Luke 22:24-38 — Greatness betrayed

READ THIS: Luke 22:24-38

24 A dispute also arose among them as to which of them was considered to be greatest. 

25 Jesus said to them, “The kings of the Gentiles lord it over them; and those who exercise authority over them call themselves Benefactors. 26 But you are not to be like that. Instead, the greatest among you should be like the youngest, and the one who rules like the one who serves. 27 For who is greater, the one who is at the table or the one who serves? Is it not the one who is at the table? But I am among you as one who serves. 28 You are those who have stood by me in my trials. 29 And I confer on you a kingdom, just as my Father conferred one on me, 30 so that you may eat and drink at my table in my kingdom and sit on thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel. 

31 “Simon, Simon, Satan has asked to sift all of you as wheat. 32 But I have prayed for you, Simon, that your faith may not fail. And when you have turned back, strengthen your brothers.” 

33 But he replied, “Lord, I am ready to go with you to prison and to death.” 34 Jesus answered, “I tell you, Peter, before the rooster crows today, you will deny three times that you know me.” 

35 Then Jesus asked them, “When I sent you without purse, bag or sandals, did you lack anything?” “Nothing,” they answered. 36 He said to them, “But now if you have a purse, take it, and also a bag; and if you don’t have a sword, sell your cloak and buy one. 37 It is written: ‘And he was numbered with the transgressors’; and I tell you that this must be fulfilled in me. Yes, what is written about me is reaching its fulfillment.” 

38 The disciples said, “See, Lord, here are two swords.” 

“That’s enough!” he replied.

WHAT’S THIS MEAN, ANYWAY?

This dispute about which disciple is the greatest comes directly after Jesus announces that someone at the table is going to betray Him. The disciples all start asking who would do such a thing, and then somehow that conversation develops into which one of them is the best. Could you imagine your friend group at a lunch table, and the friend everyone likes says, "so, one of y'all is going to completely back stab me," and then everyone starts saying that they would never and how great they are? I actually can. Even though it seems ridiculous just reading it, I can completely see how that conversation developed. But, it's still not right. 

Jesus corrects them and says it's not about who is the best at all. It's about who is there to serve. If Judas was there to serve Jesus, and he wasn't concerned about himself, he would never have betrayed him. Further, if we actually trust that Jesus will provide everything we need, then we won't decide to rely on other things instead... like if Judas really thought Jesus provided everything, then he wouldn't have sold Him out for some coins. 

THINK ABOUT IT:

1. What would make you betray Jesus? And what would be your argument if someone accused you of betraying Him?
 
2. Did your answer to the second question above revolve more around you and what you do or more around Jesus and who He is?

TRY THIS:

Read the verses above with Jesus having different tones. First, read it with Him being angry. Then, read it with Him being sad. Finally, with Him being patient. Which one do you think He might've been using?

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