper is a remembrance of what He has done and he looks forward to the day He can sit down with the followers in His Kingdom.

This can be answered by reading this lesson.

You see, Luke then goes on with the description and dialogue with His disciples by telling us these words given directly to the disciples

Luke 22:28–30 ESV

28 “You are those who have stayed with me in my trials, 29 and I assign to you, as my Father assigned to me, a kingdom, 30 that you may eat and drink at my table in my kingdom and sit on thrones judging the twelve tribes of Israel.

The Expositor’s Bible Commentary, Volume 8: Matthew, Mark, Luke (2. The Last Supper (22:7–38))

One commentary commented to point out that

Verse 28 is not in Matthew or Mark;

it shows that Jesus’ trials kept on between his temptation by Satan (ch. 4) and the passion events.

It also recognizes the faithfulness of the disciples during this time.

The comparison “just as” (kathōs, v. 29) is like that Jesus gave his

John 20:21 ESV

21 Jesus said to them again, “Peace be with you. As the Father has sent me, even so I am sending you.”

disciples in the commission in John 20:21, which was comparable to the one he received from his Father.

Here in Luke the picture is not just that of a commission and

a suggestion of the new covenant referred to in v. 20.

The verb diatithemai (“confer”) here (v. 29) is cognate to diathēkē (“covenant”) there. (For a similar promise in noncovenantal language, see 12:32.)

The idea of a messianic banquet is reflected in v. 30

It is also spoken about in Luke 13:28-30

Luke 13:28–30 ESV

28 In that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth, when you see Abraham and Isaac and Jacob and all the prophets in the kingdom of God but you yourselves cast out. 29 And people will come from east and west, and from north and south, and recline at table in the kingdom of God. 30 And behold, some are last who will be first, and some are first who will be last.”

Matthew’s parallel to this verse is preceded by a reference to the “renewal of all things” (palingenesia) instead of to the kingdom

There is coming a day of judgement and a banquet feast when Christ will rule It is that feast and time that Jesus is looking forward to as well as us. The day that we can sit down at a table and celebrate the lamb in our presence.

A Personal Declaration

The text now turns from a group debate and response to a personal declaration towards dear Peter.

Luke 22:31 ESV

31 “Simon, Simon, behold, Satan demanded to have you, that he might sift you like wheat,

The other Sunday I mentioned that those who have a target on them because they are doing great things for the kingdom.

Peter was one of those folks,

Simon, Simon,

The Heavenly Debate

Jesus gives Simon Peter a little nudge in his direction.

The other day I mentioned to the teacher that one of her students wanted to be the “tester” of the drums, her response was

Oh really,

Somewhere there must have been some debate, or Jesus knew that Peter was going to have his faith challenged.

In fact,

one person wrote,

The Bible Knowledge Commentary (22:31–34)

Jesus revealed that Peter would deny Him three times that same night, before the rooster crows. However, He assured Peter that in spite of Satan’s desire to sift the disciples (you is pl. in the Gr.) like wheat (i.e., to put them through difficult times),

Peter’s faith would not fail. He would be restored (turned back), and would be the leader of the disciples (i.e., the leader of the group of brothers).

Christ’s Response

Christ’s response to Peter

You see Christ’s response to Peter was not to knock him down or to discourage him. It was to bring about some news that he needed to hear.

Peter, rely upon me for your strength because there is a time coming where you will be tested.

I at that time will have your back.

I will be the one that picks you up and

through me you will receive the strength that is needed to stand up against Satan.

Peter’s Response

As you can see through all of Peter’s Life, his response is predicable.

No Way, Not me.

I’m there to the end, nothing is going to stop me.

Remember,

I jumped out of the boat to meet you on the water

I’ll jump to your rescue if people come to drag you away.

I may even grab a sword to defend you.

Christ, my master, I will use everything within my power to stand strong for you and you alone.

Christ’s Rebuttal

Christ’s response is simple and direct.

It wasn’t a great, it’s good to know Peter that you have my back no matter what will happen.

he simple said.

Luke 22:34 ESV

34 Jesus said, “I tell you, Peter, the rooster will not crow this day, until you deny three times that you know me.”

harsh words coming from the master to a fully devoted follower,

What is missing?

Why would this rebuttal from Jesus be so harsh for the beloved Simon Peter

The key to this is found in where one, a fully devoted follower of Christ places there strength.

You see on Peter’s own strength and by his own power, he will fail.

Christ was reminding Peter once again, that we must gain our strength from God and God alone.

In Summary

In summary,

What can we take away from this passage.

In the next few weeks, we will be asking you to look throughout our congregation for leadership. We will be asking you to both look and examine yourself to see the calling on your life to stand up and be a leader.

Leadership requires that we rely on the strength of the Spirit to guide us.

It is not something we strive after to obtain that greatness, but to do it in a way to serve one another.

The second lesson we can learn from this passage is what we do during times of Struggles and personal failures.

Many of us need to realize that Satan is attempting to knock us off our game. To have us think that we cannot do something great for the Kingdom of God because of the circumstance we find ourselves in or the past we have been through.

Paul reminds us, as a man who himself struggled tells us that

Philippians 4:13 ESV

13 I can do all things through him who strengthens me.

As the worship team come forward to lead us in a response to worship, let me summarize by these words written

The Preacher’s Commentary Series, Volume 26: Luke (A Prediction)

Jesus says to Peter (calling him by his old name), “Simon, Satan has asked to have you.” Satan wanted not just Peter, but all twelve.(even to us today) Satan did claim Judas, and we don’t know how that happened. When Peter came face to face with his own weaknesses and denial, he became Peter the Rock. We need not be ashamed of our weakness, our humanity. It can become a valuable asset. Peter went on to be an unmovable rock in the kingdom, crucified upside down by choice because he felt unworthy to be crucified in the same manner as his Lord.

A story is told of a man

He recently who lost his wife in an automobile accident, and who has been raising their children alone. He said to his counselor

“I saw a sign in the park that describes me,” he told me. “It was posted in an area where new grass had been planted.

It said, ‘Not ready for use—healing.’”

The counselor said to him, “No way. That’s not you. That’s grass.

When you are healed or while you are still healing, you can reach out to those who are experiencing grief and loss like nobody else.” In the kingdom, our own brokenness and humanity become a great resource.

God has a great plan for each one of us no matter what state we find ourselves in.

It’s not a debate to see who is best.

It’s not a list of who has failed.

It’s an assignment to live through Christ’s Power through the Spirit to bring honor and glory to God.

Response to Worship

Benediction

Revelation 5:12–13 (ESV)

12 ... “Worthy is the Lamb who was slain, to receive power and wealth and wisdom and might and honor and glory and blessing!” 13 ... “To him who sits on the throne and to the Lamb be blessing and honor and glory and might forever and ever!”

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