The Greatness of Service in the Kingdom of God
"And there was also a strife among them, which of them should be accounted the greatest. And he said unto them, The kings of the Gentiles exercise lordship over them; and they that exercise authority upon them are called benefactors. But ye shall not be so: but he that is greatest among you, let him be as the younger; and he that is chief, as he that doth serve. For whether is greater, he that sitteth at meat, or he that serveth? is not he that sitteth at meat? but I am among you as he that serveth. Ye are they which have continued with me in my temptations. And I appoint unto you a kingdom, as my Father hath appointed unto me; That ye may eat and drink at my table in my kingdom, and sit on thrones judging the twelve tribes of Israel. And the Lord said, Simon, Simon, behold, Satan hath desired to have you, that he may sift you as wheat: But I have prayed for thee, that thy faith fail not: and when thou art converted, strengthen thy brethren. And he said unto him, Lord, I am ready to go with thee, both into prison, and to death. And he said, I tell thee, Peter, the cock shall not crow this day, before that thou shalt thrice deny that thou knowest me. And he said unto them, When I sent you without purse, and scrip, and shoes, lacked ye any thing? And they said, Nothing. Then said he unto them, But now, he that hath a purse, let him take it, and likewise his scrip: and he that hath no sword, let him sell his garment, and buy one. For I say unto you, that this that is written must yet be accomplished in me, And he was reckoned among the transgressors: for the things concerning me have an end. And they said, Lord, behold, here are two swords. And he said unto them, It is enough." - Luke 22:7-23
In the quiet moments of the Last Supper, amidst the bread and wine that would signify a new covenant, a curious debate arose among the disciples - a dispute over who was the greatest among them. This conflict is highlighted in Luke 22:24-27 as it captures the human desire for recognition and authority. The question of greatness has echoed through the ages, and Jesus takes this opportunity to redefine what it means to be great in God’s kingdom.
In Luke 22:25-26 (KJV), Jesus responded, "The kings of the Gentiles exercise lordship over them; and they that exercise authority upon them are called benefactors. But ye shall not be so: but he that is greatest among you, let him be as the younger; and he that is chief, as he that doth serve." Here, Jesus contrasts the leadership style of worldly rulers with that of His followers. Unlike earthly authority, which often seeks to dominate and control, Jesus calls His disciples to a radical path of humility and service.
In a society that often measures greatness in terms of power, wealth, or fame, Christ teaches us that true greatness is found in serving others. To be great in the Kingdom of God means to take on the posture of a servant. This principle runs counter to our human inclinations and societal norms. Jesus models this servant leadership—He, who is the King of kings, kneels to wash the feet of His disciples. He exemplifies the heart of a servant even as He prepares for the ultimate sacrifice.
As we reflect upon this scripture, we must ask ourselves: What does it mean to serve? It means putting others’ needs above our own, extending kindness and grace to those around us, and taking action where there is need. Service is about the heart and the attitude behind our actions. In a world that often champions self-interest and personal gain, Jesus reminds us that our highest calling is to love and serve one another as He has served us.
In the subsequent verses (Luke 22:31-34), Jesus turns His attention to Simon Peter. He warns him that Satan has requested to sift him like wheat, yet He reassures Peter that He has prayed for him. This glimpse into the spiritual battle we all face reminds us of our vulnerability and need for divine strength. It also emphasizes our role to support and uplift each other. Jesus tells Peter, "when thou art converted, strengthen thy brethren" (Luke 22:32, KJV). This call is not just for Peter; it echoes through the church today. We are all called to uplift one another and be instruments of support in our fellowship.
As we delve deeper, we see how Jesus prepares His disciples for what is to come, advising them to make practical preparations for their mission ahead (Luke 22:35-38). The tone shifts; He acknowledges the severity of the times, encouraging them to be ready and equipped. In a similar fashion today, we are called not only to serve but to be ready for every good work, equipping ourselves with God’s Word and His Spirit for the tasks ahead.
In a world that often finds its identity in titles and positions, may we find ours in service. When we feel the urge to seek recognition, let us instead seek opportunities to serve. Let us be humble in our desires for greatness, knowing that in serving, we embody the heart of Christ. As we come to the table of the Lord, whether literally or metaphorically, remembering His sacrifice and service provides us with the perfect model to follow.
As we continue in faith, let’s commit to strengthening our brethren in love and service. Let’s embrace our roles not as lords over one another, but as humble servants, pointing each other to the Savior who serves willingly and sacrificially. By doing so, we will reflect the true essence of greatness in His Kingdom.
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Luke 22:7-23 Artwork
Luke 22:7-23 - "Then came the day of Unleavened Bread on which the Passover lamb had to be sacrificed. Jesus sent Peter and John, saying, “Go and make preparations for us to eat the Passover.” “Where do you want us to prepare for it?” they asked. He replied, “As you enter the city, a man carrying a jar of water will meet you. Follow him to the house that he enters, and say to the owner of the house, ‘The Teacher asks: Where is the guest room, where I may eat the Passover with my disciples?’ He will show you a large room upstairs, all furnished. Make preparations there.” They left and found things just as Jesus had told them. So they prepared the Passover. When the hour came, Jesus and his apostles reclined at the table. And he said to them, “I have eagerly desired to eat this Passover with you before I suffer. For I tell you, I will not eat it again until it finds fulfillment in the kingdom of God.” After taking the cup, he gave thanks and said, “Take this and divide it among you. For I tell you I will not drink again from the fruit of the vine until the kingdom of God comes.” And he took bread, gave thanks and broke it, and gave it to them, saying, “This is my body given for you; do this in remembrance of me.” In the same way, after the supper he took the cup, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in my blood, which is poured out for you. But the hand of him who is going to betray me is with mine on the table. The Son of Man will go as it has been decreed. But woe to that man who betrays him!” They began to question among themselves which of them it might be who would do this."
"Then came the day of Unleavened Bread on which the Passover lamb had to be sacrificed. Jesus sent Peter and John, saying, “Go and make preparations for us to eat the Passover.” “Where do you want us to prepare for it?” they asked. He replied, “As you enter the city, a man carrying a jar of water will meet you. Follow him to the house that he enters, and say to the owner of the house, ‘The Teacher asks: Where is the guest room, where I may eat the Passover with my disciples?’ He will show you a large room upstairs, all furnished. Make preparations there.” They left and found things just as Jesus had told them. So they prepared the Passover. When the hour came, Jesus and his apostles reclined at the table. And he said to them, “I have eagerly desired to eat this Passover with you before I suffer. For I tell you, I will not eat it again until it finds fulfillment in the kingdom of God.” After taking the cup, he gave thanks and said, “Take this and divide it among you. For I tell you I will not drink again from the fruit of the vine until the kingdom of God comes.” And he took bread, gave thanks and broke it, and gave it to them, saying, “This is my body given for you; do this in remembrance of me.” In the same way, after the supper he took the cup, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in my blood, which is poured out for you. But the hand of him who is going to betray me is with mine on the table. The Son of Man will go as it has been decreed. But woe to that man who betrays him!” They began to question among themselves which of them it might be who would do this." - Luke 22:7-23
Luke 22:23 - "And they began to enquire among themselves, which of them it was that should do this thing."
Luke 7:23 - "And blessed is he, whosoever shall not be offended in me."
Acts 2:2-3
Acts 2:2-3
Luke 22:7 - "¶ Then came the day of unleavened bread, when the passover must be killed."
"And blessed is he, whosoever shall not be offended in me." - Luke 7:23
"And they began to enquire among themselves, which of them it was that should do this thing." - Luke 22:23
Luke 23:7 - "And as soon as he knew that he belonged unto Herod's jurisdiction, he sent him to Herod, who himself also was at Jerusalem at that time."
"¶ Then came the day of unleavened bread, when the passover must be killed." - Luke 22:7
Luke 23:22 - "And he said unto them the third time, Why, what evil hath he done? I have found no cause of death in him: I will therefore chastise him, and let him go."
Luke 12:22-23 - "Then Jesus said to his disciples: “Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat; or about your body, what you will wear. For life is more than food, and the body more than clothes."
Luke 23:53
Luke 19:23
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Luke 15:23
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luke 11:23
Galatians5:22-23
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Luke 22:39
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Luke 7:22 - "Then Jesus answering said unto them, Go your way, and tell John what things ye have seen and heard; how that the blind see, the lame walk, the lepers are cleansed, the deaf hear, the dead are raised, to the poor the gospel is preached."