Think back to your earliest memories of your biggest heroes. Who were they? What was it about them that made you admire them? Why did you want to be like them? What similarities did you have in common with them? What was it that was lacking in you that seemed not to be lacking in them? Here’s what I want to propose… I believe our greatest heroes reveal some of the weaknesses, fears and desires that are buried deep within our hearts and souls.
We love our heroes because they exhibit great courage in the face of things that cause us great fear. We love our heroes because they conquer evil & injustice especially when we’ve personally experienced the pain of evil & injustice. We love our heroes because they exhibit great strength when we are confronted with our own frail existence. We all desire to live courageously. We long to resist or overcome evil & injustice. We dream of a day when we won’t be controlled by fear, selfishness or pride. We look for ways to prove that we are stronger than we really are. Simply put… we strive to achieve greatness. What I’m saying here is that in this pursuit of heroism, what we really admire in our heroes is their greatness in light of our own weakness.
But the human heroes we admire are simply that… Human. Broken. Weak. All of their great attributes are nothing more than a shadow or a hook drawing us to wrestle with the truth that Jesus is the hero we’ve all longed for. Jesus really is the only perfect superhero. Jesus is the only one who gives himself unselfishly for others. Jesus is the only one who treats traitors, rebels & betrayers with perfect love. Jesus is the only one who doesn’t get caught up on the corporate climb of fame and success. Jesus is the only one who exerts his authority lovingly. Jesus is the only one who serves perfectly & unselfishly. Jesus is the only one who makes good on all of his promises. Jesus’ greatness far surpasses our weaknesses and the proof of that is made visible in his commitment to the cross on behalf of sinful traitors like us. Jesus’ greatness far surpasses our weaknesses.
Look at Luke 22:21 – 30…
21 But behold, the hand of him who betrays me is with me on the table. 22 For the Son of Man goes as it has been determined, but woe to that man by whom he is betrayed!” 23 And they began to question one another, which of them it could be who was going to do this. 24 A dispute also arose among them, as to which of them was to be regarded as the greatest. 25 And he said to them, “The kings of the Gentiles exercise lordship over them, and those in authority over them are called benefactors. 26 But not so with you. Rather, let the greatest among you become as the youngest, and the leader as one who serves. 27 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. 28 “You are those who have stayed with me in my trials, 29 and I assign to you, as my Father assigned to me, a kingdom, 30 that you may eat and drink at my table in my kingdom and sit on thrones judging the twelve tribes of Israel.
Jesus’ Greatness is Contrasted With Judas’ Betrayal…
We see Jesus’ greatness on display when he says “the hand of him who betrays me is with me on the table. For the Son of Man goes as it has been determined, but woe to that man by whom he is betrayed!” (21 – 22) Jesus was determined to follow through with his predetermined plan to give himself as an innocent sacrifice for a guilty betrayer whose hand was resting on the same table that he ate his last supper at with his closest friends and family.
In Jesus we find perfect greatness in that he stayed committed to his plan to provide the ransom and redemption that was sufficient to save even his worst enemies. This is true greatness on display in the face of great betrayal by a traitorous friend. Jesus could have wiped Judas from the face of the Earth in the blink of an eye. Jesus could have pled with Judas to see the error of traitorous ways. Jesus didn’t do either of these things though. Jesus instead exhibited his greatness mercifully in that he warned Judas of the justice that would come as a consequence of his betrayal. The warnings we have been given in the Word of God are an exhibition of the greatness of Jesus as he offers himself freely for us so that we who live in sickness as his enemies can have the opportunity to trust in his work and become restored as healthy members within the family of God.
Our tendency to be the betrayer or traitor runs deep. We betray our closest friends to get ahead in life. We betray the integrity of our bank accounts when we overspend. We betray our employers when we pad our time cards. We betray ourselves when we break the social rules we set up. We really are a weak people but… Jesus’ greatness far surpasses our weaknesses and the proof of that is made visible in his commitment to the cross on behalf of sinful traitors like us. Jesus’ greatness far surpasses our weaknesses.
Jesus’ Disciples Argue About Greatness…
We see Jesus’ greatness on display when Luke tells us that the disciples “began to question one another, which of them it could be who was going to do this. (And) A dispute arose among them, as to which of them was to be regarded as the greatest.” (23 – 24) Isn’t this interesting? In the presence of true greatness the disciples exhibit once again the weakness of their humanity as they argue over who will be the greatest, which in turn shines a bright light on the fact that Jesus who is the perfect display of greatness is standing physically in the room observing this argument between the disciples.
When you experience the sinfulness of humanity on display through treachery and betrayal aren’t you tempted to console yourself by thinking that you are somehow better then the person who committed the treachery and betrayal? Isn’t that exactly what the disciples are doing here in this text? When Jesus’ closest friends and family are confronted with the weakness of one of their very own members on display in the form of betrayal and treachery, they do what every one of us in our weakness is prone to do. They wonder for a few minutes about whom the betrayer is and then they promptly and inappropriately move on to debating who among them would be the greatest in the kingdom of God. This is not a new argument either. This argument is like the annual family argument that never goes away.
When we are faced with the weakness and the sickness of humanity, don’t we all have a tendency to move on towards propagating our own greatness? Don’t we attempt to cover our frailty by propping up our accomplishments? When someone else falls back into that sinful behavior it’s easier for us to say, “thank God I don’t struggle with that any more.” When someone else causes us pain it’s easier for us to say, “I can’t believe they would treat me this way. I didn’t deserve this.” It’s easier for us to say, “Man I’m glad I’m not Judas” and then move quickly to “Thank God I have a spot reserved in Heaven.”
This argument between the disciples about true greatness in the very presence of Jesus who is the essence of true greatness is meant to remind us of our own brokenness and weakness. Jesus’ greatness far surpasses our weaknesses and the proof of that is made visible in his commitment to the cross on behalf of sinful traitors like us. Jesus’ greatness far surpasses our weaknesses.
Jesus Confronts The World’s Version Of Greatness…
We see Jesus’ greatness on display as he confronts the world’s version of greatness when he says, “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 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 one who serves.” (25 – 27) The world’s version of greatness sees authority as a way of exercising lordship over others for the purpose of selfish gain. The world’s version of greatness sees the pursuit of a title as the means for controlling others to get what you want. The world’s version of greatness is climbing our way to the top and seeing other people as a means to serving our passions and desires.
But this isn’t Jesus’ version of greatness. Jesus’ version of greatness is displayed in the attitude of teachable humility that a young child would embody. Jesus’ version of greatness is displayed as the character of a leader who is willing to serve others by washing feet rather than seeing others as a way of climbing the corporate ladder or as pieces of meat to fulfill every whim and desire of our sinful appetites.
When Jesus confronts the world’s version of greatness he is confronting the sinful version of greatness that has influenced his disciples hearts and he combats this false version of greatness by putting himself forward as the greatest example of greatness. Our tendency to pursue the world’s version of greatness is further proof of our own brokenness and weakness. But be encouraged because… Jesus’ greatness far surpasses our weaknesses and the proof of that is made visible in his commitment to the cross on behalf of sinful traitors like us. Jesus’ greatness far surpasses our weaknesses.
Jesus Promises Greatness In His Kingdom…
We see Jesus’ greatness on display in the final portion of this text as he promises his disciples that they will definitely experience greatness in his future kingdom. He makes this promise of greatness to his disciples when he says, “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.” (28 – 30) This is a pretty big promise. Honestly, if I were in Jesus’ shoes, I wouldn’t have made these promises. I guess this is my weakness.
If I were Jesus it would have been very difficult to graciously affirm the preservation of the disciples’ faith knowing that the very disciples I was affirming would all scatter within the next 24 hours. If I were Jesus it would have been very difficult to assign kingdom benefits to my inconsistent disciples who were more concerned about their own greatness then realizing the eternal impact of the events that were unfolding in front of them. If I were Jesus it would have been very difficult to promise fellowship at the table to a bunch of slow growing inconsistent disciples. If I were Jesus it would have been very difficult to promise authority in my kingdom. But this is simply my weakness shedding light once again on Jesus’ greatness.
Jesus’ greatness is on display in these final verses because in his promise is also the element of his sovereign work of secure salvation. If the disciples’ perseverance in the faith depended on them they would have all scattered and stayed scattered but we know that’s not the end of the story. If the fellowship of the local church depended on the disciples we know it would have all fallen apart. If the responsibility to oversee the church by serving the needs of the church rested completely on the ability or greatness of the disciples it would have all come crashing down. This is why I say that Jesus greatness is on display in these final verses because threaded within his promise of future greatness is also the element of his secure working of salvation in all who come and trust in him.
Jesus is the one who gives us the strength to persevere. Jesus is the one who binds us together in eternal fellowship with the family of God. Jesus is the one who uses his authority to serve us so that we can use our authority to serve others. Jesus’ greatness far surpasses our weaknesses and the proof of that is made visible in his commitment to the cross on behalf of sinful traitors like us. Jesus’ greatness far surpasses our weaknesses.
Closing Reflections…
One of my long-standing heroes is my dad. My dad is a man who exhibits Christ-like greatness. Many of you know that when I was young my dad abandoned our family when he left our home because of his drunkenness and the brokenness of he and my mom’s marriage.
Many of you hearing this message have experienced the horror of addictions and the betrayal of a parent leaving. But what some of you may not know is that my dad miraculously surrendered his life to Jesus as his Lord and Savior and over the course of many years our relationship was restored and then later when my sinful, rebellious and traitorous lifestyle derailed in the middle of the street on my motorcycle at the front end of an SUV, my dad preached the gospel of the greatness of Jesus to me and I was instantly changed to pursue a life of gospel change. My dad is my hero because he has modeled Christ-like greatness for me in the midst of his weakness.
But the human heroes we admire are simply that… Human. Broken. Weak. All of their great attributes are nothing more than a shadow or a hook drawing us to wrestle with the truth that Jesus is the hero we’ve all longed for. Jesus really is the only perfect superhero. Jesus is the only one who gave himself unselfishly for others. Jesus is the only one who treats traitors, rebels & betrayers with perfect love. Jesus is the only one who doesn’t get caught up in the corporate climb of fame and success. Jesus is the only one who exerts his authority lovingly. Jesus is the only one who serves perfectly & unselfishly. Jesus is the only one who makes good on every one of his promises. Jesus’ greatness far surpasses our weaknesses and the proof of that is made visible in his commitment to the cross on behalf of sinful traitors like us. Jesus’ greatness far surpasses our weaknesses.