April 18, 2019

Maundy Thursday, Thursday April 18, 2019 — Luke 22:24-30 — The Proper Attitude of a Disciple of Jesus

Preacher:
Passage: Luke 22:24-30

Sermon for Maundy Thursday – April 18, 2019

Calvary/Marquette ● Soli Deo Gloria

The Grace, mercy and peace of God are yours; a gift planned in eternity by God the Father, a gift earned in time by God the Son, a gift made your possession by God the Spirit.  To God alone the Glory. Amen.

Luke 22:24–30 (NKJV)

24 Now there was also a dispute among them, as to which of them should be considered the greatest. 25 And He said to them, “The kings of the Gentiles exercise lordship over them, and those who exercise authority over them are called ‘benefactors.’ 26 But not so among you; on the contrary, he who is greatest among you, let him be as the younger, and he who governs as he who serves. 27 For who is greater, he who sits at the table, or he who serves? Is it not he who sits at the table? Yet I am among you as the One who serves.

 

28 “But you are those who have continued with Me in My trials. 29 And I bestow upon you a kingdom, just as My Father bestowed one upon Me, 30 that you may eat and drink at My table in My kingdom, and sit on thrones judging the twelve tribes of Israel.”

In the Name of Jesus, the Christ,

   Dear Fellow Redeemed in His Blood –

“I don’t do windows!”

There are many tasks around the house that people don’t enjoy doinglike: dusting, doing the dishes, doing the laundry and folding clothes, ironing, mopping, cleaning toilets and taking out the garbage.  There are a variety of reasons why we don’t like doing these jobs.  Some of them are monotonous and require time; others are simply dirty and unpleasant.  If we dislike them enough, we make every effort to avoid them altogether. We may even come to believe that we are above certain tasks.

“I clean my own house…someone else can clean the church.”

There are also tasks in the church that people don’t enjoy doing, like: vacuuming, dusting, raking, painting, cleaning the toilets and taking out the garbage.  There are other ‘church chores’ that don’t involve cleaning, canvassing, visiting the sick, visiting those who are irregular in worship.  Once again, there are a variety of reasons why people don’t like these jobs either, some are dirty and unpleasant, others can be confrontational.  We may even think to ourselves, ‘That’s the pastor’s job’ or ‘I’ve paid my dues, someone else can do that.’  Eventually, no one does it.

“Are we above serving?”

“Do we think, I’ve done my part, it’s someone else’s turn?”

If we do…and even if we don’t think we do…we need to listen carefully to the words of the Savior before us this evening. If we find the attitude of the disciples in our hearts, God help us to confess our sins and seek God’s forgiveness in Christ. Moreover, let us all ask that Jesus enable us to be willing servants in all things.

Let us pray:

“In lowliness of mind, let each esteem others better than himself.” Lord God, you directed the Apostle Paul to write those words for our instruction. Lord Jesus, when your disciples argued over who was greatest among them, you helped them and us to understand that greatness is defined by loving service to you and to others (Matthew 20:27-28). No one is greater than you, Jesus, and you gave your life to save us all from sin and its consequences. This truth helps us to see how important every soul is to You. Help us to see how we can help others by sharing with them how special they are to You. Together, Lord, you call us all to be your sons and daughters through faith in Jesus. Thank you, Lord, for making every soul important. Help me to think less of myself and more of others. Help me to serve You first.  Amen.

 

+++++++

 

It’s a part of my job that I don’t enjoy…visiting members who aren’t attending services.  I remember one occasion in South Dakota. The couple seemed surprised to find me at the door and were a bit guarded and uncomfortable.  They let me in the door and after a devotion and prayer we started to talk.  The reason they were not attending had nothing to do with them, it was everyone else.  They declared that the problem with my church was that there were ‘too many chiefs and not enough Indians.’  In other words, there are too many people ‘in charge’ and not enough people actually ‘working.’

It isn’t a new accusation.  It isn’t only found in South Dakota. It can happen that some people step up and complete tasks that need to be done, while others just don’t.  It’s usually the quiet ones who later complain…about the vacuum they’ve created by remaining silent.  On the other hand, sometimes people think certain tasks are beneath them.

On Maundy Thursday evening, likely before they even began eating the Passover meal, the disciples began to argue about which of them should be considered greatest.  They weren’t actually ‘tooting their own horns’ about the things they had done to be great; they were really just trying to get out of doing something they all thought was beneath them…all of them except Jesus.

It was customary in those days – like in ours – to wash your hands before eating.  It was also considered a common courtesy to wash your guest’s feet.  This task usually fell a servant.  In this case, there were no servants.  Jesus had sent Peter and John to purchase and prepare the Passover Lamb.  They obtained an upper room for their use.

When all the disciples arrived, they naturally wondered who would wash the feet.  This seems odd to us.

Didn’t they wash their own feet every day?  It was the first century.  People didn’t wear socks and shoes…they wore sandals.  They also lived in a hot, dusty place. Have you ever worn a pair of sandals all day long in the summer…or on a hike?  What happens to your feet?

OK…maybe now you understand why no one wanted to volunteer for that task!  They knew it needed to be done, but none of them wanted to do it!  It was probably what started the dispute.

24 Now there was also a dispute among them, as to which of them should be considered the greatest.

Have you ever been ‘called out’ by the teacher?  It usually happens when you aren’t paying attention, or talking or passing a note in class. Were you surprised the teacher knew it?

Jesus’ Students shouldn’t have been surprised that He knew!  After all, He is the Son God.  He knows everything. Jesus used the occasion to teach them:

He said to them, “The kings of the Gentiles exercise lordship over them, and those who exercise authority over them are called ‘benefactors.’

Whether the disciples understood it or not, Jesus was comparing their attitude with that found in the Kings of the Gentiles. What Jesus says about ‘the kings of the gentiles’ is generally true of every human king, they ‘exercise lordship’ they are in charge, in control, and they want their subjects to know it.  In this world, kings are served.  In this world, they give orders for others to complete.

They act as supreme lords to those beneath them and then assume self-important titles, like: ‘gracious lord’ and ‘benefactor.’

These types of rulers look – not to serve – but to be served.  Unfortunately, like Jesus’ disciples, they believe they are above doing things like washing feet. Yet, this is not the attitude that Jesus wants to see in His disciples, His followers:

26 But not so among you; on the contrary, he who is greatest among you, let him be as the younger, and he who governs as he who serves. 27 For who is greater, he who sits at the table, or he who serves? Is it not he who sits at the table? Yet I am among you as the One who serves.

Jesus is emphatic – this attitude – is not to be found among us.  The King of Kings tells us that doesn’t want us to sit on our hands and wait for someone else to do it.  Our King says that greatness is to be found in self-less leadership and humble service. If we wish to be admired by the King, then we are to be ‘as the younger.’

How are we to be ‘as the younger’?  If you have a little brother, then you may have a pretty good idea.  The youngest is the kid brother who looks up to his big brother. He is often the one who is most helpful, willing to do anything for his older brother. The youngest isn’t ‘large and in charge’ but stands back and looks to be of service.

Any disciple who is truly ‘great’ will show it by self-less and humble service.  Great disciples put themselves below, not above others.  Jesus values people who are willing to do the humblest task – not so that others see it – but in service to one another, for Him, to our Big Brother.

It was an illustration from the Upper Room.  Every disciple was afraid that he might lower his ‘stock’ if he acted as servant and washed the feet of the others.  It was a worldly view of greatness, not a godly view.

Then to make His point, Jesus proceeded with an object lesson.  Jesus did what they all thought below them; He proceeded to wash the feet of His disciples.  They were shocked.  Peter tried to refuse.  For usually the greater is served, but not with the greatest of all.

 

We shouldn’t be surprised for the Savior also said (Matthew 20:27-28, NKJV):

 

“…whoever desires to be first among you, let him be your slave—28 just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life a ransom for many.”

 

 

The Holy Spirit also has this to say to those who would serve His flock, who would serve in the Church, especially but not only Pastors (1 Peter 5:2-6):

 

“Shepherd the flock of God which is among you, serving as overseers, not by compulsion but willingly, not for dishonest gain but eagerly; nor as being lords over those entrusted to you, but being examples to the flock;  and when the Chief Shepherd appears, you will receive the crown of glory that does not fade away. Likewise you younger people, submit yourselves to your elders. Yes, all of you be submissive to one another, and be clothed with humility, for “God resists the proud, But gives grace to the humble.” Therefore humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you in due time…”

 

Our King didn’t only preach humility and service, He is Himself the ultimate example.  Yet, His greatest service was not accomplished in the washing of his disciples’ feet; but in His dying for their sins and ours on the Cross of Calvary.  He wasn’t a victim, but a willing servant, as He said beforehand (John 10:17-18):

 

17 “Therefore My Father loves Me, because I lay down My life that I may take it again. 18 No one takes it from Me, but I lay it down of Myself. I have power to lay it down, and I have power to take it again. This command I have received from My Father.”

 

Jesus did all of this to win us from Satan, sin and death.  He did this to win us for His Kingdom.  He is the exalted Savior, having been given all power in heaven and on earth (Matthew 28:18) because of what He accomplished.

 

We are to emulate His self-less leadership and humble service.  We are to be willing to clean the church bathrooms or shoveling the sidewalk or teach Sunday School, or serve on the council or as voters…for Him.  There is no status to be attained.  It matters not how long you’ve been on the membership roll.  None of us is greater than the other.  We are servants, working together before the Lord, for the Lord.

If we serve, let it always be for Him.  Let it never be about us.  God help us that we never come to believe that we have earned something with our King by our service.

Let it always be as our King once said (Luke 17:10, NKJV):

 

“So likewise you, when you have done all those things which you are commanded, say, ‘We are unprofitable servants. We have done what was our duty to do.’ ”

 

Truly, all that we have, all that we are, all that we hope to attain, comes from Him.

28 “But you are those who have continued with Me in My trials. 29 And I bestow upon you a kingdom, just as My Father bestowed one upon Me, 30 that you may eat and drink at My table in My kingdom, and sit on thrones judging the twelve tribes of Israel.”

 

We strive to serve and not to be served…because we are Jesus’ disciples. We are not working our way up into a better seat.  It is our service to respond in faith with acts of love for all that has been done for us.

What has been done for us?  We have been redeemed with the blood of Christ.  Our sins have been taken from us and paid for in full.  We have been granted citizenship in His Kingdom.  The King rules in heart and mind.  We have been given heaven; for He has reserved for us a place in the Father’s House.  We will sit at Jesus’ table in the Kingdom.

Isn’t that reason enough for service?  Therefore, we humbly say, “I’m nothing…my Jesus is everything.”  I serve Him, seeking the approval of none…but Him.  I serve Him, because He loves me and gave himself for me.

That is the proper attitude of a disciple of Jesus.

God grant that we exhibit it!

Amen!

 

 

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