How is true greatness measured? The world has one standard for measuring greatness, but God has an entirely different one! The way up in His kingdom, is the way down.
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Who Does God Regard As The Greatest?
Luke 22:24-30
On June 3, 2016 former heavyweight boxing champion, Mohammad Ali, died. Well, one of the things Ali was so well known for, was telling everyone who would listen, “I am the greatest!” Once on an airline flight, the stewardess told him to buckle his seat belt. Ali replied, “Superman don’t need no seat belt.” The stewardess replied, “Superman don’t need no airplane either.” Ali buckled his seat belt! I don’t think any of us would confuse Muhammad Ali’s inflated ego with a Christian virtue.
Luke 22:24 says, “And there arose also a dispute among them as to which one of them was regarded to be greatest.” Just like Mohammad Ali, the disciples were arguing about who was regarded to be the greatest. But in whose eyes? Of course, they were thinking of being the greatest in the eyes of men. However, Jesus goes on to tell them who the greatest is in the eyes of God. Now who would you like to be regarded the greatest by – man or God?
Jesus tells His disciples that the one who was regarded by God to be the greatest, was the greatest servant.
Notice the context of this discussion. Jesus has just instituted the Lord’s Supper, that holy meal in which we are to remember Jesus as giving His body and blood for our salvation. The disciples had just eaten this sacred meal, and heard the Lord Jesus speak of His sufferings and blood which would be given for them. But that didn’t even phase them.
Then the Lord went on to tell them that one of them would betray Him. Jesus spoke very plainly about the fact that one of them would betray Him, and that He would suffer and die. Did they empathize with the Lord in His great trial? Did they try to encourage and support Him? Did they enter into His sufferings? No, they started arguing about who was the greatest disciple! This is almost unthinkable. It is almost unbelievable, until we remember how carnal we can act even as Christians. This is really embarrassing. Jesus in going through spiritual agony in preparation for becoming sin for us, and these blockheads are arguing about who is the greatest!
It is important to realize that this is not the first time they had argued about this very issue. This very issue had come up in Mark 9:33-35, “They came to Capernaum; and when He was in the house, He began to question them, “What were you discussing on the way?” But they kept silent, for on the way they had discussed with one another which of them was the greatest. 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.”
Then again, in Mark 10:41-45 we have the same thing, “Hearing this, the ten began to feel indignant with James and John. Calling them to Himself, Jesus said to them, “You know that those who are recognized as rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them; and their great men exercise authority over them. But it is not this way among you, but whoever wishes to become great among you shall be your servant; and whoever wishes to be first among you shall be slave of all.
For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life a ransom for many.”
This discussion about who was the greatest, was a common argument the disciples had with one another. It was a sinful pattern they kept falling back into, over and over. Jesus corrected their thinking, but they drifted back again and again into that self-exaltation and competition which often characterizes our lives.
This morning we are going to focus on three basic questions. 1) Who does the world regard as the greatest? 2) Who does God regard as the greatest? 3) How does Jesus encourage His disciples to humble service?
1. Who Does the World Regard as the Greatest?
In verse 25 Jesus says, “The kings of the Gentiles lord it over them; and those who have authority over them are called ‘Benefactors.’” The word “Gentiles” should tip us off. Jesus is speaking about what is true in the world. This world system is governed by Satan, who is the prince of the power of the air. The whole world lies in the power of the evil one. Well in Satan’s kingdom, who is regard as the greatest? Jesus’ answer is that they are the Kings of the earth. They are those who lord it over others. They exercise authority. They tell others what to do. They are the Presidents, Monarchs, Emperors, Generals, and Dictators. Anyone who can give a command and know that it will be instantly obeyed, is great in the world’s estimation.
And what do people call these great ones? Jesus said they are called Benefactors. A Benefactor is a person who confers a benefit upon others. The people of the world who are in subjection to these great ones, must call them Benefactors. Of course, often they don’t feel like their king or emperor or President is conferring benefits upon them. And often, they aren’t! These people of worldly authority and power often use their position and power only to benefit themselves! That’s the way it is in the Mafia. You’ve got the Kingpin at the top like Al Capone, and everyone under him has to bow and grovel and obey and speak of him with the utmost respect or they may just be taken out one day. That’s the way it is in many cults. You have one guy at the top like Jim Jones or David Koresh or Reverend Moon. They have all the women, while the men under them have to give up their wives to him. They have plenty of money and drugs and booze, while their subjects must live in poverty and abstain from drugs and alcohol. They must speak reverently of their Leader. These people are Benefactors in the sense that they get all the credit for any of the good that happens among their people.
In Satan’s kingdom, those who are regarded as the greatest have clawed their way to the top. They exercise authority over others through threat and force. They are able to get others to do what they want them to do. They are known for their self-will, self-promotion, self-advancement, self-glorying, and person ambition. Their subjects cower and cringe before them. That’s how greatness works in the world.
2. Who Does God Regard As The Greatest?
But it is not this way with you. Notice verse 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.” Notice how this sentence begins. It begins with the word “but”. “But” is a word of contrast. The kings of the Gentiles lord it over their subjects. They use power, force, threat, and fear to get people to do what they want them to do. However, in God’s kingdom, greatness is not measured in those terms. Let those words of Jesus sink into your ears, “But it is not this way with you.” Authority in the church is diametrically opposed to authority in the world. In the world, you’ve got some guy at the top who has a lot of power and can make the people under him do what he wants them to do. However, in the church, it is the exact opposite. Greatness in God’s kingdom is not measured by how many people he can manipulate to do his will. Rather it is measured by how many people he can serve. Greatness in God’s kingdom is not measured by how much you can take, but how much you can give. Greatness in God’s kingdom is not all about self-exaltation. It is about self-emptying. It is not about self-glorying. It is about glorifying God. It is not about personal ambition. It is about the ambition to honor God. It is not about self-will, but doing God’s will. It is 180 degrees different from the world’s ways.
But the one who is the greatest among you must become like the youngest. In a family, the older you were, the more authority you had. The youngest person in the family had no authority. He was the low man on the totem pole. He had to take orders from everyone else. About the only one he could order around was the dog. Jesus is saying that the greatest person in His kingdom does not go around bossing everyone else around, barking orders, and doling out threats if you don’t comply with him. The greatest in God’s kingdom, assumes the lowest position, the position of the youngest in the family. They are not there to command, but to serve.
And the leader like the servant. There you have it. How is true greatness to be measured? In lowly service. Notice Jesus’ emphasis on service. “But the one who is the greatest among you must become like the youngest, and the leader like the servant. 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. God measures greatness by how quickly and cheerfully a person will serve others. In God’s kingdom, the leader must be a servant. If a Pastor is not a servant of the people, he has no right to have authority in the church.
Jesus had already taught this same lesson back in Luke 12:42-48, “And the Lord said, “Who then is the faithful and sensible steward, whom his master will put in charge of his servants, to give them their rations at the proper time? Blessed is that slave whom his master finds so doing when he comes. Truly I say to you that he will put him in charge of all his possessions. But if that slave says in his heart, `My master will be a long time in coming,´ and begins to beat the slaves, both men and women, and to eat and drink and get drunk; the master of that slave will come on a day when he does not expect him and at an hour he does not know, and will cut him in pieces, and assign him a place with the unbelievers. And that slave who knew his master’s will and did not get ready or act in accord with his will, will receive many lashes, but the one who did not know it, and committed deeds worthy of a flogging, will receive but few. From everyone who has been given much, much will be required; and to whom they entrusted much, of him they will ask all the more.”
Jesus speaks about two kinds of servants. First, he speaks of the faithful steward in verses 42-44. What characterizes his life? He gives the master’s servants their rations at the proper time. In other words, he serves God’s people. What is the result? The master puts him in charge of all his possessions. Then Jesus mentions another slave. This slave didn’t think that his master would come any time soon, so he beat the slaves, men and women, and ate and drank and got drunk. In other words, this man used his position to order others around and get them to serve him. The faithful slave served others. The wicked slave tried to get others to serve him. What was the end of the wicked slave. The master cuts him in pieces and assigns him a place with the unbelievers. In other words, this wicked slave ends up in hell. The character of a true man or woman of God is that they are a servant. Their goal is not to get others to serve them, but to serve others.
For who is greater, the one who reclines at the table or the one who serves? Well, in the world, the one who reclines at the table is regarded as much greater than the one who serves him. The one who reclines at the table in comfort and luxury is considered far greater than the one who must stoop to serve him.
But I am among you as the one who serves. Yes, everyone considers the one who is served by others to be a great person. But Jesus throws a monkey wrench in that thinking by saying that he was among them as the one who serves. Now, the disciples knew that Jesus was a very great man. They had seen His glory, glory as of the only begotten from the Father, full of grace and truth. They had witnessed Jesus transfigured before them. His face shone like the sun, and His garments became as white as light. Normally, the glory of Christ was concealed. However, on this occasion, God allowed His inner glory to reveal itself externally. As the disciples saw Jesus work miracles, heal the sick, cast out demons, and raise the dead, they knew that He was a very great man. However, it was also true that He was among them as the one who serves. Jesus’ whole life was a life of service. He was not about exalting Himself, promoting Himself, glorifying Himself, or advancing Himself. His whole life was spent in the service of others. He was constantly employed in doing good and healing those oppressed of the devil. He came into this world for others. He lived a perfect, righteous life for others. He worked miracles for others. He healed for others. He cast out demons for others. Ultimately, He died for others, and He was raised for others. His whole life was God-centered, and others-centered. Because He was God in human flesh, it would have been natural for everyone else to serve Him, and cater to His every want and desire. However, He would not have that. He was here on a mission to serve, and to give His life a ransom for many.
When Jesus said, “but I am among you as the one who serves,” He was probably referring to what we read about in John 13. There it says that during the supper Jesus got up, laid aside His garments, took a towel, and one by one washed the disciples’ feet. Normally a slave would perform this task, because it was a very menial one, and no one else would want to do it. In that society, the men wore sandals and walked hot dusty roads. Before eating together, the slave would stoop down, take off the sandals of the guests, and wash their feet. However, it appears that there was no slave to perform this task. None of the other disciples had volunteered to do this task. So, Jesus, the Lord of glory, stooped to perform this lowly task Himself. While they were arguing over who was the greatest disciple, Jesus was showing that He was the greatest by stooping to perform the lowest job on their behalf. He stooped to serve.
Application. Folks, this is the Christian life. Greatness in the kingdom is not being the guy at the top who can command hundreds of people under him to do what he wants. Greatness is defined by humble service. This idea of service is captured very well in a prayer by St. Francis of Assis, “Lord, make me an instrument of Your peace. Where there is hatred, let me sow love; where there is injury, pardon; where there is doubt, faith; where there is despair, hope; where there is darkness, light; where there is sadness, joy. O, Divine Master, grant that I may not so much seek to be consoled as to console; to be understood as to understand; to be loved as to love; For it is in giving that we receive; it is in pardoning that we are pardoned; it is in dying that we are born again to eternal life.”
The follower of Jesus Christ is to be selfless. He is to be humble. Humility is not thinking less of yourself. It is just thinking of yourself less. It is being preoccupied with God and others. It is deliberately putting others before yourself. The apostle Paul gave us a great understanding of humility in Philippians 2:3-5, “Do nothing from selfishness or empty conceit, but with humility of mind regard one another as more important than yourselves; do not merely look out for your own personal interests, but also for the interests of others. Have this attitude in yourselves which was also in Christ Jesus.” How does humility of mind express itself? In regarding one another as more important than yourself. The word “JOY” expresses this truth beautifully – Jesus – Others – You. In contrast to the great people in the world who use their position and authority to get others to serve them, we are to spend our time and energy in serving others.
Do you ever say to yourself, “Nobody ever comes to see me”? Well, are going to see others? Do you ever think, “Nobody ever calls me”? Well, do you call other people? Do you think, “Nobody ever invites us over for dinner”? Well, are you inviting others over for dinner? Do you think, “Nobody ever remembers me”? Well, do you remember others. Instead of being filled with self-pity about how others are not doing this or that for you, just forget about yourself, and throw yourself into serving the needs of others around you. And you know what you will find your life? Joy!
I find it interesting how people decide which church to become members of. If you ask them how they chose their church they will usually say, “Well, I was looking for a church with great programs for my kids, with awesome music, with a nice facility and easy parking, and solid preaching.” What’s missing here? I almost never hear someone say that the reason they chose a particular church was because they saw needs that they could fill there, or they knew that they could serve there. The most mature Christians will choose a church based on what they can give rather than what they can get.
Are you a servant in your home? Are you quick to volunteer to help do the dishes, or set the table, or take out the trash, or do you do your best never to do those things?
3. How Does Jesus Encourage His Disciples to Humble Service?
You are those who have stood by Me in My trials. Now, that statement is amazing! The disciples were all standing around arguing who was the greatest, and not showing empathy or support to Jesus while He was about to enter into the greatest trial of His life, and Jesus says that they have stood by Him in His trials! What does this teach us? It shows us how the Lord overlooks our sins, and focuses on anything He can praise. It is true that the disciples had not deserted the Lord, but had remained with Him. Well, Jesus focuses on that, and praises them for their faithfulness.
I grant you a kingdom. Just as God had granted Jesus a kingdom, so Jesus grants them one! Since they united themselves to Christ while He lived on this earth, He will bestow His riches upon them in the life to come. In the age to come, they will eat and drink at Christ’s table in His kingdom, and judge the twelve tribes of Israel. Notice, that Jesus encourages His disciples to humble service by giving them lavish promises! They will inherit the kingdom! They will eat and drink at Christ’s table! They will sit on thrones and judge the twelve tribes of Israel!
Why should they spend their whole life trying to exalt themselves, and glorify themselves, and advance themselves? Jesus said that God will do all that for them! He will exalt them by seating them at Christ’s table, and putting them on thrones. If God is going to exalt me, I don’t need to exalt myself. Psalm 75:6-7 says, “For not from the east, nor from the west, nor from the desert comes exaltation; But God is the Judge; He puts down one and exalts another.” Instead of seeking my own glory, I should pursue a life of service, and let God exalt me in His time. You know that passage in Philippians 2 that we read a while ago? Well it continues on like this, “Have this attitude in yourselves which was also in Christ Jesus, who, although He existed in the form of God, did not regard equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied Himself, taking the form of a bond-servant, and being made in the likeness of men. Being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross.
For this reason also, God highly exalted Him, and bestowed on Him the name which is above every name, so that at the name of Jesus EVERY KNEE WILL BOW, of those who are in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and that every tongue will confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.” What’s the point? Christ emptied Himself and humbled Himself to become a servant, and then God exalted Him. We are to have the same attitude in ourselves. We are to empty ourselves and humble ourselves to serve others, and God will exalt us.
How does Jesus encourage His disciples to humble service? He gives them rich, lavish promises of how God will exalt them in the age to come. My friends, God has made rich, lavish promises to all of us as well. We don’t need to spend our lives serving ourselves or glorifying ourselves or exalting ourselves. God will do that in His own time. We can be free to just serve the needs of others in His power and strength.
We know who the world regards as the greatest. Well, who does God regard as the greatest? The person who forgets about himself, and pours his life into honoring God and showing true practical love to others. Are you that person? Make a decision, “I am Third.” God is first, others are second, I am third. Jesus – Others – You. JOY! This week, I challenge you to live this out. Seek to be a servant wherever you are, and allow God in His time to exalt you.
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