“A dispute also arose among them, as to which of them was to be regarded as the greatest.” Luke 22:24 ESV
Reflection: which is more telling of who we really are – what we say or what we do?
During my years in graduate school, I had a chance to lecture an entry level course in Management Information Systems. Most of the topics were simple, easy both to teach and learn. But for the more difficult topics, some students struggled to understand. And it didn’t seem to matter how well I tried to explained it; until they took interest and engaged in the learning, the understanding and knowledge was blocked for them. As a teacher, this can be very frustrating as you want all your students to benefit of the knowledge. And the only thing you can do as a teacher is to hope that the students will at some point engage. To desire to learn.
As we looked at previously, Jesus had just announced and instituted the new covenant in his blood, available for all people. He was so excited, had been longing for this moment, to be able to share this with his disciples. And, what does his own students, his disciples do? They start bickering about who among them is the greatest. “A dispute also arose among them, as to which of them was to be regarded as the greatest.” Luke 22:24 ESV. Can you image? At this very monumental moment, they are so off in the weeds, spirituality speaking. This must have been so deeply frustrating to Jesus. They absolutely just didn’t get it. So Jesus, patient as he is, goes on teaching them “And he said to them, “The kings of the Gentiles exercise Lordship over them, and those in authority over them are called benefactors. But not so with you. Rather, let the greatest among you become as the youngest, and the leader as one who serves. For who is the greater, one who reclines at table or one who serves? Is it not the one who reclines at table? But I am among you as the one who serves.” Luke 22:25-27 ESV.
To be a servant like Jesus.
And then he goes on explaining, again, that he is going away and is therefore handing responsibilities over to the students; starting with the disciples. ““You are those who have stayed with me in my trials, and I assign to you, as my Father assigned to me, a kingdom, that you may eat and drink at my table in my kingdom and sit on thrones judging the twelve tribes of Israel.” Luke 22:28-30 ESV.
As I was thinking about what this means to us today, as we too have been taught the gospel of Jesus Christ. How has the gospel impacted us? Changed us? Are we reflecting the repentance? John the Baptist prepared the way for the coming of Christ; the Messiah. He told the people to repent and cleanse themselves in an act of baptism, signifying outwardly that they were turning away from their sinful ways and acts, and instead turning towards God. And then he told them, “Therefore bear fruits worthy of repentance,” Matthew 3:8 NKJV. If we read from the Complete Jewish Bible, the same verse says “If you have really turned from your sins to God, produce fruit that will prove it!”Mattityahu (Mat) 3:8 CJB. John basically said it is in the act that you demonstrate your beliefs, which we all know to be true. As a simple example, if you say lying is wrong and you reject that, but then keep on lying, you don’t really believe the words you spoke.
Words are empty without action.
Jesus spoke at the last supper of becoming one with him. To be transformed by him and who he is, his spirit dwelling in us. And the proof, the demonstration is through “fruit”, or actions we do, as Paul summarized “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law.”Galatians 5:22-23 ESV. If there is no fruit of the spirit, there is no spirit. There is no repentance. There is no conversion. Jesus knew that Simon Peter was struggling to really believe, even if he had walked with Jesus for three years. He told Simon Peter at the last supper ““Simon, Simon, behold, Satan demanded to have you, that he might sift you like wheat, but I have prayed for you that your faith may not fail. And when you have turned again, strengthen your brothers.”” Luke 22:31-32 ESV. Jesus was praying for Peter, that he would repent, turn around again.
His words are alive, as He is alive. He is His words. Let us all humble ourselves, repent, and let Him transform us. Let us leave behind what this broken world is teaching, and instead become more and more like Him each day.