TEXT: Luke 22:24-30

SUBJECT: Luke #84: Who’s Number One?

Lessons are easier taught than learned.

On the night before His death, Jesus Christ spent several hours teaching His friends the lesson they most needed to learn. The disciples were not stupid men or stubborn, and they must have nodded at His every word and assured Him they understood it.

But they understood nothing. Within five minutes they were up to the very thing He was warning them against. The thing they were up to was pride—as seen in the desire to be number one.

Thankfully, that desire is no longer with us! Today, no Christian cares about his place in church or work or the family or society! We’re all racing for the lowest places we can get! Nobody wants to be recognized anymore!

Of course I’m being ironic. The ambition Peter, James, John, and the others had way back when is still with us. In my heart and in yours.

The pride comes out in more ways then one. In some it’s boasting in what they are or what they’ve done. In others it’s envy—resenting the people ahead of them because no one deserves to be ahead of them! In some, it’s self-pity: how could anyone treat me that way? And in others, it’s a show-off humility.

I knew a woman years ago who never wanted praise or thanks of any kind. Nearly every week she’d call me to tell me how much she hates being recognized for all she does. And then she’d go on to list all the things she does and doesn’t want to be recognized for!

Listening to her made me laugh to myself. Until it occurred to me that I’m the same way. I, too, strike the humble pose in public; I, too, have the ambition to be thought of as a man without ambition. Maybe I’m not alone.

In any event, pride has been in the Church from the beginning and will be until the end of time. And not just the bad churches, but all churches, including the best ones. Do you know why? Because the best churches are made up…of Christians.

One of the most striking and insightful things Dr. Martin Luther ever said was: "Christians are—at the same time—righteous and sinners".

He was right. In Christ our sins are forgiven and our lives are changed for the better. But we are not perfect. And pride is the last thing we’re rid of.

This is really discouraging and it makes me wonder if I’m saved or not. Until I read the Bible and find saved men—even Apostles—guilty of the very same thing. Their examples shouldn’t be taken to encourage pride, of course, but it is good to know that Jesus Christ loves even His conceited friends. He hates the sinner, but not the sinner, and His love for us urges us to repent of the thing most hateful to Him.

Read alone, today’s story will discourage you. But read as part of the larger story, it will break your heart. The story takes place within minutes of the Passover.

The Lord had told His friends that this would be His last meal with them. That this very night He would taken and the next morning condemned, scourged, and crucified! Surely, if there was ever a time to think of Someone Else, this was the time! But, no, they’ve forgotten all about the Lord. Because they can only think of themselves.

If Judas were doing this, you’d say, "Of course—that’s the kind of man he was". But Judas wasn’t there! These were the good Apostles, the true friends of Christ. And look at how them—quarrelling about who’s number one in the Kingdom!

The Lord’s Supper was even nearer in time. The Passover didn’t end in the customary way that night. Something was added to it—the breaking of bread and the drinking of wine. This was not an after dinner snack! It was a vivid prophecy, for what happened to that bread and wine would soon happen to Christ! His body broken like the bread; His blood drained like the cup!

The King is giving Himself up for their salvation and all they can do is argue about who’s going to be the top guy in His cabinet. Note the contrast: the King demoting Himself while His servants are promoting themselves.

Their own sin had just been exposed. The Apostles were not the super-saints they thought they were. One of them, in fact, had already sold the Lord and would soon turn Him over to the authorities. There was a traitor among them—and each man wondered if it was he. In light of this word and the soul-searching it brought to them, you wouldn’t think they’d be competing for the top jobs in the Kingdom.

Remember the foot washing. Luke does not have this in his story, but John does. He tells us that this very night, the Master became the servant—the lowest servant in the house. Dirty feet then were no more pleasant than they are now. No one wanted to wash them, but somebody had to, and so the lowest man on the totem pole did it—someone like the maid’s little boy. That night, the King became the little boy and washed the feet of His disciples.

This was not a ceremony or a ritual! It was a foot washing. A dirty, disgusting job—that Christ did! Then He told His disciples to do the same thing for each other, that is, to be humble and more eager to serve than to rule.

Add to this, the Lord’s whole life and previous teaching. A death bed repentance is a common thing. Men who abuse their wives suddenly love them at the end. I’m not doubting anyone’s motives (better late than never, I say). But I have to wonder about the sincerity of that love: if he recovered would he be a new man or go back to his old ways?

But the Lord’s last hours were cut from the same cloth as His whole life. He hadn’t been a selfish Man who now things we ought to love one another. No, He had always been a man who chose the good of others over His own comfort. He had always lived this way and taught this way and when the disciples forget it, He reminded them of it!

This is the background of today’s story. At the time they should have been most humble, they were, in fact, the most proud.

The disciples are arguing and you know what it’s about: "Which of them should be considered the greatest".

The disciples were mostly taken from the lower classes in society. Matthew was rich, but as a publican he was hated and despised by everyone. The others were poor men who worked with their hands and barely eked out a living for their families. They were not educated, refined, or washed.

Yet these lower class men have all the ambitions of Royalty. They know they can’t be King, but each one wants to be bit closer to the King than anyone else is. And rightly so, for each man thinks he deserves to be! Maybe Andrew or Thaddeus can be Minister of Garbage Disposal, I want to be the Prime Minister!

They all felt this way. Including the Minor Apostles whose names I can never remember!

The Lord knows what they’re talking about and lambastes them for their pride.

Firstly, He says they’re thinking like Gentiles.

"Gentile" was a four letter word in Israel. You might call a man a lot of bad names, but call him a "Gentile" and he’s going to bust you in the mouth!

In calling them "Gentiles", the Lord was not cussing at them, but simply describing them. Their thinking was no better than the pagans’! The Gentiles get a rush out of their power! They can scare and humiliate and even destroy people just for the fun of it!

It’s amazing the effect power can have on man. For example, it makes ugly men attractive to women. Why was Henry Kissinger a sex symbol? Why did young, tall, thin and beautiful women go for him? Because he was fat and ugly with a Yiddish accent you could cut with a knife? Or was it because he was powerful?

Everyone knows the perfume of power. And we all wish we had it. But that is a Gentile way of thinking—the selfish ways of a people who don’t know God! The Lord is infinitely powerful, but He doesn’t use His power for the kick it gives Him, but for the good of others. His is a benevolent power, a generous omnipotence.

Secondly, He forbids that kind of thinking in His Kingdom.

After recalling the Gentile ways, He says, quite simply, "But not so among you". He says, "I’m not this way and you won’t be either". This is an order, not a request. He’s not hinting at anything, but telling the disciples—and us—what not to be and what not to do.

He knows all the excuses. He knows Peter is mean to his kids in order to help them. He knows Andrew is hard on his wife to bring out her full potential. He knows the men will one day be pastors and dominate their churches for God’s glory. He’s memorized the book of excuses. Even the Gentiles pretend their bossiness is for the good of others—that’s why they want to be called "Benefactors".

But he’s taking no excuses. The authority we have over others is a sacred trust and may not be used to boost our egos. Not at home, not in school, not in the church, nowhere! "Not so among you!"

Thirdly, He reminds them of His own example. Who is the Big Man in God’s Kingdom? Jesus Christ. And what kind of Man is He? He’s the humblest of men. And what does He do? He serves.

Only Christ has the character to rule and to dominate and to micromanage the disciples. But He says, "I’d rather serve you…I’d rather die for you".

We all have our reasons for thinking we have the right to be in charge—to be the top guy. But do we? Do we have the character and the courage and the wisdom? I don’t know if we do or not. But I know Christ did—and He chose the other way. The way of service, the way of death to Himself to bring life to others.

The disciples have been chewed out something awful. But instead of storming away from such men, the Lord stayed with them and had one more thing to tell them. It’s not what you’d expect:

The Lord was mad at the disciples for their pride, but He did not hate them. In His hour of need, they were still with Him and appreciated their loyalty and told them how much they meant to Him in these dark times.

This tells us something about bawling people out. In rejecting their foolish ways, we must not reject them—or give the impression that we do. This is important to your husband or wife, to your kids, to friends, to people below you at work, and so on. But we will not do this as long as we lash out them in anger. No! Let out anger be tempered with love! Let your kids know that though you’re against what they do, you’re for them!

This was something my dear mother was good at doing. Over the years, hundreds of people came to her, and a lot of them got the riot act read to them! But they kept coming back. Because they knew she loved them.

But says more about the Lord’s attitude than about His words. What’s He telling the disciples? He’s telling them they don’t have to crave power and authority and dignity and greatness because He’s going to give it to them! All they want and a whole lot more!

Under the King, they’re going to sit on the highest thrones in heaven. But not by seeking it, conniving for it, and so on, but by the gift of Christ. They don’t have to fight for it, He’s giving it to them! Free of charge. By grace alone.

This has a special application to the Twelve, but it speaks to us as well. What do believers have in the life to come? We have a place of unimaginable glory! Paul says ordinary Christians will judge the angels, even! The Lord promises thrones to those who overcome and crowns of glory for faithful service.

This is the ultimate argument against pride: we don’t have to fight for position, for Christ has already given us one—one higher than any king on earth. We can be content with it. And wait for it in God’s good time.

But for now, let’s show our royal heritage by resembling the King. By humbly serving His people.

God give us the grace. For Christ’s sake. Amen.