Luke 22:24-30: a reflection

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.”

Even at the last supper, the disciples fall into a dispute about which of them is the greatest; and Jesus redefines greatness for them in a way that upends the world's understanding. The kings of the nations lord it over them, he says; but 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. And he points to himself as the pattern: I am among you as one who serves. In Christ's kingdom, greatness is not lording it over others, but serving them; the greatest is the one who serves, and Christ himself is the model, the one who served.

Notice how Jesus redefines greatness: as serving, not lording. The world's idea of greatness is to have authority over others, to be served, to lord it over people; but Jesus turns this upside down. In his kingdom, the greater is the one who serves, who takes the lower place, who governs by serving rather than by lording. And he does not merely teach it; he embodies it: I am among you as one who serves. Christ himself, the greatest of all, was among them as a servant, and so defined greatness by his own example. Greatness in Christ's kingdom is measured by service, not by authority over others; the greatest is the servant, and Christ is the pattern.

That is worth taking to heart, for true greatness is found in serving, as Christ served, not in lording it over others. We can measure greatness the world's way, by authority, by being served, by lording it over others; but Jesus said the greatest is the one who serves, and he himself was among them as one who serves. True greatness is measured by service, and Christ is the model. Do not seek greatness the world's way, by lording it over others or being served; seek it Christ's way, in serving, as he was among us as one who serves. Seek true greatness in serving others, as Christ served, rather than in lording it over them or being served, as Jesus said the greater among you must become as one who serves and was himself among them as one who serves; for greatness in Christ's kingdom is measured by service, not authority, and the greatest is the one who serves, after the pattern of Christ himself.

Lord Jesus, even at the last supper, the disciples fall into a dispute about which of them is the greatest; and you redefine greatness for them in a way that upends the world's understanding. The kings of the nations lord it over them, you say; but 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. And you point to yourself as the pattern: I am among you as one who serves. In your kingdom, greatness is not lording it over others, but serving them. Show me how you redefine greatness: as serving, not lording. The world's idea of greatness is to have authority over others, to be served, to lord it over people; but you turn this upside down. In your kingdom, the greater is the one who serves, who takes the lower place. And you do not merely teach it; you embody it: I am among you as one who serves. You, the greatest of all, were among them as a servant. Greatness in your kingdom is measured by service, not by authority over others. Take that to my heart, for true greatness is found in serving, as you served, not in lording it over others. I can measure greatness the world's way, by authority, by being served, by lording it over others; but you said the greatest is the one who serves, and you yourself were among them as one who serves. Keep me from seeking greatness the world's way, by lording it over others or being served; help me seek it your way, Lord, in serving, as you were among us as one who serves.