Luke 22:24 - 30
24 A dispute also arose among them, as to which of them was to be regarded as the greatest. 25 And he said to them, “The kings of the Gentiles exercise lordship over them, and those in authority over them are called benefactors. 26 But not so with you. Rather, let the greatest among you become as the youngest, and the leader as one who serves. 27 For who is the greater, one who reclines at table or one who serves? Is it not the one who reclines at table? But I am among you as the one who serves.
28 “You are those who have stayed with me in my trials, 29 and I assign to you, as my Father assigned to me, a kingdom, 30 that you may eat and drink at my table in my kingdom and sit on thrones judging the twelve tribes of Israel.
Questions:
ReplyDelete1. Why are the disciples arguing about which of them was the greatest?
2. Why is Jesus telling us that the greatest should be the youngest and the one who serves?
3. What does it mean for them and for us that we inherit a kingdom?
4. Who gets a throne and who judges? Is there a hierarchy in heaven?
https://hartmangroupdevotionsmark.blogspot.com/2018/08/mark-930-37-30-they-left-that-place-and.html says:
ReplyDelete“Become as little children”: This is how Jesus characterized conversion. Like the Beatitudes, it pictures faith as the simple, helpless trusting dependence of those who have no resources of their own. Like children, they have no achievements and no accomplishments to offer or commend themselves with.
Little children have a special humbleness and are easily taught. Most adults are not this way. When a person is converted, it means he turned from his old ways and starts out brand new. A little child is enthusiastic and eager to learn, and has a love that is forgiving. He has simple trust.
When you receive a little child, you can't expect to get a reward in return, because he has nothing to give but himself. Helping a child of God, expecting nothing in return, brings a satisfying feeling. It, also, stores up treasures in heaven for you.
God is the rewarder of those who love and care for His children.
------
The disciples had their mind of competition instead of conversion and in that regard, they were unenlightened, carnal and immature.
In order to be in the Lord's kingdom I have to change! I must give up that competitive drive to be better than others; I must come face to face with my dependence, be open about my spiritual needs, and be willing to listen and learn and be governed by the King, Jesus!
I must be converted: From pride to humility . . from worldly ambition to spiritual ambition . . from godlessness to godliness. I MUST BE CONVERTED; Jesus said, you must be born again!
------
So many of the articles I found waxed on about a child's innocence and purity. I call bull. There hasn't been a child I have seen that hasn't been selfish, deceitful, fallen (just like all humans).
When Jesus is telling us to be like little children, I believe that He is not telling us to be pure and innocent (although, He does tell us to be that way throughout the Bible). He is telling us to be dependent and needy for our Father. Until we come to know our helplessness, we cannot accept God's grace. Until we realize our need for Christ, we don't need Him. A child cannot imagine life without his parents - even for a little while.
I think this distinction is important. If we think that Jesus is telling us to be pure and innocent, we will try to act that way - trying to earn our way. I believe that most (American) Christians have this problem. They try to be good, compare themselves with others, and become satisfied with their score they assigned themselves.
A true child of God fully realizes that they are helpless, and that the only way they can become pure and innocent is if God transforms them. A misunderstanding Christian strives on their own to transform themselves into the picture that the Bible paints of a transformed person.
If we miss the point on what Jesus is saying here, we will use the very words of Jesus to go astray.
One must also remember that Jesus is also talking a lot here about status. In his day, children were loved but definitely subordinate. In general age gave you the right to an opinion. So to aspire to be like a child rather than have the status of a teacher/rabbi (which was what disciples expected upon "graduation" was radical.
DeleteI love this angle! We all want to get to the point where we are the authority/expert. But Jesus is telling us that we need to remain a student. We want to tell other's what to do. Jesus is telling us to listen and serve.
Deletehttps://hartmangroupdevotionsmark.blogspot.com/2018/08/mark-930-37-30-they-left-that-place-and.html continued:
ReplyDeleteJesus’ response and His definition of greatness turn much of the first-century debate on its head. Notice in Mark 9:35 that He does not dismiss greatness as something that should not be desired. Instead, he transforms the disciples’ and our understanding of true greatness. The way to be first in Christ’s kingdom is to “be last of all and servant of all.” It is to put the needs of others before ourselves, to not think of ourselves as above any task that might be seen as trivial or lowly. Greatness is achieved through humility, through thinking of others first and ourselves last. C.H. Spurgeon, in an exposition of Mark 9:30–40, writes: “This is the only way to get to the front of Christ’s army—he who would be chief, must always be aiming at the rear rank, willing to do the most humble service and to be the lowest menial in his Master’s service. Only in this way can we rise. In Christ’s Kingdom, the way to go up is to go down. Sink self and you shall surely rise.”
We live in a culture obsessed with fame, with achieving “greatness” so that it can be lorded over others. But Jesus explains that we will find true greatness only through serving others. In all of our interactions with other people, our first question should be, how can we best serve them?
---
What does it mean to be great? It can designate something to be considerably above average in extent, amount or intensity. It can refer to something that is considerably above average in ability, quality or eminence. It can be used to convey that something is more important than other things.
They had great reason to be embarrassed about arguing about which one of them was the greatest. It was a very immature thing to be arguing about in the first place, but even more so they should have been embarrassed because this takes place only a short while after Jesus had told them the second time “The Son of Man is going to be delivered into the hands of men; 23and they will kill Him, and He will be raised on the third day” (Matthew 17:22-23). They were deeply grieved when He said this, but apparently that grief did not last very long for that same day they ended up in this argument about who among them was the greatest.
Why would this question be on the minds of the disciples anyway? Aside from the normal quest of human pride to find a way to boost itself, they are aware that they are moving steadily toward what they believe will be the culmination of Jesus’ ministry and the establishment of His kingdom. They do not understand how Jesus’ prophecy of His coming suffering, death and resurrection fit in, but they expect Jesus to take David’s throne in the not too distance future. Certainly the response of the crowds in wanting to crown Jesus king adds to this expectation (John 6:15). The people were ready, so it would be just a matter of when Jesus was ready to make His move to establish the kingdom of heaven on earth.
Another factor that probably fit in with this was Jesus’ actions which made it obvious that Peter, James and John held a higher position than the rest. Though none of them said what had happened on the mountain until later, Jesus did take just the three of them and not the rest.
We can surmise some of their thoughts and arguments. Would it be Peter, since He seemed so often in the middle of things? But then again, Peter was also the one that received the most rebukes. What about James and John? They also seemed to have a special relationship with Jesus. What about Judas, their trusted treasurer? Or maybe one of the other men who were older, or perhaps Matthew who had certainly left the most things of this world behind in order to follow Jesus? Who was the greatest?
https://hartmangroupdevotionsmark.blogspot.com/2018/08/mark-930-37-30-they-left-that-place-and.html continued:
ReplyDeletePeter had the right word — Messiah or Christ — but he had a woefully incorrect idea of what a Messiah would do. Peter wanted a conquering hero, but Jesus talked about suffering and death (verse 31).
All of us, being human, naturally think the things of humans. And because of that, we do not always understand the things of God. That should not surprise us or alarm us. When it happens, we need to patiently wait for God to reveal more to us. Of course, we need to do our part, searching the Scriptures and asking God for understanding.
The disciples didn’t understand. They argued. They did things they shouldn’t have. They didn’t ask questions they should have. They were ordinary people. God uses people like that.
Throughout history, Christians have wrestled with different doctrines and practices. Doctrinal errors are nothing new. That’s why it’s important that we always remain willing to re-examine the issues, admit our fallibility and be willing to change and grow in the grace and knowledge of our Savior. It may be difficult at times to change our ways, but that’s what we have been called to do. We are disciples, and thankfully, we are learning.
---
God wants you to be great. God refuses to define the greatness of your life in dollars or cents, family or friends or kids, promotions or raises, accomplishments or recognition or fun. He loves you too much, and there’s too much at stake. When Jesus said he came that you might have a full and abundant life (John 10:10), he wasn’t promising less debt, longer vacations, or more power in the company. His promise is real, and following him will satisfy us beyond our wildest imaginations, but it won’t look like so much other so-called greatness around us.
When Jesus finally explained just what kind of king he was — just what it meant to be truly, deeply, lastingly great — they totally missed it. He said to them, “The Son of Man is going to be delivered into the hands of men, and they will kill him. And when he is killed, after three days he will rise” (Mark 9:31). Sobering, confusing, even offensive. How do they respond? They walked away arguing over which one of them was the greatest — the chief among the otherwise forgettable fishermen (Mark 9:34).
Instead of hearing Jesus talk about his death and redefining greatness in terms of sacrifice — in terms of coming in last for the sake of love — they fought to be first. Jesus said to them, “If anyone would be first, he must be last of all and servant of all” (Mark 9:35). Ambition in this life for greatness in this life will end up stealing your life. According to Jesus, the greatest among you won’t look very great after all. In fact, true greatness will often look like weakness, surrender, defeat, and even death.
And then Jesus called the disciples — and us all — to follow him, to follow that counter-cultural, humble, sacrificial, servant-hearted greatness. He said, “If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me. For whoever would save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake and the gospel’s will save it” (Mark 8:34–35). The call to live and be great is a call to serve and even die.
True greatness isn’t the kind that appears in bold letters on your favorite website. No, it shows up in the details of other people’s lives. If you aspire to be great, give yourself to the small, mundane, easily over-looked needs around you. God died that you might live. And that life — your new, blood-bought, forgiven, grace-filled life — was meant to be great. It was meant to be laid down in love for others.
https://hartmangroupdevotionsmark.blogspot.com/2018/08/mark-930-37-30-they-left-that-place-and.html continued:
ReplyDeleteBefore we judge the disciples too hastily in this scene, we should remember that they aren’t dueling for the seat next to Jesus, or conducting a gallup poll. We have no reason to believe that they are even letting their dispute disrupt their collaboration in ministry. This is just something they were talking about—speculating “along the way.” It was idle conversation on a road trip. “Who do you think is the greatest?” But Jesus heard them. And it was no more polite in their day to let such speculation be heard aloud than it is today.
No, Jesus doesn’t chastise them or name one of them, or even one or more people outside of their “in group.” Jesus picks up a small child.
With children, at least, the power dynamics are not so black and white—it is not so much a question of who is great and who is not, but instead it is a question of welcome.
Put another way, Jesus isn’t interested in who we say is the greatest or even in who acts like the greatest or looks to be great. Jesus is interested in who acts with the greatest grace, compassion, and love.
---
What Jesus does here is very profound. He recognizes in his disciples' quest for greatness a good thing that has become ugly and distorted by sin. And instead of destroying the whole distorted thing, he describes a pathway on which the distorted and ugly pursuit of greatness will be radically transformed into something beautiful.
Nowhere does Jesus criticize a person for pursuing true greatness or true significance. I think that's because he created us to be great and to be significant—to come to the end of our lives and feel that they were well spent and well invested. But what has happened to this God-given longing for greatness is that it has been corrupted by sin in two ways:
1. it has been corrupted into a longing not to be great, but to be known as great; and
2. it has been corrupted into a longing not to be great, but to be greater than someone else.
In other words, the joy of true greatness has been perverted by sin into the carnal pleasure we sinners get when others praise us and when we think we are greater than others are. Jesus sees this in his disciples and instead of destroying the whole distorted thing, he describes a pathway on which it will be radically transformed into something beautiful.
He says true greatness is not wanting to be first while others are second and third and fourth, but true greatness is the willingness to be last. And true greatness is not positioning yourself so that others praise you, but true greatness is putting yourself in a position to serve everyone—to be a blessing to as many as you possibly can.
So Jesus doesn't condemn the quest for greatness. He radically transforms it. Go ahead and pursue it, he says. But the path is down, not up.
https://hartmangroupdevotionsmark.blogspot.com/2018/08/mark-930-37-30-they-left-that-place-and.html continued:
ReplyDeleteThe point is that children are among the "all" of verse 35: "You must be the servant of all . . . " For example, here's a child. I am taking this child in my arms to show you that if you would be great, if you would be first, you must be the servant of children. You must take time for children. You must not look down on or despise children. You must not say this is simply women's work. If you would be great, you will not rule out nursery duty; you will pray earnestly about teaching primaries; you will think hard about leading a boys' club or girls' club; you will spend yourself in the fight to overcome child-killing.
Why does Jesus illustrate his point about serving with a child? The discussion wasn't about children. Why does Jesus bring them in?
The answer is that there is no political payback in serving children: they can't vote. And they don't give speeches about how great is your helpfulness. In fact they pretty much take for granted that you will take care of them. They don't make a big deal out of the fact that you pour your life out for them. And so, children prove, more clearly than any other kind of people, whether you are truly great or not—whether you live to serve or live to be praised.
Now put the two things Jesus said together. In verse 35 he said: if you would be first, you must be last of all and servant of all (especially children). And in verse 37 he said: if you receive a child in my name, you receive God. In other words, when I call you to be the servant of all, including children, I am not calling you to some heroic self-sacrifice. I am calling you to stop chasing the bubbles of man's praise and start pursuing God. Stop trying to receive praise in the service of men and starting receiving God in the service of children. What do you want? Do you want the fleeting praise of mortal men? Or do you want God?
---
My 2 cents:
Summary of questions and possible answers:
1. Why did the disciples not understand what Jesus meant and why were they afraid to ask Him about it?
2. Why were the disciples arguing about who was the greatest?
The disciples had a deeply rooted cultural expectation of who and what the Messiah was going to be. When they put their lives on hold to follow Jesus, it was with the expectation that He was going to be a conquering hero that would free Israel from Rome and be king over the world. Consequently, they were going to have very high positions in His administration.
When Jesus kept saying that He was going to die as a sacrifice for many, that didn't fit their view at all. They were not able to hear that and didn't want to. When Jesus kept repeating this, it made them afraid that their dreams weren't going to come true after-all. They were afraid.
One way to take their minds off their fear was to discuss their future, according to their own dreams. That would naturally lead to discussions of who would be higher level administrators.
3. What did Jesus mean by saying anyone who wants to be first must be the very last and the servant of all?
4. What does it look like to be last?
This world puts importance on who is top dog - the alpha dog. In Jesus' Kingdom, things work differently. If you want to be close to what Jesus is doing, you have to serve like He did. Putting yourself last means dropping all of your ambitions, your self-promotion, and desire that people think well of you. If you want to be great in God's Kingdom - and God wants us to be great in His Kingdom - that means you will have to put everyone's needs above your own wants. It means that people will never recognize you in this world. It means that people will despise you and think poorly of you. It means that you will have to spend you life on those very people who think so poorly of you.
Parents of teenagers might understand this a little better :-).
https://biblehub.com/commentaries/luke/22-24.htm says:
ReplyDeleteAnd there was also a strife among them.—The incident that follows is peculiar to St. Luke. The noun which he uses for “strife” does not occur elsewhere in the New Testament, but the corresponding adjective meets us in the “contentious” of 1Corinthians 11:16. The dispute was apparently the sequel of many previous debates of the same kind, as, e.g., in Luke 9:46; Matthew 18:1; Mark 9:34; and the prayer of the two sons of Zebedee (Matthew 20:23; Mark 10:37). What had just passed probably led to its revival. Who was greatest? Was it Peter, to whom had been promised the keys of the kingdom, or John, who reclined on the Master’s bosom, or Andrew, who had been first-called? Even the disciples who were in the second group of the Twelve, might have cherished the hope that those who had been thus rebuked for their ambition or their want of faith had left a place vacant to which they might now hopefully aspire.
---
It was blameworthy, but only too natural, that, while Christ’s heart was full of His approaching sufferings, the Apostles should be squabbling about their respective dignity. They thought that the half-understood predictions pointed to a brief struggle immediately preceding the establishment of the kingdom, and they wished to have their rank settled in advance. Possibly, too, they had been disputing as to whose office was the menial task of presenting the basin for foot-washing. So little did the first partakers of the Lord’s Supper ‘discern the Lord’s body,’ and so little did His most loving friends share His sorrows.
---
Nothing can be more humiliating than that the disciples should have had "such" contentions, and in such a time and place. That just as Jesus was contemplating his own death, and laboring to prepare them for it, they should strive and contend about office and rank, shows how deeply seated is the love of power; how ambition will find its way into the most secret and sacred places; and how even the disciples of the meek and lowly Jesus are sometimes actuated by this most base and wicked feeling.
https://biblehub.com/commentaries/luke/22-29.htm says:
ReplyDeleteAs my Father ... - They had seen how God had appointed a kingdom to "him." It was not with pomp, and splendor, and external glory, but it was in poverty, want, persecution, and trial. So would "he" appoint to them a kingdom. They should "surely" possess it; but it would be not with external splendor, but by poverty and toil. The original word "appoint" has the force of a "covenant" or compact, and means that it should be "surely" or certainly done, or that he pledged himself to do it. All Christians must enter into the kingdom of heaven after the manner of their Lord - through much tribulation; but, though it must be, as it was with him, by many tears and sorrows, yet they shall surely reach the place of their rest and the reward of heaven, for it is secured to them by the covenant pledge and faithfulness of their Lord and King.
https://www.preceptaustin.org/luke-22-commentary says:
ReplyDeleteD L Moody - To me, one of the saddest things in all the life of Jesus Christ was the fact that just before His crucifixion, His disciples should have been striving to see who should be the greatest. It was His last night on earth, and they never saw Him so sorrowful before. He knew Judas was going to sell Him for thirty pieces of silver. He knew that Peter would deny Him. And yet, in addition to this, when going into the very shadow of the cross, there arose this strife as to who should be the greatest.
He took a towel and girded Himself like a slave, and He took a basin of water and stooped and washed their feet. That was another object lesson of humility. He said, “Ye call Me Master and Lord, and ye say well.” If you want to be great in My Kingdom, be servant of all. If you serve, you shall be great.
Questions and findings:
ReplyDelete1. Why are the disciples arguing about which of them was the greatest?
I think that part of it was to distract themselves from what Jesus was trying to tell them. They had such a firm view of what the Messiah said, that everything Jesus is telling them is blowing up their minds. They just can't take it, and are desperately trying to hold onto their preconceived notions.
2. Why is Jesus telling us that the greatest should be the youngest and the one who serves?
In the kingdom of God, leadership and greatness is upside down. The greatest will be the most humble servant and consider themselves the least of all. Youngest doesn't mean least experienced, but least regarded.
3. What does it mean for them and for us that we inherit a kingdom?
Jesus' spiritual kingdom started at Pentecost and continues to this day. We have inherited it and are put in charge of expanding it. We need to take serious our role and leadership in the already existing kingdom. Some day, this spiritual kingdom will also become a visible kingdom.
4. Who gets a throne and who judges? Is there a hierarchy in heaven?
Thrones at least mean seats of decision making power (I don't speculate whether there will be visible symbols of this). I think there is a hierarchy of administration and responsibility in Jesus kingdom - but once again, we need to be careful - this hierarchy is upside down compared to what we see on this world. These higher seats are reserved for those who are the most lowly servants (where they will remain lowly servants). I speculate that everyone will be well satisfied in their assignment and that there will be no envy. (In my own case, I can imagine feeling relieved that I don't have the responsibilities of others).