Introduction
‘Then a dispute also arose among them about who should be considered the greatest. But He said to them, “The kings of the Gentiles dominate them, and those who have authority over them are called ‘Benefactors.’ But it must not be like that among you. On the contrary, whoever is greatest among you must become like the youngest, and whoever leads, like the one serving. For who is greater, the one at the table or the one serving? Isn’t it the one at the table? But I am among you as the One who serves. You are the ones who stood by Me in My trials. I bestow on you a kingdom, just as My Father bestowed one on Me, so that you may eat and drink at My table in My kingdom. And you will sit on thrones judging the 12 tribes of Israel. ‘ Luke 22:24-30
The words “Who’s the Greatest?” echo the sentiments of the great boxer, Mohammed Ali. Cases could be made for Tom Brady, Kobe Bryant, LeBron James, and Michael Jordan. These athletes reached the pinnacle of their sports multiple times. Ali’s birth name was Cassius Clay. He won the gold medal as the light heavyweight champion in the 1960 summer Olympics as an eighteen-year-old. Clay converted to Islam in 1961 and took the name, Mohammed Ali. He was nicknamed “The Greatest,” a title that he relished. He won the heavyweight boxing championship for the first time by upsetting the favored Sonny Liston at age 22. He was ranked as the greatest heavyweight boxer of all time. Sports Illustrated named Ali the greatest athlete of the 20th century. Love him or hate him, a case can be made that Tom Brady is the greatest quarterback of all time. The goal of any game is to win. Brady has accomplished that feat time and time again. He is the only NFL player to win six Super Bowls and to play in nine. The debate about the greatest basketball player continues. Kobe Bryant’s recent tragic death created a lot of discussion about his prowess on the court. LeBron James is still active in the National Basketball Association and is one of the greatest players in the league. But as a North Carolina Tar Heel fan, there is really no debate. Michael Jordan is the greatest basketball player of all time. He won three consecutive NBA championships with the Chicago Bulls, retired to play baseball for two years, then returned to the Bulls to win three more consecutive championships before retiring again. There were times when he put the entire team on his back in order to win.
Our culture thinks of greatness in terms of achievements, accolades, and places of honor. However, the Scripture reveals that the Lord views greatness through a different scorecard. The Lord Jesus Christ is the greatest of all. He demonstrated his greatness through service and self-sacrifice, the marks of greatness in God’s kingdom.
Setting the Stage
Jesus was well aware of what laid ahead for him. At the beginning of this sermon series on The Via Dolorosa: A Walk to the Cross, we examined Luke 9:51, “When the days drew near for him to be taken up, he set his face [resolutely] to go to Jerusalem” (ESV). While the disciples were caught by surprise at several junctures along the way on this journey to the cross, Jesus was not. He knew he was fulfilling the Father’s plan to offer the gift of salvation by grace alone through faith alone to all who would repent and receive the gospel. God’s sovereign will was active even in Satan entering the heart of Judas to betray Jesus. Judas was a willing participant. He worked in concert with the devil to betray Christ to the chief priests and Jewish leaders. Even Satan works under the sovereignty of God. The book of Job teaches that Satan can only go as far as God allows.[1]
The Dispute about Greatness
Prior to the Last Supper in Mark’s Gospel, the sons of thunder, James and John asked Jesus to allow them to sit next to him on either side when his kingdom comes in glory. This request created quite a stir among the rest of the disciples. Therefore, this question about greatness was not new to the disciples. Certainly, this dispute added to the burden that Christ bore as he faced the cross. He had poured three years of his life into the twelve, yet one would deny him, another would betray him, and the whole group was jockeying for positions of power in Christ’s kingdom. The disciples missed the point entirely. Yet, the Lord, the master teacher, used this occasion to patiently teach the disciples.
In John’s account of the Lord’s Supper (John 13:1-17), he records an event prior to eating the Feast of the Passover with his disciples. Jesus knew that the hour of his death was near and that he would depart to the Father. He loved his disciples in spite of their failings. That is good news for us, for we are all flawed. We all have issues, sins, and failures in our lives. Yet Christ loves us. He died vicariously for our sins because of his great love.
However, the dark side of the story is also introduced in John 13:2. Judas was at the supper with Jesus and the other disciples. The devil had already possessed Judas and put it in his heart to betray Jesus. A heart that is inspired by the evil one wills what the evil one wills.[2] Judas, like each of us, is responsible for his own actions. Satan is the ruler of the kingdom of the air, the god of this age, the dragon, the ancient serpent, the devil, the deceiver, the accuser, a roaring, devouring lion, the evil one who has been a murderer and a liar from the beginning.[3] Scriptures clearly point to this evil creature as the archenemy of the Almighty God.
Jesus was well aware that the unfolding drama was the will of the sovereign Lord. God had given all things [authority] into his hands. He came from God, he is God, and he was about to return to God. Jesus used this opportunity with his disciples to teach them about greatness. He took a towel, poured water into a basin and began to wash the feet of the disciples. The disciples were aware that Jesus was the greatest among them. None of them were even close to the glory that he had displayed. The dispute was really about second place in the kingdom.
Instead of basking in his glory as Lord of all, Jesus willingly humbled himself and took on the form of a servant (Phil 2:7-8). In speaking of the Messiah, John the Baptist said he was not worthy to untie his sandal. In the culture of Jesus’ day, washing feet was relegated to Gentile slaves and women. A Jewish slave could not be asked to do this menial task. Yet Jesus, the Lord of lords and King of kings, emptied himself, took on the form of the most menial servant, and washed the disciples’ feet.
Leaders in God’s kingdom serve others. When Ed Stetzer was with LifeWay Research, he built a compelling case for serving others as a mark of a true disciple of Christ.[4] Jesus taught the disciples through his actions. Then he sat with them as Teacher and Lord and helped them interpret what they had just witnessed. As a teacher, he was the divine/human revealer. As Lord, he is understood as the Son of God who is in fact, God. The “I am” teachings in John’s Gospel confirm this understanding of the Lord.[5] To the Jews, anyone who would use such language was claiming divinity. When God revealed himself to Moses through the burning bush, and Moses asked him to identify his name, God stated, “I am who I am” (Exod 3:14). When Jesus declared that he is the bread of life (John 6:48), the light of the world (John 8:12), the resurrection and the life (John 11:25), the way, the truth and the life (John 14:6), etc., he was clearly proclaiming that he is God. Yet the Lord of all creation did not come to be served, but to serve.
In washing the disciples’ feet, Jesus set an example for them to follow. His willingness to selflessly humble himself and serve others is at the center of the Christian life. Christ’s self-effacing obedience led to his humiliation at the hands of the chief priests and his sacrificial death. Instead of honor and glory, Jesus modeled obedience even unto death on the cross and the way of servant humility. Jesus turned the world’s view of leadership upside down, calling his followers to servant leadership. Many followers of Christ struggle with pride regarding their salvation, calling, spirituality, or successes. All of these traits stand in opposition to the servant leadership Christ modeled. Christ the Lord lived among the disciples as one who serves. In John’s Gospel, Jesus states that others will know that we are Christians by our love. In this text, Jesus demonstrates love through humble, obedient service.
Faithfulness Is Rewarded
The end of this pericope addresses the faithfulness of the disciples. They stood by Jesus in his trials, facing the jealousy and opposition of the Jewish leaders, enduring death threats, and on the road to the cross. Christ promised them a place in his kingdom. The disciples would have a place at the Lord’s table for them. Jesus said they would sit on thrones serving as judges when he returns as King. J. R. R. Tolkien’s classic trilogy, The Lord of the Rings, concludes with the book, The Return of the King. The king had many enemies, but ultimately won the victory and established a united monarchy with splendor and majesty. When Christ returns as King, he will face many enemies including the archenemy, Satan himself. While the opposition is formidable, they are no match for the King. He will defeat them with the Word of his mouth which is a sharp sword that will strike down the nations. The disciples were with Jesus when he triumphantly entered Jerusalem on Palm Sunday. They were soon to witness the victorious resurrection of the King from the dead. When he ascended into heaven, the angels reported that he would return as the King in the clouds. Of his kingdom, there will be no end. The disciples, his faithful servants, will be with the Lord and will receive their eternal reward. We, too, can be a part of Christ’s kingdom. All who repent of their sins and receive the gospel can share in Christ’s kingdom that is yet to come. Don’t miss it. Turn from your sins today and receive Christ by grace alone through faith alone.
Application
- Serve others as an outward sign of your inward faith.
- Place the needs of others before your own needs. Jesus demonstrated this application through his death on the cross.
- Those who serve as Jesus served are welcome at his table when he returns as King.
- The Lord values and rewards faithful service.
[1]Robert H. Stein, Luke, The New American Commentary, vol 24 (Nashville, TN: Broadman, 1992), 547.
[2]Gerald L. Borchert, John 12-21, The New American Commentary, vol. 25B (Nashville, TN: Broadman and Holman, 2002), 78.
[3]Ibid., 58.
[4]Ed Stetzer, “The Future of Discipleship,” https://sojo.net/articles/q-conference-ed-stetzer-and-future-discipleship, accessed March 7, 2020.
[5]Borchert, John 12-21, 85.