The Greatness of Our Lord : Luke 22:24-27 : What Jesus Did! : HEARTLIGHT®

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The Greatness of Our Lord - Luke 22:24-27

Later the apostles began to argue about which one of them was the most important. But Jesus said to them, "The kings of the world rule over their people. Men who have authority over other people make the people call them 'great helpers of the people.' But you must not be like that. The greatest person should become like the youngest person! Leaders should be like servants. Who is more important: the person sitting at the table or the person serving him? You think the person sitting at the table is more important. But I am like a servant among you!" (ERV) Full Text

Key Thought

You can usually tell who the important people are by those who wait on them and by those to whom they can give orders. Not in Jesus' Kingdom! Jesus reminds his disciples (including us today) that as the Master and Lord, he could order folks around, but instead he serves them. That is the definition of greatness in Jesus' Kingdom. So let's honestly ask ourselves how well we stack up on the greatness scale of the Master!

Today's Prayer

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Righteous and merciful Father, I confess to you that I sometimes use the wrong criteria when evaluating the importance of a person. This causes me to desire status, rank, and recognition rather then leading me to serve others without drawing attention to myself. Please forgive me. Mold my heart by your Holy Spirit to serve others just as your Son has served and blessed me. In Jesus' name. Amen.

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Today's Verses in Context

The time came for them to eat the Passover meal. Jesus and the apostles were together at the table. Jesus said to them, "I wanted very much to eat this Passover meal with you before I die. I will never eat another Passover meal until it is given its true meaning in the kingdom of God." Then Jesus took a cup of wine. He gave thanks to God for it. Then he said, "Take this cup and give it to everyone here. I will never drink wine again until God's kingdom comes." Then Jesus took some bread. He thanked God for the bread and divided it. He gave it to the apostles. Then Jesus said, "This bread is my body that I am giving for you. Eat this to remember me." In the same way, after supper, Jesus took the cup of wine and said, "This wine shows the new agreement {from God to his people}. This new agreement begins with my blood (death) that I am giving for you." Jesus said, "One of you will soon be against me. His hand is by my hand on the table. The Son of Man will do what God has planned. But it will be very bad for that person who gives the Son of Man {to be killed}." Then the apostles asked each other, "Which one of us would do that to Jesus?" Later the apostles began to argue about which one of them was the most important. But Jesus said to them, "The kings of the world rule over their people. Men who have authority over other people make the people call them 'great helpers {of the people}.' But you must not be like that. The greatest person should become like the youngest person! Leaders should be like servants. Who is more important: the person sitting at the table or the person serving him? You think the person sitting at the table is more important. But I am like a servant among you! "You men have stayed with me through many struggles. My Father has given me a kingdom. I also give you authority to rule with me. You will eat and drink at my table in my kingdom. You will sit on thrones and judge the twelve tribes (family groups) of Israel.

— Luke 22:14-30 (ERV)

Comments on "The Greatness of Our Lord":

Now I have something to say to the elders in your group. I am also an elder. I myself have seen Christ's sufferings. And I will share in the glory that will be shown to us. I beg you to take care of the group of people that you are responsible for. They are God's flock. Watch over that flock because you want to, not because you are forced to do it. That is how God wants it. Do it because you are happy to serve, not because you want money. Don't be like a ruler over those people you are responsible for. But be good examples to those people. Then when the Ruling Shepherd (Christ) comes, you will get a crown. That crown will be very glorious, and it will never lose its beauty. —1 Peter 5:1-4 (ERV)

Jesus finished washing their feet. Then he put on his clothes and went back to the table. Jesus asked, "Do you understand what I did for you? You call me 'Teacher.' And you call me 'Lord.' And this is right, because that is what I am. I am your Lord and Teacher. But I washed your feet {like a servant}. So you also should wash each other's feet. I did this as an example for you. So you should do {for each other} like I did for you. I tell you the truth. A servant is not greater than his master. The person that is sent to do something is not greater than the one that sent him. If you know these things, you will be happy if you do them. —John 13:12-17 (ERV)

Then Jesus said to the followers, "If a person accepts a little child like this in my name, then that person accepts me. And when a person accepts me, that person accepts the One (God) that sent me. The person among you that is the most humble—that person is a great (important) person." —Luke 9:48 (ERV)