Chapter 125

“Who is the greatest?”

“But, behold, the hand of him that betrayeth me [is] with me on the table. And truly the Son of man goeth, as it was determined: but woe unto that man by whom he is betrayed! And they began to enquire among themselves, which of them it was that should do this thing. 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.” (Luke 22:21-30)

We often try to make comparisons between material, earthly things and spiritual, heavenly things. But there is one great problem with all such comparisons: ¾ They simply cannot be made! Any rule or principle that is taken from the natural realm and applied to the spiritual realm must be reversed. In the natural realm success is measured by gain. In the spiritual world success is measured by loss (Matthew 16:25). In the natural world wealth is gained and measured by what a man is able to gain and save. In the spiritual world wealth is gained and measured by what he gives (Proverbs 19:17; 11:24; 22:9; Luke 6:38). In natural things a “self-made” man is admired. In spiritual things a self-made man is condemned (Romans 4:4-5). In natural things ambition and aggressiveness are looked upon as commendable things. In the kingdom of God they are deplorable things. Natural men are admired who strive for advancement and promotion. But the Spirit of God teaches us to strive for abasement and servitude.

            This was a hard lesson for the disciples to learn, because, like us, they each wanted to be the greatest. In the New Testament it appears that the one thing which disrupted the fellowship, communion, and harmony of our Lord’s disciples, more than anything else, was personal ambition, the desire for personal exaltation, recognition, and greatness (Matthew 18:1; 20:20-21; Mark 9:33-35; Luke 9:46-48).

            Even as they sat around the Table with the Lord Jesus on the eve of His crucifixion, eating the last supper, while He talked to them about His death, as He gave them the blessed ordinance of the Lord’s Supper, “there was a strife among them, which of them should be accounted the greatest!” What a pitiful picture we have before us: ¾ Brethren, sitting together with Christ at the table of communion striving about which of them would betray the Master (vv. 22-23) and which of them would be counted the greatest (v. 24).

            Where humility should have abounded, pride and ambition intruded! When love and unity should have prevailed, ambition divided! Our Lord’s words to us in Luke 22:21-30 are intended by Him to cure us of the evil of ambition, of self-seeking, self-serving, self-promoting pride. As we read this sad story, let us ask God the Holy Spirit to teach us its lessons. I remind you that the Lord Jesus had just eaten the last passover with His disciples and instituted the blessed ordinance of the Lord’s Supper. Then, the Lord Jesus gave them an example of humility and love that should forever cure his followers of this evil (John 13:12-17). After that, the disciples began to fuss about who should be accounted the greatest among them.

            Very few realize it; but he that is greatest in the kingdom of God is the servant of all. We all have lofty desires. We talk piously about our desires to be like Christ, to live the Christian life, to honor God in our lives. Is that truly the desire of our hearts? If it is, let us pray that God the Holy Spirit will teach us to serve one another. If the Son of God made himself the least, we must not strive to be the greatest. If our Master became our Servant, let us serve one another (Philippians 2:1-7).

“He that Serveth”

First, our Lord assumed the place of a servant among His disciples. He says, “I am among you as he that serveth.” In this world our Lord was not one of the cultured few upon whom others wait. He was not one of the rich, the mighty, or the noble whom others serve. He was the Servant of servants (Mark 10:42-45). When He came down from heaven, He took upon himself the form of a servant.

            In the circle of His disciples Christ was always the one who served. He healed the sick. He fed the multitudes. Only once did He ask anyone to give Him anything; and then it was that He might show His humility. Being a Jew, He condescended to ask a Samaritan woman for a drink of water. Even then, His object was that He might serve her.

            Where He was most evidently the Master, among His own disciples, He was most evidently the Servant. Like a shepherd, He was Servant to His sheep. Like a nurse, He was Servant to the children of God. Like a chambermaid, He washed His disciples’ feet.

            In the celebration of the Lord’s Supper the Lord himself was among His disciples as “he that serveth.” He provided the table. He desired the fellowship of His brethren at the Passover. He broke the bread. He offered the prayer. He poured the wine.

            Throughout the whole course of His life on earth, the Lord Jesus took the position of a servant, a slave. When He entered into the covenant of grace with the Father as our Surety, the Son of God became a voluntary Servant (Psalm 40:6; Isaiah 50:5-7; Exodus 21:6). When He came into the world to save us, He announced himself as the Servant of Jehovah (Psalm 40:7; Hebrews 10:5-10). The physical body prepared for our Savior and all His earthly surroundings were fitted for service (Hebrews 10:5; Philippians 2:7; 2 Corinthians 8:9).

            Throughout His life, our Lord Jesus cared for and served others (Matthew 20:28). He laid aside His own will and pleasure and came to do the will and pleasure of His Father, serving our interest (John 4:34; 6:38). He patiently bore all manner of evil from men as one who is servant to another (1 Peter 2:23). The Son of God assumed the lowest place among men, that He might bring us to the highest place of heavenly glory as the sons of God (Psalm 22:6; Isaiah 53:3; 2 Corinthians 8:9).

Adore Him

What we have seen thus far should fill our hearts with wonder and adoration. What astonishing love! What amazing grace! He who is the Son of God became Servant to those who are His servants! Does that fact not astonish you? — He who is Lord of all became the Servant of all His people (Colossians 1:15-19). The Creator served the creature! The Ruler served His subjects! The Firstborn served the adopted children! He who is “all fullness” served us, who are all emptiness! He who has all preeminence served us, who are less than nothing!

            He who is infinitely Superior in wisdom, power, and holiness became Servant to the very lowest (Matthew 8:26-27; John 14:9). He gave sight to blind beggars. He defended an adulterous woman. He calmed the troubled waters for His unbelieving disciples. He ministered to the small child. He stretched out His hand to drowning Peter. He removed the doubts of doubting Thomas. He came to Peter, when Peter had forsaken him.

            But do not imagine that our Lord’s service was limited to those disciples, or even to His time on earth. He performed all His earthly service for us. He serves us now. And He will serve us forever. He who is our great Benefactor became Servant to us who are the beneficiaries of His grace (John 15:16). The righteousness He accomplished was for us (Romans 5:19). The death He died, the atonement He made was for us (Galatians 4:4-5). His heavenly intercession is for us (Hebrews 7:24-25). His providential rule is for us (John 17:2). The angelic hosts, His holy servants, are sent by Him to serve us (Hebrews 1:14). Throughout the ages of eternity, all the glory, joy, and bliss of heaven will be given to us by the Lord Jesus Christ. Even then, He will serve us (Luke 12:37). Jesus Christ, the Lord of Glory, condescends to serve us, who are altogether unworthy of His notice, much less His service.

The Cause

How can this great condescension on the part of Christ be explained? What is the cause of it? What is the reason for it? Why has He done it? Here are three answers: (1.) The Lord Jesus Christ is so infinitely great that He loses nothing by serving us (Hebrews 1:2-4). — (2.) The Son of God is so full of love to us that His love for us compels Him to serve us (John 15:9; 1 John 3:16; John 13:1). And (3.) our Mediator, the God-man, is so entirely consecrated to the glory of God that He willingly endured even the painful, shameful death of the cross for us, that He might glorify God (Matthew 26:38-39; John 12:28).

Imitate Him

May God the Holy Spirit graciously teach us to imitate our Savior by serving one another. Let this be the rule of our lives (John 13:5, 13-15). If we would be great in the kingdom of God, we must become servants. There is no greater, more noble ambition than this (Ephesians 4:32–5:1). If we would follow Christ, let us cheerfully choose to fulfil the most lowly services in the kingdom of God. Blessed are those saved sinners who seek from God the Holy Spirit the spirit of true love and humility toward their brethren (Ephesians 4:1-3; Philippians 2:3; 1 Peter 5:5). It is in this way that we are to continually lay down our lives for one another (1 John 3:16-17). This is that which inspired the apostle Paul to spend and be spent for God’s elect (2 Corinthians 12:15). May God give us grace to make self-sacrifice the rule by which we live, ever seeking the good of others (Philippians 2:4-5).

            Rather than whining, “Nobody comes to see me,” why don’t you go see somebody? Rather than complaining because no one calls me, I ought to call someone. Rather than selfishly thinking, “Nobody seems to care about me,” we ought to take care of others. Rather than being bitter because we are forgotten, we ought to make it our business to remember others. Over the span of more than sixty years in this world, I have observed a remarkable thing: — Those who spend their lives caring for and serving others never whine and complain about being neglected and overlooked or forgotten, while those who constantly complain about being neglected and overlooked and forgotten seldom do anything for anyone but themselves.

            If we would serve Christ and His people, we should never avenge ourselves, bring grief to others, or disrupt the blessed peace of God’s saints; but rather bear any injustices done to us, just as our Master did (1 Peter 2:19-21). Always seek the place in God’s Kingdom in which you are likely to receive the least and can give the most. Choose to serve rather than to be served! Our Lord did. The place of highest honor in the Church of God is the place of greatest service. The towel with which Christ wiped His disciples’ feet is indescribably more attractive than the royal robes of the greatest king on earth.

            There are just two kinds of people in this world: — Those who use and those who are used. God, make me one who is used. — Those who take and those who give. I want to be a giver. — Those who are served and those who serve. I pray that God will make me a servant. — “Bear ye one another’s burdens, and so fulfil the law of Christ.”

            Who is greatest in the kingdom of heaven? Christ, the Servant of all (Matthew 11:11). Let us strive to be like Him!

Don Fortner

Listen to sermons at FreeGraceRadio.com