Sermon for Lord's Day March 12, 2023 Pride

Christ’s Humility at the Last Supper

Luke 22, verse 24 -27, these are the words of the living God. A dispute also arose among them as to which of them was to be regarded as the greatest. And he said to them, 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 the 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 the one who serves. Our God, our Heavenly Father, as we come under your throne one more time this morning, God, come with a grateful heart, thankful for the privilege and the honor to know that when we come under your throne of grace, that we can come boldly because of what you have done, because of what you have accomplished.

Because you shed your blood for my sins, because you died on the cross, because you took upon yourself the wrath of God, became the propitiation for my sins, because you were buried, because on the third day you arose and ascended to the Father, and you sit at the right hand of the Father, and you ever live.

It is because of that that we can come boldly under your throne of grace to simply say, God, we praise you, we worship you today. And Lord, today I would ask this simple, have this simple request, Lord, please help me.

Help me not to make a mess or a jumble of your word. Help me to preach plainly and clearly. And I pray, God, above all else this morning, that you would help us to see Christ in the scriptures. Help us that we may grow in grace and in knowledge of your holy word, that we may know you more, so that we may love you all the better.

For it's in Jesus' name I pray. Amen. Reading primarily today from the ESV. And so, in our text today, really, again, it is one of those texts that are truly quite plain. It's quite self-evident. It is good, nonetheless, for us to go through it, pay attention to it, to make note of several things throughout this short passage of scripture.

The Dispute Over Greatness and the Sin of Pride

And I think, as far as understanding context of what's taking place and what's going on, I want to encourage you, if you want to, go ahead now and, Mark, turn our clip over to the book of John's Gospel, and maybe put your bookmark or your finger there on John chapter 13.

Toward the end of our time together, we're going to be going through that to gain a fuller context of what's taking place. But here, particularly, Christ has just proclaimed that by the shedding of his blood, the new covenant would be instituted, and Christ has communicated to the disciples that there will be one among them who would betray him.

They began, as it says in verse 33, to question one another, which of them it could be who was going to do this, and as we have it here in Luke's Gospel, also in the Synoptic Gospels, Matthew, we see it as well, but here in Luke's Gospel, we have the words of Luke as he communicates this eyewitness account of what took place at the supper there, and he said this, a dispute also arose among them, them being the disciples, them being Christ's disciples whom he was sharing this supper with, a dispute arose among them.

I think it's very, very important. I'm going to turn over to the book of James here, actually, if you want to turn there with me for just a moment. I think it's important that we understand what the issue is going on here, the sin that is taking place.

In the book of James, we're taught from the word of God that where do wars, what causes quarrels, chapter 4, James chapter 4, what causes quarrels and what causes fights among you? And James says this, is it not this that your passions are at war within you?

You desire and you do not have, so you murder. You covet and cannot obtain, so you fight and quarrel. You do not have because you do not ask. You ask and you do not receive because you ask wrongly. Why?

To spend it upon your passions. You adulterous people, James uses very strong language here. Do you not know that friendship with the world is enmity with God? Therefore, whoever wishes to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God.

So this dispute that arose among them, this argument that rose among them came from within. It came from the desires of their sinful hearts coming to the surface and them wanting something more than what Christ has given.

Now, we can ask no more than what Christ has given to us. If we do, I would be so bold as to say that any man, any woman, any boy, any girl who asks more than what Christ has already given is asking amiss.

That that person, that individual, be it myself or be it you, would be asking for something out of a selfish ambition and for greedy gain because Christ gave us eternal life. So that being in mind, this dispute arose among them, the disciples, and the dispute was this.

Which of them was to be regarded as the greatest? Keep in mind, here they are at the supper with the King of kings and with the Lord of lords, the creator of the heavens and the earth, and they are arguing amongst themselves who is going to be the greatest amongst us.

You can see James and John. They had issues already. Their mama had come to Jesus beforehand, asking about James and John's place in the kingdom. Peter, no doubt, was an outspoken and a boisterous man.

You can almost see him sneering at each other. Listen, Christians sneer at each other. They don't make it right, but you do, right? We should not. So they were seeking who would be the greatest. So let's define our terms here.

So let's define greatness, and we'll look at some synonyms for greatness. A synonym is a word that means the same thing as. So they were arguing over who among them would be regarded or considered to be the greatest.

Now, greatness is defined as this. It's the fact of having a high status or a lot of influence. Greatness is the fact of having a high status or a lot of influence. Greatness can also be defined as this, the quality of being extremely good in ability or quality, and therefore being admired by many people.

So when they were seeking for greatness, they were seeking to have high status, a lot of influence. They were seeking to be admired by many people. Any of you remember or ever hear, for the young ones, you old people will know them, ever hear of Muhammad Ali, right?

Muhammad Ali proclaimed himself to be the greatest of all time. He got on an airplane flight one time. The stewardess comes over and says, Mr. Ali, please fasten your seatbelt for takeoff. Ali looked at the stewardess and said these words, Superman don't need no seatbelt, to which the airline stewardess retorted, Superman don't need no plane either.

Now buckle your seatbelt, right? Everybody gets put in their place from time to time. So what we do need to understand, what we do need to know is this, greatness belongs to the Lord and to him alone.

Greatness belongs to the Lord because humanity cannot handle greatness. We are not in a condition to where we can handle greatness. Synonyms for the word great are, one, preeminence. Preeminence, what does it mean, preeminence?

Preeminence is the fact of surpassing all others. Another term for preeminence is superiority. Another synonym for greatness is importance. What is importance? Importance is the state or fact of being great or of significant value.

You'll notice in verse 25, as Jesus answers this dispute, Jesus says in verse 25, and he said to them, Jesus speaking to his disciples said this, the kings of the Gentiles exercise lordship over them, or some other translations would say, the LSB says they lord it over them.

The kings of the Gentiles exercise lordship over them, and those in authority over them are called benefactors. So Jesus makes a statement of fact here. He's making a clear distinction between the world and the people of God.

He said the kings of the Gentiles lord it over them. This was an idiom. It was a term used, right, to be a benefactor. He goes on and says, and those over them are called benefactors. A benefactor is, the Greek word there is eurogates.

A benefactor is a title of honor conferred on such as had done their country service and upon princes. Another definition for benefactor would be this, one who gives or provides a means to individuals.

So a benefactor might be, an example of a benefactor might be somebody who has money coming out of their ears and they give to this organization or that organization so that organization can thrive and flourish.

So a benefactor is a supplier, right? So what Jesus says here is quite plain. He says the kings of the Gentiles exercise lordship over them and they are called benefactors. But Jesus said in verse 26, but not so with you.

Pride in the Church and in Contemporary Society

Let's pick up right here. So in our text today, what are we seeing? We are seeing the side of human nature that every single individual one of us can identify with. Every single one of us can identify with this side of human nature that we're seeing here in the text.

And what is this part of human nature? And it is this part of human nature, though we identify with it. It is this part of human nature that every single one of us must fight against on a daily basis.

What is this part of our nature called? It is the sin of pride. The Puritans talked about pride in this way. Thomas Brooks said, pride is a sin that will put the soul upon the worst of sins. He called pride a gilded misery.

It is a secret poison. It is a hidden plague. It is the engineer of deceit. It is the mother of hypocrisy. It is the moth of holiness. He said it is the blinder of hearts and it is the turner of medicines into maladies and remedies into diseases.

John MacArthur in his commentary said this, nothing comes more naturally to fallen human beings than pride. In other words, it's not something you've got to practice. It comes naturally. It manifests itself in self-centeredness, self-love, self-promotion, self-fulfillment.

Pride is the defining sin of human nature. It is the soil in which sins sprout. It is the soil of not only which sins sprout but sins which root and grow. It is the sin that we see in the garden that plunged the whole human race into corruption.

That pride has been reclassified as a virtue throughout history and in contemporary society only reveals the depths of human depravity. In other words, what MacArthur was saying there was this, that the sin of pride has not only not been denounced in the church but it's been promoted in the world.

It is something that every Jew, when it comes about, that workplaces everywhere in the world and the world itself now celebrates what is referred to as Pride Month. What God has deemed and called an abomination is considered a celebrated act in the world in which we live.

As Christians, we must have a right knowledge and a right understanding of pride. God hates sin. God sent his Son into the world to die for sin. So we must consider this. Now, just to be completely honest with you, when you begin reading this and you see all these instances where the disciples said and did dumb stuff, when the people didn't want to hear the gospel when it was preached to them, that time when James and John said, Lord, do you just want us to call fire down from heaven on them and burn them up?

They do dumb stuff. And we think, man, I'm glad I ain't like that. But we are. We're exactly like that. And so we see here in the text, it would be funny if it were not so truly sad that the disciples begin to argue about who is going to be the greatest in Jesus' kingdom.

Think about that phrase right there. The king is the greatest in the kingdom. There is none to compare to the king. He stands alone. Moments after Jesus just communicated to them that by his death, that by the shedding of his own blood, that he would inaugurate the new covenant.

Now, again, to cut the disciples some slack, the disciples still, although they've been told repeatedly, they still do not fully comprehend God's plan of salvation. They do not realize, even though they've been told three or four times up to this point, that he has to die to be resurrected, that he'll do this before he returns to establish his earthly kingdom.

And even though Jesus communicated this to them numerous times, and even after his resurrection, they asked him the question again, will you at this time restore the kingdom to Israel? They still did not get it because of this.

They think that they still thought that Christ's kingdom was immediate, that it was right there, that it was going to be an earthly takeover. And immediately they desired themselves to be imminent in that kingdom.

They desired themselves to have a place and a standing in the kingdom of God. But are they not all a picture of us? How quickly pride swells up in us. How quickly pride rises up in us. The kingdom, you've heard this said months back, the kingdom that they sought was not the kingdom that Jesus brought.

They were looking for an earthly political king to come and to take over and to set up establishment. But Jesus told them repeatedly, my kingdom is not of this world. For if it had been, you could be sure of one thing, my servants would have fought.

We go on. Warren Wiersbe said this concerning pride. When you are interested in promoting yourself, it doesn't take much to start an argument. How true is that? It doesn't take much. But speaking in relation to verse 25, Matthew Poole in his commentary, Matthew Poole's commentary is a commentary I suggest to all of you and any of you who are interested in looking for a good commentary, written in the 1680s.

His commentary said this about the humility that Christ is speaking of and particularly humility concerning the ministers of Christ. Matthew Poole said this. The sum is this. Our Savior hereby teaches all his disciples, his ministers especially, to avoid affectation of rule and dominion as that which became the heathens rather than Christians.

That's what Jesus was saying. You're seeking what the world is seeking after when you need to be seeking after the things that God is seeking after. Poole goes on to say this. The rule and dominion as that which became heathens rather than Christians and the kings of the Gentiles rather than the ministers of our Lord Jesus Christ.

He said, now this text gives no countenance to the leveling of all orders of men. Magistry is an ordinance of God and ought to be upheld. Order also in the church is to be observed for God is the God of order but no minister of Christ ought to affect great titles nor to exercise a dominion or a lordship.

This is what we're going to find Jesus is saying to his disciples. What Matthew Poole is saying particularly to those of us who are called to be ministers that we're not to seek great titles. We're not to seek levels of importance.

We are to proclaim the gospel of Jesus Christ to every living person, every living thing that we can and trust God with the results. He goes on here. He says this. Our work, the minister's work, our work is to feed the flock of God, taking oversight of them, not by constraint but willingly, not for filthy lucre but of a ready mind, neither as being lords over God's heritage.

And that's that term that's used in the scripture. It's used again as it was used here. Not to be lords over God's heritage but to be examples to the flock of God. That's found in 1 Peter 5 2 -3. He said this.

That the ministers of Christ may not have titles given to them, speaking honor and reverence due to them, I do not know. But the reason, he said, the reason is obvious why they should not affect them to be fond of them.

Why? Because pride is a vain and a vicious affection and it's more culpable in them than others. Their works, the minister's works, are but a ministration to the church in putting the law of Christ relating to its execution and it is their greatest honor to be humble.

J .C. Ryle said, let us observe secondly in this passage the striking account of which our Lord gives of true Christian greatness. He tells his disciples that the worldly standard of greatness was to exercise authority over the people.

Again, another example. Alexander McLaren said this. The world's notion is this, that the true use and exercise of superiority is to lord it over others. McLaren said tyrants are flattered by the title of benefactor, which they do not deserve.

But the giving of which shows that even in the world some trace of the true conception still lingers. It was sadly true at the time of the disciples that the power was used for selfish ends and generally meant it led to oppression.

What the disciples were seeking selfishly was to be in a place of authority so that they could lord the kingdom of God over others. And what Jesus did very plainly and very clearly by demonstration is what we're going to read in John 13 because what we're going to look at in allowing the word of God to interpret the word of God itself, we're going to get the big picture here where we don't necessarily get it just in Luke's gospel.

What we're going to do is look at that space between verse 24 and verse 25 and we're going to read that space, in that space, John chapter 13 because this is what took place during the suffering. My friend Keith Foskey quotes someone who said this, power corrupts, but absolute power corrupts absolutely.

So our aim, our goal today is quite simply to do this, to point to the words and to point to the actions of Jesus as he addresses the attitudes of the disciples' hearts. As with any passage from the Bible, in order to understand what's being spoken, we must let the Bible speak for itself.

So I'm not making anything up here. We are going to allow Scripture to interpret Scripture so as to get a good clear picture of what is being said here. And by doing so, we must look to John's gospel.

So let's look here at John's gospel and we're going to see this space between verse 24 and 25. So 24, remember, Jesus begins to tell them about the kings of the Gentiles. And so in John's gospel, what happens in this gap?

What happens in this space? John chapter 13, this is what the word of God says. Now, before the feast of the Passover, when Jesus knew that his hour had come to depart out of this world to the Father, having loved his own who were in the world, he loved them to the end.

During supper, when the devil had already put it into the heart of Judas's carriot, Simon's son, to betray him, Jesus, knowing that the Father had given all things into his hands and that he had come from God and was going back to God, he rose from supper.

He laid aside his outer garments and taking a towel, tied it around his waist. Then he poured water into a basin and began to wash the disciples' feet and to wipe them with the towel that was wrapped around him.

He came to Simon Peter, who said to him, Lord, do you wash my feet? Jesus answered him, what I am doing, you do not understand now, but afterward you will understand. Peter said to him, you shall never wash my feet.

Jesus answered him, if I do not wash you, you have no part with me, you have no share with me. Simon Peter said to him, Lord, not my feet only, but also my hands and my head. Jesus said, the one who is bathed does not need to wash except for his feet, but is completely clean.

And you are clean, but not every one of you. For he knew who was to betray him. That was why he said, not all of you are clean. And when he had washed their feet and he put on his outer garments and he resumed his place, he said to them, do you understand what I've done to you?

You call me teacher and Lord, and you are right, for so I am. If I then, your Lord and master, your teacher, have washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another's feet. For I have given you an example that you should do just as I have done to you.

Truly, truly I say to you, a servant is not greater than his master, nor is a messenger greater than the one who sent him. If you know these things, blessed are you if you do them. I am not speaking of you all, I know whom I have chosen, but the scripture will be fulfilled.

He who ate bread with me has lifted up his heel against me. I am telling you this before it takes place, that when it does take place, you may believe that I am he. So Christ stoops down, takes off his outer garment, puts on the towel, as the servants should be doing.

Takes off the towel, guards himself with the towel, goes around to each of his disciples, with the basin of what pours water in the basin, goes to each of his disciples, takes them by the foot, stooping down, condescending to men of low estate, and he washes their feet.

The king of glory, competent, greatest. Back in Luke's gospel again to finish this section out today. What does Jesus say to them? Luke 22, 26. He says this, but not so with you. It is not to be so with you as it is with the world.

Not so with you, but rather. Rather, let the greatest among you become as the youngest, and the leader, as the one who serves. For who is greater, Jesus asks. Practical question, reasonable question. Who is greater, Jesus asks.

One who reclines at the table, or the one who serves? Is it not the one who reclines at the table, because he is the master, right? But I am among you as one who serves. Jesus, the Lord of glory, has humbled himself, as we learned in catechism this morning, right?

Took upon himself a true body and a rational, reasonable soul. Took upon him, the apostle Paul tells the Philippian church, and we're going to read that here in just a minute too, but took upon him the form of a servant, came in the likeness of flesh, took upon him the form of a servant, is what we read here.

Christ’s Servant Leadership and the Call to Humility

In closing here, J .C. Riles said this. J .C. Riles said, usefulness in the world, in the Christian church. A humble readiness to do anything, a cheerful willingness to fill any post, however lowly, are the true tests of Christian greatness.

The hero in Christ's army is not the man who has rank and title and dignity and chariots and horsemen and 50 men to run before him, but it is the man who is not concerned about himself but about other people.

It is the man who is kind to everyone, tender to everyone, thoughtful toward everyone, a man who is ever helpful and sympathetic. It is the man who spends his time binding up the brokenhearted. It is the man who is befriending the friendless.

It is the man who comforts the sorrowful and enlightens the ignorant. Riles said this, this is the truly great man in God's sight. The world may ridicule his efforts and deny the sincerity of his motives, but while the world is sneering, God is pleased.

This is the man who is walking most closely in the steps of Christ. So again, this text is very, very plain. But here comes the so what. So what, preacher? What are we to do with this? How are we to apply this to our lives?

How is it that we as Christian men and women are to appropriately respond to what we have learned today? The answer is quite plain. We should obey the word of God. Now I encourage you today, listen closely.

This is the last scripture I'll be reading today. Listen closely to the words of the Apostle Paul, found in the book of Philippians chapter 2, verses 1 through 16. These are the words of the living God.

This is the word that we should be obeying today. The Apostle Paul tells the church this, Philippians chapter 2, 1 through 16. Therefore, if there is any encouragement in Christ, if there is any consolation of love, if there is any fellowship of the Spirit, if any affection and compassion, the Apostle Paul said, fulfill my joy that you think the same way, by maintaining the same love, being united in one spirit, thinking on one purpose, and doing nothing from selfish ambition or vain glory, but with humility of mind, regarding one another as more important than yourselves.

Not merely looking out for your own personal interests, but also for the interests of others. Have this way of thinking in yourselves, which was also in Christ Jesus, who although existing in the form of God, did not regard equality with God a thing to be grasped, but he emptied himself by taking the form of a slave and being made in the likeness of men.

And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself, becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross. Therefore, God also highly exalted him and bestowed on him the name, which is above every name.

So at the name of Jesus, every knee will bow, of those things that are in heaven and those things that are in the earth and those things that are under the earth, and that every tongue will confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

So then, my beloved, just as you have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your salvation with fear and trembling. For it is God who is at work in you now, both to will and to work for his good pleasure.

Do all things without grumbling or disputing so that you will be blameless and innocent children of God without blemish in the midst of a crooked and a perverse generation among whom you shine as lights in the world.

How? By holding fast the word of life so that in the day of Christ I will have reason to boast because I did not run in vain nor did I labor in vain. Stand with us if you would this morning.