Would you prefer a lot or a little at your retirement? Do you believe that bigger is better? You've probably seen the bumper sticker that says "The one who dies with the most toys...wins!"
Our culture forms us to focus on our futures, on how we can maximize our interests, on how we can build our legacies. Of course, we aren't the first culture to think this way. Even Jesus' disciples had the same questions.
In Luke 22, Jesus discovered that the disciples were disputing among themselves "as to which one of them was to be regarded as the greatest" (22:24). The language of this question implies that they are looking forward--they are thinking about their legacies. Which one of them, they are arguing about, would have the greatest legacy because of Jesus? They were thinking about their futures.
The ironic thing is that Jesus had just told them, not about his future, but about his end. This dispute arose immediately after Jesus had shared the Passover with his disciples and had instituted what we have come to call the Lord's Supper. Jesus had just shared with them the words that his body was being given for them, that his blood was being poured out for them. Missing the point entirely, all the disciples could do was argue about which of them, if Jesus was truly dying, could carry on and have the greatest legacy.
Jesus countered by teaching them not to think about their legacies, but to think about being least (22:25-27). He told them that the world thinks about legacies and power over others, but they should not think that way. Instead, they should seek to be the least among all, to be like the youngest in everything.
He gave an example: Who is greater? Is it the one who is served at the table, or is it the one who serves at the table? The implied answer is that the greater one is the one who is being served. "But I am among you as one who serves," Jesus said.
Jesus came among us as a servant. His legacy was not in wealth or power, but in humility and service. His serving led to his own death. He came among us as one who serves.
What do you think about? When you think about your future, what kind of legacy do you want to leave behind? A life of wealth, ease and power stored up for yourself and maybe a few close others, or a life of abundance, a life given for others, a life of least, of humility and service that follows Jesus?
Our culture forms us to focus on our futures, on how we can maximize our interests, on how we can build our legacies. Of course, we aren't the first culture to think this way. Even Jesus' disciples had the same questions.
In Luke 22, Jesus discovered that the disciples were disputing among themselves "as to which one of them was to be regarded as the greatest" (22:24). The language of this question implies that they are looking forward--they are thinking about their legacies. Which one of them, they are arguing about, would have the greatest legacy because of Jesus? They were thinking about their futures.
The ironic thing is that Jesus had just told them, not about his future, but about his end. This dispute arose immediately after Jesus had shared the Passover with his disciples and had instituted what we have come to call the Lord's Supper. Jesus had just shared with them the words that his body was being given for them, that his blood was being poured out for them. Missing the point entirely, all the disciples could do was argue about which of them, if Jesus was truly dying, could carry on and have the greatest legacy.
Jesus countered by teaching them not to think about their legacies, but to think about being least (22:25-27). He told them that the world thinks about legacies and power over others, but they should not think that way. Instead, they should seek to be the least among all, to be like the youngest in everything.
He gave an example: Who is greater? Is it the one who is served at the table, or is it the one who serves at the table? The implied answer is that the greater one is the one who is being served. "But I am among you as one who serves," Jesus said.
Jesus came among us as a servant. His legacy was not in wealth or power, but in humility and service. His serving led to his own death. He came among us as one who serves.
What do you think about? When you think about your future, what kind of legacy do you want to leave behind? A life of wealth, ease and power stored up for yourself and maybe a few close others, or a life of abundance, a life given for others, a life of least, of humility and service that follows Jesus?
