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Luke 22:24-27
But among you it will be different. Those who are the greatest among you should take the lowest rank, and the leader should be like a servant (v.26).
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• Matthew 20:20-27
• Luke 9:46-47
• Philippians 2:3-8
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Revisit the dinner scenario in today’s article. Where would you be sitting? Would you be sitting on Jesus’ right—in the place of honor? Why or why not?
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Consider this scenario. You’ve invited the 10 most important people from church to dine with Jesus, people whom you would consider VIPs—your pastor, elders, deacons, or lay leaders, for example. As host, you’re in charge of the seating arrangement. Assuming you have a round table that seats 12 people, where will Jesus sit? And since Jesus’ left- and right-hand sides are places of highest honor, whom would you assign to sit next to Him?
As the disciples entered the upper room to eat the Passover meal, they were all intent on sitting in the places of honor. This was not the first time they had fought over who was numero uno (Matthew 20:20-24; Mark 9:33- 35,10:35-37; Luke 9:46). And the jostling surfaced yet again in the midst of the Passover meal (Luke 22:20,24), barely hours before Jesus was crucified.
It was not uncommon for Jesus’ disciples to vie with one another over who would sit at His right and left. But as Christ’s followers, we’re to be different. Those who are truly great Christian examples take the lowest rank and become like a servant (v.26). Jesus Himself “got up from the table, took off His robe, wrapped a towel around His waist, and poured water into a basin. Then He began to wash the disciples’ feet, drying them with the towel He had around Him” (John 13:4-5). Paul later commented, “Though He was God . . . He gave up His divine privileges; He took the humble position of a slave” (Philippians 2:6-7). Jesus showed us what it takes to be truly great.
When people look at you, do they see a leader in high position exerting authority? Or do they see a servant serving in humility?
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This is an awesome devotion! I truly believe in being a servant leader and I try to demonstrate that every day…it’s hard sometimes, but I do. I know that God is able to use me better when I demonstrate this Christlike behavior. Thank you.
In this world of first is better, it is a struggle to take the best seat offered by Jesus himself – the one next to him, kneeling on the ground serving others. It is there that we can truly live the life God intended for us to live. I want to ask myself the questions at the end of your devotional every day. They are a good heart check for staying on track. Thank you.
This is kind of a fun exercise. OK, I’m the one in charge of seating and I’ve got my pastor and others coming to the dinner. Well, I would not be going to “his” church if the pastor “allowed” me to put in on the left or right of Jesus. My pastor would recognize the principle of being last and would be appropriately offended if I put him in that awkward situation. I’m having fun here OK? So what to do? I would think putting up tent cards at each seat location with the notation “seating will be assigned by Jesus” would be the way to go. But I am in charge. Great, my decision is to defer the seating order to Jesus. That’s my decision. I get to decide that. My decision is to leave that to Jesus. What’s wrong with that? (Smile)
(Laughing)… Dunno Gary. That’s was a neat slide out. Of course, that would be pretty complicated. We could also choose by random number generator (modern day “casting the lot” – aka “roll the dice!”) (smile)
I feel your pain on that one!
On a more serious note, this devotion hits home. As a growing servant-leader, I had to really look at my attitude from a visit to the home of some of my friends. What I saw was pretty ugly, and it really dealt with how I saw myself in their lives and “how I would react” to some situations I saw going on because “I got angry” with them.
Oh, spots in my love feast, thy names are arrogance and hubris!
I was gently but firmly reminded that the way up is down. I am grateful the Lord gave me the resolve and opportunity to apologize, and as I was speaking to them, I learned something powerful.
It’s said that you can choose your friends but you can’t choose your family. During my apology, I “realized” that Christ gives others to be in our family – sometimes directly.
When Jesus therefore saw His mother, and the disciple whom He loved standing by, He said to His mother, “Woman, behold your son!” Then He said to the disciple, “Behold your mother!” And from that hour that disciple took her to his own home. (Joh 19:26-27 NKJV)
Though we are all are part of the “family”, there are those that Christ will give us to and give to us as special charges, as true family. As I realized that, I knew I had to cling to these He had given to me not merely out of duty, but I had to find ways to love them beyond the things I saw. I had to humble myself and figure out how to go beyond my own views.
And (I say this by permission) “What God has joined together, let not man separate”. For God brings people together for His reasons for a reason, a season, or a lifetime.