Luke 22:27a: “For who is greater, the one who is at the table or the one who serves?”
In Luke 22 Jesus had just finished sharing his Last Supper with his disciples. He took the bread, and the wine, and told they that this is the new covenant in his blood. He said the very sad words that one who shared this new covenant, this bread and wine, his very body and blood would soon betray him.
Immediately after this most precious and holy time, a dispute arose among the disciples. They hadn’t yet digested the bread, and still had the smell of the wine on their breath. And they disputed among themselves which one would be the greatest among them! Unbelievable! Didn’t they understand what Jesus had just done and said? How could they be so clueless?
And so Jesus asks them a question. For who is greater, the one who is at the table, or the one who serves? As they were asked this transformative personal question, their hearts must have seen that servanthood is the sign of greatness, not being served. Servanthood. Loving others sacrificially. That’s what it means to be great for those who follow Jesus.
A servant simply loves and serves. Servants love and serve the Lord, but they also love and serve other people. Without love, service often turns into bitterness or duty. When service is done without love, it becomes merely an obligation, and something you “have to” do rather than something you just simply “do”.
Because often the people you are called to serve aren’t perfect people! They disappoint you. They aren’t always grateful. And sometimes they take advantage of you.
But that’s OK. Servants love and serve imperfect people, just like Jesus did with his disciples. Servants serve because they can, and not only because they should. Servants serve based on love, and not out of obligation.
Servants serve because they know that love is stronger than hate. They believe that forgiveness is stronger than sin. They are convinced that life is stronger than death. A servant simply loves. And serves.
Questions to Ponder:
- The heart of Christianity is not a religion, but a relationship. The heart of Christianity is a passion for living for Jesus by serving others. Do you agree? Why or why not?
- Think about a time that you served without recognition and without gratitude from anyone. What did you learn from that experience?
Prayer for today: Make me a servant, humble and meek. Lord, let me lift up those who are weak. And may the prayers of my heart always be: Make me a servant. Make me a servant. Make me a servant today. In Jesus’ name. Amen.
Jesus, Joy. We simply serve because He desires it. Just be blessed by this beautiful song.
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