The Dispute: Luke 22:24-26
“24) And there arose also a dispute among them as to which one of them was regarded to be greatest. 25) And He said to them, “The kings of the Gentiles Lord it over them; and those who have authority over them are called ‘Benefactors.’ 26) But it is not this way with you, but the one who is the greatest among you must become like the youngest, and the leader like the servant.” Luke 22:24-26
The timing couldn’t have been worse. They had just finished the Passover meal and Jesus was about to be betrayed. His earthly ministry was coming to a violent and abrupt end, and His disciples were still arguing over which one was greatest. This exposes a few things about them.
First, they were clueless about what was about to happen. That lack of discernment disqualified all of them from leadership. He had tried to prepare them over and over again, but they weren’t listening.
Second, they failed the test on servanthood leadership. According to John 13:1-20, Jesus started the meal by washing their feet because each of them refused take the role of a servant. The old self still sat on the throne in each of them.
Third, they totally ignored His message on Love given a few minutes earlier as recorded in John 13:34-35. Love is not a rational component of following Jesus, it’s the very heartbeat of discipleship.
Finally, they were adopting a secular notion of leadership. They were acting like kings and governors. They wanted to be “in charge.” They wanted to “be served.” Not one of them was willing to be a servant.
This argues the point that we are never ready for the ministries and roles Jesus prepares for us. He always stretches us. He is constantly at work in us.
Yet, He did not delay His appointment with the cross. His atonement was about to put the final nail in their self-centered coffins. Death to self happens at the foot of the cross and is an essential part of our new life in Christ.
They were about to witness the death, burial and resurrection of Christ and then shortly be baptized by His promised Holy Spirit. They were about to be transformed into radically different men. They were about to discover the full meaning of being Servant Leaders.
Daily Bible Commentary By Terry Baxter: Cofounder of GoServ Global
“24) And there arose also a dispute among them as to which one of them was regarded to be greatest. 25) And He said to them, “The kings of the Gentiles Lord it over them; and those who have authority over them are called ‘Benefactors.’ 26) But it is not this way with you, but the one who is the greatest among you must become like the youngest, and the leader like the servant.” Luke 22:24-26
The timing couldn’t have been worse. They had just finished the Passover meal and Jesus was about to be betrayed. His earthly ministry was coming to a violent and abrupt end, and His disciples were still arguing over which one was greatest. This exposes a few things about them.
First, they were clueless about what was about to happen. That lack of discernment disqualified all of them from leadership. He had tried to prepare them over and over again, but they weren’t listening.
Second, they failed the test on servanthood leadership. According to John 13:1-20, Jesus started the meal by washing their feet because each of them refused take the role of a servant. The old self still sat on the throne in each of them.
Third, they totally ignored His message on Love given a few minutes earlier as recorded in John 13:34-35. Love is not a rational component of following Jesus, it’s the very heartbeat of discipleship.
Finally, they were adopting a secular notion of leadership. They were acting like kings and governors. They wanted to be “in charge.” They wanted to “be served.” Not one of them was willing to be a servant.
This argues the point that we are never ready for the ministries and roles Jesus prepares for us. He always stretches us. He is constantly at work in us.
Yet, He did not delay His appointment with the cross. His atonement was about to put the final nail in their self-centered coffins. Death to self happens at the foot of the cross and is an essential part of our new life in Christ.
They were about to witness the death, burial and resurrection of Christ and then shortly be baptized by His promised Holy Spirit. They were about to be transformed into radically different men. They were about to discover the full meaning of being Servant Leaders.
Daily Bible Commentary By Terry Baxter: Cofounder of GoServ Global
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