Daily Devotions
Luke
Luke 22 : 24-30 "AN UNWORTHY TOPIC OF DISCUSSION"
Day 284 – Luke 22
Text: Luke 22 : 24-30
AN UNWORTHY TOPIC OF DISCUSSION
The Passover Meal that Jesus celebrated with His Disciples must have been a most poignant one. The celebration of the Feast of the Passover and Unleavened Bread was meant to be marked with joy.
Hymns of praise were sung. Prayers of thanksgiving were offered. Jesus led in the singing of praise to the Lord (Matthew 26:30) and in thanksgiving prayer (Luke 22:17,19).
Jesus also spoke to His Disciples about how one of them would betray Him. For a little while, all His Disciples were troubled in heart. Each asked individually, whether he would be the one who would betray the Master.
Out of nowhere, an unworthy topic was brought up in their conversation. Luke recorded this incident.
“Now there was also a dispute among them,
as to which of them should be considered
the greatest.”
Luke 22:24
This was NOT the first time the topic of greatness was brought up. Let us recall an earlier situation where Jesus had to deal with this problem that unsettled His Disciples.
“Then a dispute arose among them
as to which of them would be greatest. “
Luke 9:46
Jesus had addressed this problem already. He had taught them a profound truth in these words.
“He who is least among you all will be great.”
Luke 9:48
Obviously, the Disciples had either forgotten what Jesus had taught them, or they had not fully understood what He had said. They certainly did not display any evidence that they had learned what Jesus had sought to teach them.
The timing of the discussion of who among the disciples would be considered the greatest couldn’t be worse! They had just been told that one of the Disciples was going to be a betrayer, and that very soon Jesus would die. Yet the topic of who was going to be considered the greatest arose. How insensitivity can grow on a person!
THE INFLUENCE OF THE WORLD
Let us study how Jesus answered this question the second time round. The way Jesus dealt with this problem would indicate that somehow the influence of the world continued to affect His Disciples.
“And He said to them,
The kings of Gentiles exercise lordship over them,
And those who exercise authority over them
Are called benefactors.
BUT not so among you;
On the contrary, he who is greatest among you,
Let him be as the younger,
And he who governs as he who serves. “
Luke 22:25-26
The mention of “kings of Gentiles” and “those who exercise authority” may be said to be Jesus’ reference to a secular mindset. It was a common enough practice. Those who exercised authority were considered “great”. People in authority like to flaunt that authority. They like being called “benefactors”.
This was a worldly mindset that Jesus knew had influenced the thinking of His Disciples. Its influence was deeper than the Disciples had realized. Thus the first teaching of the Lord Jesus on true greatness (Luke 9:48) did not penetrate into their hearts deeply enough.
Jesus had to identify this secular mindset to help His Disciples realize that they must be careful NOT to adopt this worldly approach! It differed significantly from what they had been taught!
Once again Jesus went back to what He had taught earlier. This time round, He elaborated this truth-principle with a definite example. Was there someone who was great, then let him seek to be in the position of the younger individual. The honour always went to the older person. He who was truly great would not mind not being acknowledged or honoured.
The person who governs was of course greater than the person governed. Yet, the person who governs must desire to be as one who serves. This teaching of Jesus was diametrically opposite to that practised in the world.
THE OUTSTANDING EXAMPLE OF THE LORD JESUS
Jesus went on further. He sought to resolve this dispute among His Disciples, once and for all. He said,
“For who is greater, he who sits at the table,
or he who serves?
Is it not he who sits at the table (presiding over it),
Yet, I am among you as the One who serves.”
Luke 22:27
It is likely that the Disciples had taken for granted how Jesus served. Even as he sat among the Disciples, He sat as One who presided over the Passover meal. If there was anyone who deserved to be called “Great” – Jesus would be that Person.
Nevertheless, Jesus never sought “greatness” . He did not seek greatness through His work, through the many feats of miracles He performed. He did not seek the acclaim of anybody at all, at any time! He sought only to serve. Jesus pointed to His own personal example to reinforce His teaching concerning true greatness.