Scripture Daily

Context No. 2816 of 4322 · Luke

Context · Reflection

Luke 22:24-30: in context

24A dispute also arose among them, which of them was considered to be greatest. 25He said to them, “The kings of the nations lord it over them, and those who have authority over them are called ‘benefactors.’ 26But not so with you. Rather, the one who is greater among you, let him become as the younger, and one who is governing, as one who serves. 27For who is greater, one who sits at the table, or one who serves? Isn’t it he who sits at the table? But I am among you as one who serves. 28“But you are those who have continued with me in my trials. 29I confer on you a kingdom, even as my Father conferred on me, 30that you may eat and drink at my table in my Kingdom. You will sit on thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel.”

Of all moments, it is at the last supper that a dispute breaks out among the disciples over which of them is the greatest. Jesus does not so much scold them as redraw the whole picture. The kings of the nations lord it over their people and get themselves called benefactors, he says, but it must not be so with you. The greater among you should become like the younger, and the one who leads like the one who serves.

Then he points to himself: I am among you as one who serves. On the very night he goes to die for them, he defines greatness as getting underneath others to help them. And yet he does not despise their longing for a place at all. He honors them, you have stood by me in my trials, and confers a kingdom on them, thrones and a seat at his table. He simply shows that the road to those thrones runs straight through the towel and the basin, not over the heads of the people around them.

Do I seek greatness the world's way, by rising over others, or Jesus' way, by getting under them to serve?

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