Scripture
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 among you as the One who serves. Luke 22:27
Observation
How did the conversation swing so fast from the institution of the Lord’s Supper to “Who Get’s The Disciple-Of-The-Year Award”? Jesus is literally telling His disciples He’s been longing for this moment with them as His final Passover meal before the Cross and yet they are stuck in a an ego argument completely missing the point. Jesus was sitting at the table telling them of His sacrifice and the new Covenant that would be established through His death and they aren’t paying any attention. How could they be so obtuse? For the same reason I am. They wanted to avert blame and affix praise. They wanted to label who was the worst betrayer and who was the best disciple. Jesus brought it back on point when He illustrated how it’s not about who is the worst or the best but who is the lowest. Why? That’s where you’ll find the Savior. He’s not only the One who serves but will be found among those who serve. You’re never going to be farther away from Jesus then when seeking to blame or be praised. You’re never going to be closer to Jesus then when serving others instead of self. “3Jesus knew that the Father had given him authority over everything and that he had come from God and would return to God. 4So he got up from the table, took off his robe, wrapped a towel around his waist, 5and poured water into a basin. Then he began to wash the disciples’ feet, drying them with the towel he had around him…15I have given you an example to follow. Do as I have done to you. (John 13:3-5,15).
Application
This is an invitation to a deeper relationship with Jesus than ever before. This is a move from entitlement to intimacy. I have never felt closer to Jesus than when I am serving Him by serving others. Yet, because of my own insecurity and ego I still look for a way to be served and noticed. It’s easy to serve if you get celebrated as a servant, but Jesus served the world with His life and was nailed to a Cross. If we truly want to be where He is we must expect that kind of treatment. It’s easy to lose track of where Jesus is this time of year. Kind of ironic considering Christmas is supposed to be a celebration of Jesus. With all of the big presentations, pretty packages, and extra special parties it’s easy to forget what actually matters most. It’s not the ones on the stage but the ones behind the scenes that actually make it happen. That’s where Jesus would be found- as One serving among those who serve. Commentator David Guzik points this out, “Cultures have always envied the person who has many people serving him. In ancient China, the rich grew long, long fingernails, so long they could do nothing for themselves—and this was seen as a sign of status. But the people who are really great in our lives are the servants. If the President took a month off, no one would really miss it; but if all the trash collectors in the country took the month off, we would miss it! Jesus is trying to re-arrange our thinking, our priorities.” This past week I took our Tech Team out to lunch after to service to thank them for how they serve week in and week out with great hearts. The sad truth is they usually never hear anything from anyone unless something goes wrong. The feedback, the missing slide, the wrong words for the song and you better believe they are getting an ear full. If the service goes smooth we have accomplished our mission in removing every distraction from the presentation of The Gospel… crickets. They aren’t going to hear anything from anyone. Yet, Jesus is saying that’s where He’s at. He’s not on the stage with the lights and sounds, He’s in the back making sure the lights and sound are serving the presentation of The Gospel.
Prayer
This happens every year. While celebrating You we spend so little time with You. I don’t want that to happen this year. I’m taking a towel, I’m wrapping it around my waste and I’m choosing to be as close to You as I can be. In the first Christmas You weren’t found in the palace or the temple. You were found among those who served. That’s where I’m going to spend my time this Christmas.
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