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TRUE GREATNESS IS LOWLINESS
FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 19
Luke 22:24-38

Jeremiah 23:3-8

 

“…he that is chief,

as he that doth serve.”

 

TRUE GREATNESS IS LOWLINESS
 
The disciples disputed among themselves who should be considered number one. Jesus took this opportunity to teach them what true greatness is. They were chided for their worldly egotism. The one who is greatest ought to behave as the lowest in rank. And he who leads must serve. At the table, Jesus was the Master, yet He did not think it beneath Himself to serve His disciples. He had earlier washed their feet. The world measures greatness in terms of how much one is being served, but God measures it in terms of how much one is serving others.
 
There was no need for the disciples to fight over position and authority. By virtue of their loyalty to Him during the trying days of His ministry among the Jews, Jesus promised them that they would “sit on thrones judging the twelve tribes of Israel.” They will receive this appointment when the Lord returns to set up His millennial kingdom on earth. When Christ sits on the Davidic throne in Jerusalem, His twelve Apostles will sit with Him to rule over the twelve tribes (Jer 23:3-8).
 
Peter affirmed his loyalty to Christ by saying that He was ready to die for Him. But Jesus knew the frailties of the flesh. He told them that they would soon desert Him (cf. John 16:32). Fulfilling Zechariah 13:7, all His disciples would flee when the time of His arrest came. Although Peter avowed that he would not, yet the Lord told Peter that before cockcrow, he would have denied Him thrice. But the Lord comforted Peter by telling him that He had already prayed for him so that his faith might not fail. Satan would sorely test him. Peter would fall, but not fail. He would come out of this trial matured to strengthen his fellow disciples.
 
Jesus would soon be numbered among the transgressors, and the lives of His disciples would also be in jeopardy. He warned them to be prepared for any eventuality, and that if they had no sword, to buy one. This is not to say that Jesus was ordering them to stage an armed revolt (cf. Matt 26:51‑53). The sword was meant for self-defence, and for that purpose, two were enough.
 
THOUGHT: Promotion comes not from man but from the Lord.

PRAYER: Father, may I not build my own kingdom but Thine.

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