The Big Buts of Passion Week
Thursday 4.5.07
Read Matthew 26:17-75, Mark 14:12-72, Luke 22:7-56
Thursday of this ‘Passion Week’ was a very eventful day as recorded in the gospels. The Last Supper, the Garden of Gethsemane, Jesus’ arrest, Peter’s denials, and the beginning of Jesus’ hearings, round out the day.
Tucked in among all the day’s events is a meaningful exchange between Jesus and His disciples about greatness. It begins, we’re told, as a dispute among the disciples as to which of them would be considered the greatest. Jesus weighed in with a lesson chock-full-of-buts. Gentile leaders, he began, lord their authority over their subjects, ‘but you are not to be like that’.
Jesus introduces more of those Kingdom paradoxes – the least will be the greatest, the servant will be ruler. He asks His disciples a question: ‘Who is greater, the one at the table or the one who serves?’ The answer, most certainly, is the one who is at the table being served. Jesus continues, however, ‘but I am among you as one who serves!’ Jesus turns the tables on the norm of society.
How do these teachings strike you? How have you viewed the exercise of authority? How have you viewed greatness? Can you imagine leadership and authority that is characterized by serving? Greatness that is characterized by such humility? In these things we would resemble our Savior.
Father, will you forgive me where my selfishness has ruled my thoughts and actions? Would you give me a greater measure of grace to consider others better than myself and opportunities to serve others? Would you help me to see the blessing of giving my life away? Would you be glorified in me?
Read Matthew 26:17-75, Mark 14:12-72, Luke 22:7-56
Thursday of this ‘Passion Week’ was a very eventful day as recorded in the gospels. The Last Supper, the Garden of Gethsemane, Jesus’ arrest, Peter’s denials, and the beginning of Jesus’ hearings, round out the day.
Tucked in among all the day’s events is a meaningful exchange between Jesus and His disciples about greatness. It begins, we’re told, as a dispute among the disciples as to which of them would be considered the greatest. Jesus weighed in with a lesson chock-full-of-buts. Gentile leaders, he began, lord their authority over their subjects, ‘but you are not to be like that’.
Jesus introduces more of those Kingdom paradoxes – the least will be the greatest, the servant will be ruler. He asks His disciples a question: ‘Who is greater, the one at the table or the one who serves?’ The answer, most certainly, is the one who is at the table being served. Jesus continues, however, ‘but I am among you as one who serves!’ Jesus turns the tables on the norm of society.
How do these teachings strike you? How have you viewed the exercise of authority? How have you viewed greatness? Can you imagine leadership and authority that is characterized by serving? Greatness that is characterized by such humility? In these things we would resemble our Savior.
Father, will you forgive me where my selfishness has ruled my thoughts and actions? Would you give me a greater measure of grace to consider others better than myself and opportunities to serve others? Would you help me to see the blessing of giving my life away? Would you be glorified in me?
Technorati Tags: Interactive Sermon, Big Buts, Passion Week Devotional
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