“The Greatness of the Servant King”
Luke 22:24-38
“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.” – Luke 22:27
Jesus had said this during a dispute between His disciples. They were arguing “on which of them should be considered the greatest.” And amid this Jesus began to wash His disciples’ feet. [ref. Jn 13].
Can you imagine, Jesus, God in flesh, doing the lowest work in that society? He was [and is] King of Kings; and yet He came to this world to serve. And in just a handful of hours this King would serve Himself unto death. Indeed, Jesus is the ultimate Servant-King. “For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life a ransom for many.” [Mk 10:45]
This is what makes the context of this passage so riveting. Luke records that “there was also a dispute among them, as to which of them should be considered the greatest.” [Lk 22:24] As these men quarreled, our Lord knelt and washed their feet. Absolutely stunning! A radical act of humility!
But before we are too hard on the disciples, we should ourselves look in the mirror [ref. James 1:22-24]. Let’s face it, it is difficult to serve others, and even more so to not want to be served by others. It is the way of the world, and it comes naturally. It takes a supernatural work [in us] to change that. And that is why Jesus said: “You must be born again” [ref. John 3:3-5].
The disciples had yet to be “born of the Spirit.” Therefore, serving was not their natural way; it was the “being served” that was. And that was why they were disputing. They were only doing what came naturally. There is little understanding apart from the Spirit. “What I am doing,” Jesus said, “you do not understand now, but you will after this.” [Jn 13:7]
Until we are born of the Spirit, we cannot serve in the way that Jesus instructed. “For I have given you an example, that you should do as I have done to you.” [Jn 13:15] He said this after he washed His disciples’ feet, and even so with Judas who would betray Him. And then, in just a few hours He served His life up on the Cross.
“Who is greater, he who sits at the table or he who serves?” Well, the answer now is obvious. Jesus was [and is] the greatest. There is no other like Him. The greater is the one who serves.
