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Author: Stephen Weller
711 words, 4 minutes read time

A Dispute Over Who Is Greatest?

Scripture: Luke 22:24

With the previous lesson we covered a short section in which Jesus was with his disciples having a meal together. In that lesson the disciples partook of the cup and then John 13:2 suggests that the devil got involved. With this lesson we will begin a new section which covers one of two disruptions of this meal.

^{Lk 22:24} 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.

As they were sharing the cup, a dispute arose among the disciples as to who was the greatest. It is clear that the disciples did not understand what the cup meant and had in mind a coming kingdom not the death of Jesus.

This dispute causes Jesus to stop what he was doing and deals with this element of pride about being the greatest. Jesus points out that the kings of the Gentiles exercise authority over those under them, but not so with the disciples. He states a kingdom principle that the greatest is to become like the youngest and the leader as one who serves. Jesus then asks them a question. “Who is the greater; the one who reclines at table or the one who serves.” He answers with another question. “Is it not the one who reclines at table?” Clearly, they know it is the one who reclines at table, but then Jesus, who is the Son of God, their Messiah, points out that he is the one who is serving.

In a worldly kingdom, power is determined in the strength of the people; a king is only as strong as the collective strength of his subjects, but in God’s kingdom the people are to be humble before him and in return they operate with the power of God. The disciples don’t understand this yet.

^{Lk 22:28} “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.

During his time of ministry, Jesus has experienced various form of persecution, and though it the disciples have stayed with him. Jesus was sent here on a mission to communicate the gospel to people and then die on a cross to pay for our redemption. Those who then believe are able to become members of that kingdom. The Father gave the kingdom to Jesus and Jesus then provided a way for us to inherit that kingdom. Jesus then explains to his disciples that they will eat and drink at his table in his kingdom and will then sit on thrones and judge.

Conclusion

In the previous lesson Jesus served the cup to his disciples but their focus was not on what the cup meant but was rather on who was the greatest among them. Jesus has to stop and set his disciples straight and point out that greatness resides with servants and that their power is not from their strength but is from God’s strength. How much experience have you had in serving with God’s power? Have you prayed and seen things happen? Our western culture honors personal strength in doing things, but God desires people who will let him demonstrate his power through them. This is exemplified in Galatians 2:20 ESV: “I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me. And the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.”