A New Level of Humility
Passion Week • Sermon • Submitted
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· 4 viewsJesus said that the benefactors in the church are those who are slaves and children.
Notes
Transcript
Introduction
Introduction
What should a church leader look like?
Here are some traits of the an effective church leader according to a few resources
Personal Influence: Leaders influence others to get things done. They help others see what needs to be done and then show them the path forward.
Big Picture Thinker: Leaders are big picture thinkers and can rise above the day-to-day and see things from a broad perspective. They have the ability to get people excited about where they’re going and how to get there.
Define priorities.
Manage emergencies.
Read a lot.
See it, own it, work it, pray it, help it.
https://smartchurchmanagement.com/church-leadership-traits/
https://pastormentor.com/better-leader-successful-pastor/
https://www.churchleadership.com/leading-ideas/5-steps-church-vitality-turnaround/
The idea of leadership has primarily the idea of “get it done…and get others to do it with you.”
But, is that what the Scriptures say?
Does God want us to “get it done” when it comes to leadership?
How does that square with the actual work of church leadership?
Very often these lists don’t include the quality of a man in leadership.
They concentrate on his ability to accomplish, not on the condition of his motives and heart.
That is the way the world does it, but that is not the way the church should do it.
Today’s message is for all of us in this church.
However, it is primarily for those who lead.
This is the measurement of God’s leader.
What kind of man should he be?
We’ll find out today and again next Lord’s Day.
Context:
Context:
Luke is written in order to to give a consecutive accounting of the life, ministry, death, and resurrection of the Messiah, Jesus Christ.
1 Inasmuch as many have undertaken to compile an account of the things accomplished among us, 2 just as they were handed down to us by those who from the beginning were eyewitnesses and servants of the word, 3 it seemed fitting for me as well, having investigated everything carefully from the beginning, to write it out for you in consecutive order, most excellent Theophilus; 4 so that you may know the exact truth about the things you have been taught.
His student was a man likely a Gentile governing official of some sort.
He apparently became a “bishop” (Pastor) in Antioch
He has a very good reputation among the church:
22 A band of soldiers, Ammon and Zeno and Ptolemy and Ingenes, and with them an old man, Theophilus, were standing close together before the tribunal. And as a certain person who was being tried as a Christian, seemed inclined to deny, they standing by gnashed their teeth, and made signs with their faces and stretched out their hands, and gestured with their bodies. And when the attention of all was turned to them, before any one else could seize them, they rushed up to the tribunal saying that they were Christians, so that the governor and his council were affrighted. And those who were on trial appeared most courageous in prospect of their sufferings, while their judges trembled. And they went exultingly from the tribunal rejoicing in their testimony; God himself having caused them to triumph gloriously.”
Luke had a great deal to do with that.
Of all the writers of the NT, Luke wrote the most, in terms of words.
His gospel is broken up into 24 chapters with the central point being this verse:
But, the central verse that hinges the book is:
51 When the days were approaching for His ascension, He was determined to go to Jerusalem;
From this point, Jesus is focused on going to Jerusalem to die.
Main Point:
Luke wants to teach, and reiterate, to Theophilus about the earthly life of Jesus Christ, both from sources who were there with Jesus while He was on earth (His mother, brothers, etc..), and those who were His followers from His ministry (the apostles).
It is likely that others were writing about Jesus, including Matthew and Mark, and he was confident that a researched record of Jesus would benefit Theophilus and others.
Outline:
Outline:
Luke arranged his book into 7 sections:
Classic Greek
Educated
Prologue (1:1-4)
The Infancy Narrative (1:5-2:52)
The Preparation of Jesus’ Ministry (3:1-4:15)
Jesus’ Ministry in Galilee (4:16-9:50)
Jesus’ Journey to Jerusalem (9:51-19:27)
Jesus’ Passion (22:1-23:56)
The Resurrection and Ascension of Jesus (24:1-53)
We are currently in Jesus’ Passion, that is, His suffering.
Saturday before: enters Bethany, where Lazarus and his sisters live
1 Jesus, therefore, six days before the Passover, came to Bethany where Lazarus was, whom Jesus had raised from the dead.
Sunday before: the crowds leave Jerusalem and come to Bethany
9 The large crowd of the Jews then learned that He was there; and they came, not for Jesus’ sake only, but that they might also see Lazarus, whom He raised from the dead.
Monday: Jesus enters Jerusalem
12 On the next day the large crowd who had come to the feast, when they heard that Jesus was coming to Jerusalem, 13 took the branches of the palm trees and went out to meet Him, and began to shout, “Hosanna! Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord, even the King of Israel.”
Tuesday: Jesus returns to the Temple and overturns the tables
11 Jesus entered Jerusalem and came into the temple; and after looking around at everything, He left for Bethany with the twelve, since it was already late.
45 Jesus entered the temple and began to drive out those who were selling, 46 saying to them, “It is written, ‘And My house shall be a house of prayer,’ but you have made it a robbers’ den.”
Wednesday: Jesus spends a long day teaching, especially concerning His Second Coming
1 As He was going out of the temple, one of His disciples said to Him, “Teacher, behold what wonderful stones and what wonderful buildings!”
5 And while some were talking about the temple, that it was adorned with beautiful stones and votive gifts, He said,
NOTE: at this point, Jesus no longer went back to Bethany to stay, but up to the Mount of Olives.
37 Now during the day He was teaching in the temple, but at evening He would go out and spend the night on the mount that is called Olivet.
Thursday: The preparation for the Passover, the Passover meal, the betrayal and arrest
13 And they left and found everything just as He had told them; and they prepared the Passover.
54 Having arrested Him, they led Him away and brought Him to the house of the high priest; but Peter was following at a distance.
Friday: the trials and crucifixion of Jesus
66 When it was day, the Council of elders of the people assembled, both chief priests and scribes, and they led Him away to their council chamber, saying,
33 When they came to the place called The Skull, there they crucified Him and the criminals, one on the right and the other on the left.
Saturday: Sabbath Rest; Jesus is in heaven with His Father
54 It was the preparation day, and the Sabbath was about to begin. 55 Now the women who had come with Him out of Galilee followed, and saw the tomb and how His body was laid. 56 Then they returned and prepared spices and perfumes. And on the Sabbath they rested according to the commandment.
Sunday: Resurrection; Jesus appears to women first, then apostles/disciples
1 But on the first day of the week, at early dawn, they came to the tomb bringing the spices which they had prepared. 2 And they found the stone rolled away from the tomb, 3 but when they entered, they did not find the body of the Lord Jesus.
In the background of all of these things is the men whom Jesus chose to serve Him after He returns to the Father.
They are not extra-ordinary men.
They are regular men who are sovereignly chosen by God for the task.
But, they are also sovereignly equipped by God the Son for the task.
But, due to the nature of the kingdom of God, and their own nature, being a leader in the Lord’s work is unlike anything else.
I would like to give you some reasons why the Lord’s work is unlike anything else:
The quality of the kingdom of God is based upon God, not this world.
The world we live in is plunged into darkness because of the enemy’s assault on Adam.
The only resource we have for doing the task ahead of us is the Bible.
“Luke 22:24–27 (Luke (NIGTC)): If there is the possibility of betrayal of Jesus by one of the group of disciples, there is also the possibility of strife among them as a result of a worldly desire for places of position and authority. Jesus is aware that worldly rulers are rewarded with power over their subjects and even receive titles expressive of the services that they have rendered, but he contrasts this practice with the entirely different state of affairs that must exist among his followers. The person who is, or who claims to be, the greatest must become like the youngest and most insignificant, and even like a servant. For while it is true that in human society the guest is greater than the servant, Jesus himself has come among men as a servant. The real leader is the person who is prepared to follow his example.”
We can actually be comforted that God can use men like this to accomplish His eternal purposes!
Contention-v.24
Kings-v.25
Contrast-vv.26-27
Body
Body
Contention:
Contention:
24 And there arose also a dispute among them as to which one of them was regarded to be greatest.
24 Ἐγένετο δὲ καὶ φιλονεικία ἐν αὐτοῖς, τὸ τίς αὐτῶν δοκεῖ εἶναι μείζων.
Literally: “And even a contention began among them, as to which of them it might seem to be greater (than the others).”
This isn’t the first time:
1 At that time the disciples came to Jesus and said, “Who then is greatest in the kingdom of heaven?” 2 And He called a child to Himself and set him before them, 3 and said, “Truly I say to you, unless you are converted and become like children, you will not enter the kingdom of heaven. 4 “Whoever then humbles himself as this child, he is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven. 5 “And whoever receives one such child in My name receives Me; 6 but whoever causes one of these little ones who believe in Me to stumble, it would be better for him to have a heavy millstone hung around his neck, and to be drowned in the depth of the sea.
33 They came to Capernaum; and when He was in the house, He began to question them, “What were you discussing on the way?” 34 But they kept silent, for on the way they had discussed with one another which of them was the greatest. 35 Sitting down, He called the twelve and said to them, “If anyone wants to be first, he shall be last of all and servant of all.” 36 Taking a child, He set him before them, and taking him in His arms, He said to them, 37 “Whoever receives one child like this in My name receives Me; and whoever receives Me does not receive Me, but Him who sent Me.”
46 An argument started among them as to which of them might be the greatest. 47 But Jesus, knowing what they were thinking in their heart, took a child and stood him by His side, 48 and said to them, “Whoever receives this child in My name receives Me, and whoever receives Me receives Him who sent Me; for the one who is least among all of you, this is the one who is great.”
It seems that these men had it in their minds that one of them would become the greater of the others.
That would be a normal thing to think about.
But that is the problem-it IS normal....in the church, but it should not be.
But, in what sense would they expect to be “greater”?
A Critical and Exegetical Commentary on the Gospel according to St. Luke 22:1–23:56. The Preparation for the Passion
μείζων. Not quite equivalent to the superlative, which would have indicated several gradations from lowest to highest. The comparative implies only two,—a superior and all the rest as equals: 9:46; Mk. 9:34. Win. 35:4, p. 305.
What they were arguing over was which one of them would rule over the other men.
They did not understand the kingdom, which Jesus will clarify in our next section.
They did not understand the Lord, that He is a slave while on earth, which He will clarify in our next passage.
It seems that the men would be the product of the modern rabbinic thinking, which elevated Messiah and His people Israel, above the other nations.
It seemed logical to assume a “head of state” in that elevated condition.
And, since these men have been chosen to accompany Messiah, really only one of them can be the “greatest.”
Kings
Kings
25 And He said to them, “The kings of the Gentiles lord it over them; and those who have authority over them are called ‘Benefactors.’
25 ὁ δὲ εἶπεν αὐτοῖς, Οἱ βασιλεῖς τῶν ἐθνῶν κυριεύουσιν αὐτῶν καὶ οἱ ἐξουσιάζοντες αὐτῶν εὐεργέται καλοῦνται.
“kings of the Gentiles”...”those who have authority”
This would refer to the rulers over the Gentile nations.
“kings”
“Lord it over”
“exercising authority”
The word is common in the LXX, esp. for משל, whether of alien and oppressive rule or usurpation (e.g., 1 Macc. 10:76), of the self-elected king (Ju. 9:2), or of God in Ep. Ar., 16, 17, 18, 45, 269. Cf. Eth. En. 22:14.
In the NT it occurs at Lk. 22:25 in Luke’s own formulation of a Synoptic saying: οἱ βασιλεῖς τῶν ἐθνῶν κυριεύουσιν αὐτῶν, καὶ οἱ ἐξουσιάζοντες αὐτῶν εὐερλέται καλοῦνται. The reference here is to the use of power as such (not its misuse), and to the associated outlook. Then it is used of the “powers” which rule human life: of death, whose sway has been broken once and for all by Christ, R. 6:9; of sin, from whose dominion Christians are released by the fact that they are no longer under Law, but under grace, R. 6:14; and of the Law, which cannot be arbitrarily evaded by the one who belongs to it any more than the wife can be separated from her husband by Jewish law, R. 7:1. Finally, it is used of the lordship of Christ as the goal of His passion and resurrection, R. 14:9; 1 Tm. 6:15 has in view earthly relationships of lordship, especially political, when it calls God ὁ βασιλεὺς τῶν βασιλευόντων καὶ κύριος τῶν κυριευόντων. Behind the use of κυριεύω in all these different connections is a human and secular understanding which does not view man as a free lord over himself but as subject to some lordship, whether to salvation or perdition.
† ἐξουσιάζω.
With inf. and gen. (LXX also prep.): “to have and to exercise ἐξουσία” in its various senses. Hence a. “to have the possibility,” b. “to have the right,”2 ond c. “to have the power.” It is not found in Joseph. In the LXX (act and med.) it occurs at 2 Ἐσδρ. 7:24: οὐκ ἐξουσιάσεις καταδουλοῦσθαι αὐτούς (b.). It is particularly common in Qoh. with reference to the power of rulers and its misuse (e.g., 8:9: τὰ ὅσα ἐξουσιάσατο ὁ ἄνθρωπος ἐν ἀνθρώπῳ τοῦ κακῶσαι αὐτόν) and limitation (9:17: λόγοι σοφῶν ἐν ἀναπαύσει ἀκούονται ὑπὲρ κραυγὴν ἐξουσιαζόντων ἐν ἀφροσύναις) (c.).
The idea is not necessarily domination or harsh treatment, but could even be referring to normal authority over the course of life:
Where to drive.
Where to live
How to treat your neighbor
How much to pay in taxes
Key term: “benefactor.”
This is one who benefits others socially
A wealthy merchant might be a benefactor when He donated money to a cause
A military leader might be a benefactor when he wins a Great War for hiss country.
An artist might be considered a benefactor if He creates a great work to a social cause/fundraiser.
Jesus
A Critical and Exegetical Commentary on the Gospel according to St. Luke 22:1–23:56. The Preparation for the Passion
It is better to take καλοῦνται as middle: “claim the title,” hunc titulum sibi vindicant (Beng.). This is what the disciples were doing.
All of this is done for the ruler, king, authority, to gain the title among men, “benefactor.”
The indication of Jesus is that these men arguing over who is greatest in the kingdom are doing such so that they bear the greater image and title over the other men, or even all other men.
This is the desire to have the highest honor as esteemed by the normal course of life in the world and in every culture.
Again, the emphasis is “image.”
Jesus is indicating that the rulers of the world do what they do for their image before men.
Contrast
Contrast
26 “But it is not this way with you, but the one who is the greatest among you must become like the youngest, and the leader like the servant.
26 ὑμεῖς δὲ οὐχ οὕτως, ἀλλʼ ὁ μείζων ἐν ὑμῖν γινέσθω ὡς ὁ νεώτερος καὶ ὁ ἡγούμενος ὡς ὁ διακονῶν.
Illustration:
1 Then Jesus spoke to the crowds and to His disciples, 2 saying: “The scribes and the Pharisees have seated themselves in the chair of Moses; 3 therefore all that they tell you, do and observe, but do not do according to their deeds; for they say things and do not do them. 4 “They tie up heavy burdens and lay them on men’s shoulders, but they themselves are unwilling to move them with so much as a finger. 5 “But they do all their deeds to be noticed by men; for they broaden their phylacteries and lengthen the tassels of their garments. 6 “They love the place of honor at banquets and the chief seats in the synagogues, 7 and respectful greetings in the market places, and being called Rabbi by men. 8 “But do not be called Rabbi; for One is your Teacher, and you are all brothers. 9 “Do not call anyone on earth your father; for One is your Father, He who is in heaven. 10 “Do not be called leaders; for One is your Leader, that is, Christ. 11 “But the greatest among you shall be your servant. 12 “Whoever exalts himself shall be humbled; and whoever humbles himself shall be exalted.
27 “For who is greater, the one who reclines at the table or the one who serves? Is it not the one who reclines at the table? But I am among you as the one who serves.
27 τίς γὰρ μείζων, ὁ ἀνακείμενος ἢ ὁ διακονῶν; οὐχὶ ὁ ἀνακείμενος; ἐγὼ δὲ ἐν μέσῳ ὑμῶν εἰμι ὡς ὁ διακονῶν.
35 “Be dressed in readiness, and keep your lamps lit. 36 “Be like men who are waiting for their master when he returns from the wedding feast, so that they may immediately open the door to him when he comes and knocks. 37 “Blessed are those slaves whom the master will find on the alert when he comes; truly I say to you, that he will gird himself to serve, and have them recline at the table, and will come up and wait on them. 38 “Whether he comes in the second watch, or even in the third, and finds them so, blessed are those slaves.
The idea is to be as one who has o image, status, or social honor.
Jesus has just completed washing their feet.
Why would they argue about their status among themselves?
cp:
8 You are already filled, you have already become rich, you have become kings without us; and indeed, I wish that you had become kings so that we also might reign with you. 9 For, I think, God has exhibited us apostles last of all, as men condemned to death; because we have become a spectacle to the world, both to angels and to men. 10 We are fools for Christ’s sake, but you are prudent in Christ; we are weak, but you are strong; you are distinguished, but we are without honor. 11 To this present hour we are both hungry and thirsty, and are poorly clothed, and are roughly treated, and are homeless; 12 and we toil, working with our own hands; when we are reviled, we bless; when we are persecuted, we endure; 13 when we are slandered, we try to conciliate; we have become as the scum of the world, the dregs of all things, even until now.
23 Are they servants of Christ?—I speak as if insane—I more so; in far more labors, in far more imprisonments, beaten times without number, often in danger of death. 24 Five times I received from the Jews thirty-nine lashes. 25 Three times I was beaten with rods, once I was stoned, three times I was shipwrecked, a night and a day I have spent in the deep. 26 I have been on frequent journeys, in dangers from rivers, dangers from robbers, dangers from my countrymen, dangers from the Gentiles, dangers in the city, dangers in the wilderness, dangers on the sea, dangers among false brethren; 27 I have been in labor and hardship, through many sleepless nights, in hunger and thirst, often without food, in cold and exposure. 28 Apart from such external things, there is the daily pressure on me of concern for all the churches.
Conclusion
5 Have this attitude in yourselves which was also in Christ Jesus, 6 who, although He existed in the form of God, did not regard equality with God a thing to be grasped, 7 but emptied Himself, taking the form of a bond-servant, and being made in the likeness of men. 8 Being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross. 9 For this reason also, God highly exalted Him, and bestowed on Him the name which is above every name, 10 so that at the name of Jesus every knee will bow, of those who are in heaven and on earth and under the earth, 11 and that every tongue will confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.