Paradox, Servanthood, Thrones in Heaven
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Luke 22:7-16, 24-30, 36-37
7. Then came the day of Unleavened Bread, on which the passover lamb had to be sacrificed. 8. So Jesus sent Peter and John, saying, "Go and prepare the passover for us, that we may eat it." 9. They said to him, "Where will you have us prepare it?" 10. He said to them, "Behold, when you have entered the city, a man carrying a jar of water will meet you; follow him into the house which he enters, 11. and tell the householder, `The Teacher says to you, Where is the guest room, where I am to eat the passover with my disciples?' 12. And he will show you a large upper room furnished; there make ready." 13. And they went, and found it as he had told them; and they prepared the passover. 14. And when the hour came, he sat at table, and the apostles with him. 15. And he said to them, "I have earnestly desired to eat this passover with you before I suffer; 16. for I tell you I shall not eat it until it is fulfilled in the kingdom of God." . . . 24. A dispute also arose among them, which of them was to be regarded as the greatest. 25. And he said to them, "The kings of the Gentiles exercise lordship over them; and those in authority over them are called benefactors. 26. But not so with you; rather let the greatest among you become as the youngest, and the leader as one who serves. 27. For which is the greater, one who sits at table, or one who serves? Is it not the one who sits at table? But I am among you as one who serves. 28. "You are those who have continued with me in my trials; 29. and I assign to you, as my Father assigned to me, a kingdom, 30. that you may eat and drink at my table in my kingdom, and sit on thrones judging the twelve tribes of Israel. . . 36. He said to them, "But now, let him who has a purse take it, and likewise a bag. And let him who has no sword sell his mantle and buy one. 37. For I tell you that this scripture must be fulfilled in me, `And he was reckoned with transgressors'; for what is written about me has its fulfilment."
Jesus has grown to love these 12 men so very much. They are more than brothers to him, they are more than sons. They hold a special place in his heart; he knows their quirks and their preferences, and most importantly he sees beyond the rough exterior into their hearts and souls. They are amazing, good and strong men—each in their own way. Jesus is on the one hand sad to depart from their company – their relationship, their bond, their unity and loyalty to each other, and to Jesus—is probably as close to heaven as he could achieve while here on earth. And he will miss them.
But, Jesus must have been so tired – physically, emotionally, and spiritually drained by this point. He must have on the other hand, wanted the physical suffering to be over so he could get back to heaven, or to escape it all together and stay with these brothers and friends, who he deeply loved, here on earth. He warns the disciples that hard times are ahead for them as well. And they must also prepare for what is to come. They must rely upon each other now, as they had come to rely upon Jesus.
My bible notes indicate how unusual it would be for a man to be carrying a water jar – that was typically strictly “woman’s work” in this day. It is the beginning (or the beginning of the end) of a time of paradox and a testing of faith, a time when everything these men knew and trusted and believed would be questioned, and tested. This first paradox ties in with Jesus’ urging that the servant become greater than the master. In other words, don’t be afraid to roll up your sleeves and do the hard work that is ahead. So far, you’ve had me in your presence to spur you on, to guide you, instruct you and encourage you. Now you’re about to be on your own and you’ll need to rely upon each other.
Of course we know what follows: the betrayal by Judas, the 3 denials by Peter, the torture and death, and the resurrection! Judas must have loved Jesus so deeply to have grieved so deeply that he was inconsolable. He must have felt as if he had erred so horribly that he could not live with the burden one minute longer. But Peter, Jesus knew, would be okay. He was the brash, shoot from the hip guy. He would spit out the denials, but would finally, through his regret and his tears, come to understand exactly what Jesus had talked about. I wonder if this is the point when it all came together for him?
I hope you spend today demonstrating your love and affection for all of God’s children—with their quirks, bad habits, annoying tendencies and all. And that you are ever able to do the work required to bring about God’s kingdom.
Mary
