Luke 22:24-38

As the disciples began to eat the Passover meal with Jesus, they were looking back – back to that great day hundreds of years ago when God rescued his people from slavery to Pharaoh in Egypt.

Back to the day when God sent a final judgement on Pharaoh but provided a means of escape from judgement for his own people.

And so once again, they sat down to eat roast lamb and remembered how each household had sacrificed a lamb in the place of their first-born - the lamb had died as a substitute for the first-born: the lamb had died so that the first-born could live.

But as the meal progresses, Jesus changes the old, familiar words. And he begins to talk, not of the lamb that had been slain, but of his own body that will be broken, of his own blood that will be poured out.

And he talks about a new kingdom coming, and a new covenant – a new agreement – being established between God and his people.

For the disciples, this was all a mystery. They could not understand what on earth Jesus was talking about.

For them, Jesus was the great and mighty Son of Man that the prophets had promised. He'd healed the sick, raised the dead, preached with authority, wasn't afraid of anyone – he was the Messiah!

When Jesus talked about the kingdom coming, they imagined Israel as the greatest Empire in history, built around Jerusalem and the Temple.

When Jesus talked about a new covenant, they imagined the old covenant renewed – God would fight for them, defeat the Roman Empire, and re-establish Israel.

But the disciples haven't heard what Jesus has been saying.

They've forgotten that he's said, 'The Son of Man must suffer many things and be rejected by the elders, chief priests and teachers of the law, and must be killed and on the third day be raised to life.'

But the disciples just can't see what Jesus is telling them. They can't see that when Jesus says, 'this is my body, given for you... this is my blood poured out for you', he really does mean that he's about to be killed for them.

The Son of Man has not come with the power & glory of a man-made empire. He's come with a different power and a different glory. His power and his glory is in his suffering and death.Just as the Passover lamb had been slain under the just punishment of God so that his people could go free, so now Jesus was about to be slain under the just punishment of God so that his people could go free.

That's the power & glory of the cross. It's the power & glory of humility & love – the love of God that suffers and dies on behalf of someone else.

And in a sad demonstration of their total ignorance, the disciples start to argue about which of them is the greatest even as Jesus is explaining how he will be killed for them. So Jesus turns to them in v25, 'The kings of the Gentiles lord it over them; and those who exercise authority over them call themselves Benefactors. 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. 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.'

We're used to the idea that those who rule us lord it up & take for themselves what they want – whether it be duck houses or real houses, inflated salaries or generous pension schemes. And those who have authority like to think of themselves as benefactors, exercising authority for the benefit of the people, but all too often they enjoy the trappings and benefits of authority just a little too much. But, says Jesus, 'You are not to be like that. Instead, the greatest among you will be like the youngest, the least respected, the least valued member of society. And should you be in a position of authority, you're to act like a servant to those in your care.'

And Jesus can say this because he's led by example. It's only right that Jesus should sit at the table and be served – he has every right to demand that we serve him. But he won't do that. Instead he comes to serve us – even to the point of death.

And the disciples had seen Jesus suffer abuse and threats – and, v28, Jesus acknowledges that they've stood by him in those trials. And, v29, Jesus will give the disciples a share in his kingdom, not only will they sit in the place of honour, but they will share his authority to rule his people.However, before that, they've got to learn the principles under which his kingdom will operate – the principles of power in service and glory in humility. They need to learn that the kingdom Jesus heads up is one where the greatest people do everything for the benefit of others.

It's not necessarily that the greatest are those who clean the toilets and serve the coffee, because even these tasks can be done with pride and self-importance. Rather, it's that the greatest people do whatever they do only for the sake of others, and they find their joy and delight in working for the benefit of others. They don't ask for rewards – there is no reward for the servant, only duty and the joy of a job well-done for a good and faithful master.

But the disciples are a way off that kind of service as yet. They've a lot to learn. In particular, they've a lot to learn from the cross of Christ. And here they are – 12 disciples just hours before the death of Christ. One of them has gone out into the night to betray Jesus. The remaining 11 are arguing about who is the greatest. And Satan sees his chance, v31, and asks permission to sift the disciples – to see if he can find some who will abandon the cross-shaped life and follow him as Judas has done. Satan wants these 11 for his own kingdom where the powerful are rich and the rich are powerful. If he can get these 11, then the new K of G is going nowhere. And Satan will start with Simon-Peter, the leader.

So having warned – and possibly even frightened – Simon-Peter about this, Jesus reassures him, 'I've prayed for you, Simon, that your faith may not fail.' 

Now it's not uncommon for us to think that life as a Xn ought to be easy – after all, we're adopted as children of God and won't he protect us? And isn't the Xn life one of victory and power and blessing? Well, not for Simon-Peter. Satan will attack, and Peter will deny Jesus. Oh yes, Peter is quick to pledge his allegiance to Jesus now, in the upper room, but very soon, when Jesus has been arrested, and the finger of accusation points at him, his courage will fail, and he will deny Jesus. But Satan's plans are always under the overall authority of God, and in this case, his worst efforts only serve to teach Peter a vital lesson so that he, in turn will be able to strengthen his brothers.

What an important lesson and encouragement that is for us, when we fail to acknowledge Jesus at work or school, at home or out with friends.

But that's not the only difficulty that the disciples will face as vv35-38 tell us. There was a time – back in Luke 9 – when they could go off to preach about Jesus and rely on finding people who would welcome them and their message – they didn't need extra money, or a bag full of provisions. But now things are changing. Now as they go, they'll need to provide for themselves and even to protect themselves. And v37 tells us why the disciples – and every Christian since – has faced opposition to the message about Jesus. It is written, says Jesus, He was numbered with the transgressors, and this must be fulfilled in me. Yes, what is written about me is reaching its fulfilment. This is a quote from Isaiah 53 which was read earlier. Isaiah foresaw a day when the servant of the Lord – the Messiah – would suffer as a sinner. Not because he had actually sinned, but because, when he was crucified, he would take upon himself the sin of the world – and the punishment that a sinner deserved. So everyone saw him suffer the death of a sinner, but what they didn't see was that he suffered the punishment of their sin – they just thought he was an evil, wicked man, rightly, justly punished for claiming to be the Son of God. And so, ever since, as people have proclaimed Jesus as the Son of God the rightful ruler of every man, woman and child in this world, they've been rejected and persecuted as being evil.

The disciples are entering a new era. An era of violent opposition to the gospel. But how are they to respond? Are they really to take up arms and fight? If so, they say, 'See, Lord, here are two swords!'

'That's enough' says Jesus.' What does he mean: 'Two swords are sufficient to defend yourselves'? Or, 'Enough of that talk. I don't mean you literally to fight!'?

Well, a little while later, in v50, one of the disciples uses a sword to defend Jesus and cuts of a man's right ear. But Jesus says, 'No more of this!' And he heals the man. So no, no swords.

But get ready to lead as a slave.

To be great by serving others.

Get ready to suffer as Christ, your leader, suffered.

Take up your cross and follow Jesus.

Many years ago, when I was but a teenager, I, and a group of friends did a mini tour of a few West Country churches, doing sketches and sermonettes. Here's one of the sketches we performed. It as written by Andy Kelso:

Well, here I am, Lord. you said, “Take up your cross,” and I’m here to do it. It’s not easy, You know, this self-denial thing. I mean to go through with it though, yes, Sir!

I bet You wish more people were willing disciples like me. I’ve counted the cost and surrendered my life even though, like the song says, “We share in his suffering...”

Do you mind if I look over these crosses? I’d kind of like a new one. Not that I’m fussy, you understand, but we disciples have to be relevant you know. I was wondering – are there any that are padded, and maybe covered with something like velvet? I’m thinking of attracting others, you see, and if I could show them a comfortable cross I’m sure I could win a lot more.

Oh, and Lord, is there one that sort of folds flat so it would fit under my coat? I mean there are people out there one doesn't want to... er... cross, if you know what I mean – it could cost me my job!

Mmm... There doesn’t seem to be much choice here. Just this coarse, rough wood. Is this and end of season sale or something? I mean these would hurt! No, no! These were OK 2000 years ago when people were wandering around in the desert, but this is the 21^st Century!

I can tell you right now, none of my friends are going to be impressed by this poor workmanship! They'll just think I'm a nut! And my family will be totally mortified!

What’s that? It’s either one of these or forget the whole thing? But Lord, I want to be your disciple. I mean, just being with you, that’s all that counts; but life has to have a balance, too . . .

But You don’t understand, nobody lives that way today. Who’s going to be attracted by this self-denial bit? I mean, I want to, but let’s not overdo it. I mean, being a disciple is challenging and exciting, and I want to do it, but I do have some individual rights, You know! Like, no blood, OK? I just can’t stand the thought of that, Lord.. . . Lord? Jesus. . . ? Now where do you suppose He went?

It was John Stott who said,

Every time we look at the cross Christ seems to say to us, “I am here because of you. It is your sin I am bearing, your curse I am suffering, your debt I am paying, your death I am dying.” Nothing in history or in the universe cuts us down to size like the cross. All of us have inflated views of ourselves, especially in self-righteousness, until we have visited a place called Calvary. It is here, at the foot of the cross that we shrink to our true size.