"As One Who Serves"

Scripture Passage

Mark 14:1-2; Matthew 26:1-5; Luke 22:1-2; Mark 14:10-11; Matthew 26:14-16; Luke 22:3-6; Mark 14:12-16; Matthew 26:17-19; Luke 22:7-13; John 13:1-17; Mark 14:17-26; Matthew 26:20-30; Luke 22:14-30; John 13:18-30

Scripture Focus

“I am among you as one who serves” (Luke 22:27 NLT)

Observation

It’s another extraordinary scene from Scripture—Jesus has just explained to his disciples that He will be handed over to be crucified, He has just washed His disciples’ feet as an expression of servanthood towards them, He has just initiated what we now call “the Lord’s Supper” as a testimony to His sacrificial death, and—in that context—his disciples “began to argue among themselves about who would be the greatest among them” (Luke 22:24 NLT). It’d be funny if it weren’t so serious.

Jesus’ response announces a distinction between this world’s leadership and leadership in Jesus’ kingdom. In this world, bosses are always throwing their weight around, seeking to get their way, advancing and promoting their agenda. “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” (Luke 22:26 NLT). And Jesus leads by example:

“I am among you as one who serves” (Luke 22:27 NLT)

Sometimes we distort that into making the kingdom leader a doormat. I’d argue that such is not God’s intention. Jesus—though He exemplifies servant leadership—is nobody’s doormat. He does not kowtow to the demands of His disciples, the people, or the religious leaders. Rather, His servanthood consists of this:

"I tell you the truth, the Son can do nothing by himself; he can do only what he sees his Father doing, because whatever the Father does the Son also does.” (John 5:19 NIV)

Jesus, it seems to me then, was servant to the Father. Jesus served the Father’s purpose, the Father’s agenda, the Father’s cause—to the exclusion of all others. So should I.

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