What does it mean to truly be great in God's kingdom? In this powerful exploration of Luke 22:24-30, we discover Jesus confronting his disciples in a moment of profound disconnect—they're arguing about who's the greatest while Jesus prepares for his imminent sacrifice.
The contrast couldn't be more striking. While the disciples jockey for position, Jesus redefines greatness through the lens of service: "The kings of the Gentiles exercise lordship over them... But not so with you." This countercultural teaching challenges our deepest assumptions about leadership, success, and significance.
Most of us approach serving others with what might be called a "cut the check" mentality—keeping our distance, maintaining comfort, preserving our status. Jesus, however, demonstrates incarnational service. He didn't merely send help from heaven; he entered our world, walked our paths, felt our pain, and ultimately gave his life. True greatness isn't found in receiving service but in providing it.
What's particularly moving about this passage is Jesus' interaction with Peter. When Satan demands to "sift him like wheat," Jesus doesn't promise to defeat the enemy outright—he simply says, "I have prayed for you." This prayer carries power (Christ's authority over all things), permanence (he never stops interceding), and purpose (to bring us safely home). Even knowing Peter will fail spectacularly, Jesus assures him of restoration and future purpose.
This reveals the heart of the gospel: a perfect kingdom awaits those who underestimate their enemy, overestimate themselves, and follow a rejected king. We're all limping to the finish line in some area of our lives. The good news? Jesus doesn't demand impressive performance—he picks us up when we fall and carries us home.
Just like exhausted marathon runners who collapse before crossing the finish line, we were never meant to complete this race on our own strength. The incredible reality is that God doesn't disqualify us for our failures but gives us the perfect record of Christ himself. Will you trust the One who serves, the One who prays, the One who carries you across the line?
If you want to learn more about the MidTree story or connect with us, go to our website HERE or text us at 812-MID-TREE.
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Episode Transcript
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Speaker 1 (00:03):
Join me in the reading of God's Word.
We're going to be on page 882in the Pew Bibles.
It's Luke 22, verses 24 through30.
And he said to them the kingsof the Gentiles exercise
lordship over them and those inauthority over them are called
(00:27):
benefactors, but not so with you.
Rather, let the greatest amongyou become as the youngest and
the leader, as the one whoserves.
For who is the greater?
One who reclines at table orone who serves?
Is it not the one who reclinesat table?
But I am among you as the onewho serves.
Speaker 2 (01:06):
Amen, and sit on thrones judging the twelve
tribes of Israel.
This is the word of the Lord.
Amen, back up, pastor.
I loved so much of that, logan,so much of that Highlights for
days.
Brother, I love you and I'mproud of you.
I mean it from the bottom of myheart.
(01:27):
I don't know how old you werewhen you and I first started
hanging out, but you were alittle one at that point and I
could not be more proud of howthe Lord has moved in your life
and how you have desired to beled by him.
As we look at this text, let meencourage you guys hang on one
second, sorry Let me encourageyou guys to sort of think about
(01:47):
what your walk looks like atthis moment in your life.
We used to say it all the time.
I don't know that it's ascommon of a phrase as it used to
be.
What does your walk with theLord look like?
I walk because I have to to getaround.
I'm not a mall walker, I'm nota jogger, I'm not a runner, I'm
not running unless I'm chasingor being chased something or
(02:09):
someone.
But the other day I was outhanging out at the soccer fields
and one of my sister's friendsgrowing up was in a nearby
conversation and I was pickingup pieces of it.
But it was a conversation Ididn't really care to be a part
of because they were talkingabout running.
And all of a sudden theconversation turned into you're
(02:30):
a mom, you have young kids, yourun 10, 12, 13 miles a day.
How do you do that, likelogistically, how do you do that
?
And I'll change her name forthe sake of the story.
Sally said I just have to wakeup really early.
And now all of a sudden I'minterested because I'm like what
do you mean really early?
(02:51):
And the friend she was talkingto said yeah, how early are you
talking about?
And she froze, she paused.
Now I'm very interested becausesomebody is ashamed of
something, somebody is likeself-conscious.
So I slide into thisconversation.
I'm like how early are youwaking up?
Three o'clock in the morning togo running?
First of all, impressive.
(03:11):
My follow-up question again,this is a friend of my sister's
growing up.
Is that healthy?
Like I'm not arguing runningand all this kind of, is it
actually healthy?
And she looked at me and shesaid sort of like sort of, what
we're going to look at today isthe end of the race for the
(03:34):
disciples, or at least the endof the race.
They thought they were going torun.
They don't realize everythingthat's about to happen, even
though Jesus is hand deliveringthis to them.
And here is what it makes methink of.
It makes me and this is whyI've always been curious about
this, and if you're a runner inthe room you can bash me later
but I've never seen this happenon a baseball field.
(03:56):
I've never seen it happen on asoccer field, basketball court,
football field.
I have never seen, certainly tothe extent a person's body
decide I am shutting down,regardless of what your mind
wants to do.
I've seen cramps, but I'mtalking about have y'all ever
watched the videos where peopleare running in a race and all of
(04:17):
a sudden they go giraffe, likebaby giraffe leg?
I was watching a few of thesethis week, just being fascinated
.
I watched a Kenyan or aNigerian runner collapse 20 feet
from the finish line and juststart barrel rolling his way and
I'm looking at it and I'm likeis this like?
Are our bodies meant to be ableto do this?
(04:39):
And the disciples in this textare about to answer the question
what does it look like for usto limp our way to the finish
line.
Statistically, as you'relistening to Logan's testimony,
statistically, 50 to 60% of youare convicted by what he just
said.
Statistically, I would hope thestats are lower.
(05:00):
Are you limping through life?
Are you limping through certainareas of life?
Are there realities in yourpursuit of Christ that, if
you're honest, you've neversprinted at, you've never ran,
you've never jobbed, you havelimped or rolled to try to make
it to the next step?
(05:20):
And might God's word have hopefor those of us who are limping
our way forward.
Let me give you a little bit ofencouragement.
This is John Newton, as I thinkabout disciples.
Limping, as you may think.
If you're a Christian man, whyis this area of my faith?
Constantly a limp John Newtonwould remind us my faith.
(05:46):
Constantly a limp John Newtonwould remind us I am not what I
ought to be.
I am not what I want to be, Iam not what I hope to be in
another world, but still I amnot what I once used to be
Christian.
This is our hope that we arenot what we used to be, because
what we used to be is a hot mess, and this is where we find the
(06:07):
disciples today.
A dispute also arose among them.
This word also carries with ita lot of connotations.
A dispute also arose among themas to which of them was going
to be regarded as the greatest,and he said to them the kings of
the Gentiles exercise lordshipover them and those in authority
(06:27):
over them are calledbenefactors, but not so with you
.
Rather, let the greatest amongyou become as the youngest and
the leader, as the one whoserves.
When the text says a disputealso arose, it means they were
already in one.
Maybe you've been in an argumentwith somebody before and you've
been in an argument withsomebody before and you've seen
the trickle-down effect.
You started arguing about thisand now you're arguing about
(06:50):
that and about four argumentslater.
You don't even remember whatyou were arguing about.
Well, let me tell you what itwas that they were arguing about
.
This.
Moments before and only threeverses before, jesus said but
behold the hand of him whobetrays me is with me on the
table.
One of you is going to betrayme, and all of a sudden, verse
23,.
(07:10):
They began to question oneanother.
That has a legal connotation.
Is it you accusatory as towhich of them it was going to be
?
The progression here could notbe more clear and easy to see.
Jesus says one of you is goingto betray me.
And they look around andthey're like probably this guy,
thomas.
Jesus says one of you is goingto betray me.
And they look around andthey're like probably this guy,
thomas.
I love the part of the sermonlast week where you put up the
pictures and Judas is in thecorner and, like you can tell
(07:32):
they had no idea.
They are literally guessing andI just want you to imagine how
icky and unhealthy thisbeautiful dinner must have
become.
Hey, it's got to be you,because you stole money once.
No, no, no, it's going to beyou, because you always sleep in
and we're constantly waiting onyou.
No, it's going to be you, peter, because you keep chopping
(07:53):
people's ears off and yelling atthem and getting into arguments
.
You're the hothead.
But I want you to notice whathappens next.
In a moment, they go fromarguing over which one of them
is the worst to arguing whichone of them is the greatest.
They've moved into defense mode.
What do you mean me?
It can't possibly be me.
(08:14):
I walked on water with Jesusuntil you sank because you
didn't have faith, peter.
Well, matthew, what are youtalking about?
Hey, I gave up being a taxcollector.
I was wealthy, I had beautifulclothes, I went to the best
parties, I had the best friends.
Certainly I'm the greatest.
I've given up the most.
(08:35):
All you guys gave up was fish.
How hard is that to do anyway?
And you can just see thisseething argument.
And Jesus is like guys, we justhad our first communion.
Can we just hold it togetherfor a minute?
No, christians limp throughmuch of life.
(08:56):
Christians limp to finish linesand Christians limp across them
.
And in this great desire todisplay how great they are,
jesus says can I tell you whatreal greatness is?
One thing worth noting is thatJesus doesn't rebuke their
(09:17):
desire for significance.
He doesn't rebuke that theywant to do great things.
He doesn't rebuke them forhaving grand ideas, looking for
huge opportunities, consideringhow they might advance the
kingdom.
He doesn't rebuke their desireto be significant, but he does
redefine it.
(09:38):
The thing in my life that hasbeen most helpful here in
understanding what truegreatness is, outside of
scripture itself, is this littlebook that I probably give away
at least once a year by TimKeller.
I think all he did was preach agood sermon, turned it into a
book and then just cashed theroyalties forever, which kudos
on stewardship as well.
He's no longer with us.
(09:58):
He's in glory, so I'm not goingto offend him anyway.
This little book by Tim Kelleris called the Freedom of
Self-Forgetfulness.
I got about 20 of them here.
If any of you guys want to grabone on the way out of the
sanctuary, feel free to do so.
But this text, more thananything else, has caused me to
look at my own self and say I dowant to live a life of
(10:19):
significance.
I want my life to matter.
I don't just want to fade intothe crowd, I want to do
something with my life.
But how can I pursue greatnessand not be ashamed of it?
Well, jesus tells us.
He says look, the kings of theGentiles, notice this word.
It's the way a Jewish rabbi andteacher would have said the
(10:42):
rest of the world, the leadersin the rest of the world,
exercise lordship over them, andthose in authority are called
benefactors.
By the way, notice that theexpectation of God's people is
that they would be differentthan the world.
And what leadership looks like?
It's implicit in what Jesus issaying here.
(11:03):
What leadership looks like?
It's implicit in what Jesus issaying here In the world.
The concept is the leader, theauthority, gets benefit from
those below.
You can think about this inbusiness, you can think about it
in military, you can thinkabout it in marriage, you can
think about it in parenting, youcan think about it in work.
The concept is the one who sitsatop receives benefit from
(11:24):
those below, but while the worldis expecting benefit from those
below them, christians are tochoose to bring benefit to those
who are below them.
If I don't believe this, ifyour eyes hit this and you
choose not to believe this,you're going to pursue comfort
(11:49):
in your life.
You are going to pursueprominence in your life.
You are going to scoff asservice, as below you.
If I were to make the rubberhit the road, I might say your
mentality towards service wouldnot look like a rather Rather.
Let the greatest among youbecome, as the youngest, the
(12:09):
leader, as the one who serves.
And then Jesus says hey guys,we're sitting around a table,
let's play this thing out.
Who's greater, the one whoreclines at table or the one who
serves?
Now they ate dinner a littledifferently than we do.
We sit at a table and the foodis in front of us and we eat.
They would have laid on theirside and eaten with one hand
around the table as they allpeered in.
(12:31):
And Jesus is saying who'sgreater?
The one who's reclining at thetable enjoying food and drink,
or the one who is making surethat the table is clear and more
food comes?
Which one of them is greater?
And Jesus says but I am amongyou as the one who serves.
There's going to be a day whenJesus sits down.
It's not this day.
(12:52):
There's going to be a day whenhe sits down at a throne, near a
table that will never run out,in a kingdom that will never end
, with people who will never sin.
But this is not that moment.
And Jesus is saying look, I amhere serving you, unlike every
other leader that the world hasever seen.
(13:13):
If I don't believe this, I'mgoing to scoff at service.
I'm going to think that it isprobably below me.
It is probably below me.
I'm going to think aboutservice with a cut the check
mentality.
You know what?
Just cut the check.
I'll serve in hospitality oncea month.
(13:33):
Just cut the check, and now I'mdone.
Or it might literally becutting the check.
I see somebody who is in need,I see somebody who is
impoverished, I see someone whoneeds help and instead of, like
Christ, walking into thatsituation, let me just throw a
little coin in the direction sothat I don't have to get my
(13:54):
hands dirty.
Christians, a cut-the-checkmentality might be very American
, but it is not very Christian.
Jesus loves us, not with a cutthe check mentality, but
incarnationally.
Just consider our salvation.
(14:15):
For those of us who arebelieving in Christ, jesus could
have appeared, showed up on dayone.
What's up?
All you sinners Hate that I hadto show up.
But let's make this sort ofquick.
I love you.
Because I love you, I'm goingto die for you.
I'm going to die and then off Igo.
No, jesus comes, puts on flesh,toddles through this life,
limps along for 30 years, for 33years.
(14:39):
He knows your struggles, heknows what it is to be tired and
hungry and sweat.
He could have just cut thecheck, but instead he steps into
your world.
It is a better thing to carefor someone than to not.
That is good for them.
But please hear me on this Ifyou want your service to be good
(15:00):
for you, service is not a netloss.
Serving in whatever capacity,the church, your family, your
community, those who you walk by, those who you work with.
It is not a net loss.
(15:22):
To the eyes of a Christian, itis a net positive.
If service presents itself andyour immediate thought is what
about the cost?
How much time is this going totake?
What about my energy?
All of a sudden, you have movedinto a cut the check mentality
instead of an incarnationalmentality, and I would encourage
you with this little quote fromJohn Newton.
(15:44):
I love this.
Okay, apologies, two times thesermon you're gonna have to put
on your nerd glasses.
This is one of them,potentially.
All right, just track me withthis.
John Newton speaking of twoangels.
If two angels were to receiveat the same moment a commission
from God one to go down and ruleearth's grandest empire, the
(16:04):
other to go and sweep thestreets of its meanest village
that means smallest, notangriest it would be a matter of
entire indifference to eachwhich service fell to his lot.
One angel is told you are goingto go and oversee the ruling of
the grandest kingdom the worldhas ever seen.
(16:25):
Your responsibilities are goingto be far reaching your
importance.
Great Angel number two, comehere.
There's this little villagesouth of Mombasa.
The streets need to be swept,and both of them with the same
level of excitement andanticipation would fly to the
(16:48):
places that God has called themto serve.
It would be a matter of entireindifference to each which
service fell to his lot, for thejoy of the angels lies only in
obedience to God's will, andwith equal joy they would lift a
Lazarus and his rags toAbraham's bosom, or be a chariot
of fire to carry an Elijah home.
(17:09):
They couldn't care less if theysmell like death or if they
shoot through the sky like astreaking star.
All they care about is did youguys see that God, the God of
the universe, gave me somethingto do?
How amazing.
And here the disciples are andJesus is with them, and they're
(17:33):
talking about how wonderful theyare Culturally.
Can I give you one thing beforewe move on?
This word fascinates me.
I would not have expected it tobe written this way.
Rather, let the greatest amongyou become as the least is what
I would have expected.
What's tucked into this?
(17:54):
This word youngest is a momentfor our culture to put our eyes
on the expectations of theyoungest.
The newest, the freshest, thegreenest is service.
You do not graduate intoserving Jesus.
It is day one.
Additionally, he literallymeans the youngest In that day
(18:18):
and age the expectations werethat children served.
The expectation is thatchildren are to serve your
children are to serve yourfamilies.
Your children, biblically, areexpected to serve your church.
Children are expected to servetheir communities and somehow
(18:40):
our culture has reversed this,made an idol of it, polished it
in bronze and placed it on themantle, and well-meaning
Christian parents believe theyare doing their children a good
by always serving them to thedeterrent of the children
serving rather than as anexample.
(19:00):
Parents, please hear me on thisthe more you serve, the more
God trains your heart to outlastthis world.
The more you serve Christian,the more this world separates
from you, the more your legsstrengthen and your heart
hardens to be able to last in aworld that does not love you or
(19:21):
like you.
But for those of us who havechildren, be cautious that your
service to them not be adeterrent but an example.
Are you modeling service foryour children or just doing it
for them?
Let me just take a moment andsay I know that's really tough.
(19:43):
I know it's so hard.
It is so much easier for me toserve my family, like pick the
thing.
It is so much easier for me toserve my family and work on the
car, or let's just go with pinestraw.
I drove by the pine straw guyyesterday and now I'm like I
(20:05):
need more pine straw.
Do you know how much easier itis for me to go and shake out
pine straw the way it's supposedto, to get the blower and blow
underneath it so it has thatbeautiful pillow on the front?
I don't know if you know whatI'm talking about, but there's a
way to do pine straw with ablower, right?
Some of you know, some of youcut the check.
I couldn't care less.
All I'm saying is there is aright way to do this.
If I invite my children toserve with me and I put a blower
(20:28):
on them, the pillows may notlook as pretty.
Okay, it is so much better,parents, it is better for your
house to not look as good solong as your children are a part
of the service in it.
It is better for your family tonot look as impressive so long
as you are inviting yourchildren to serve Husbands,
(20:51):
wives, moms, dads, big brothers,big sisters.
Are you modeling service forthose below you or are you just
doing it for them?
The good news is, it's veryeasy for us to take off our
importance if Jesus can convinceus that he has something better
(21:11):
for us and he does.
Jesus is about to hand to thema kingdom.
He's about to say I have acrown that I'm going to offer,
but if you really like yourBurger King crown the one that
has french fry grease stains onit you can hold on to it if you
want.
But I have something so muchbetter for you as you read this,
(21:32):
here's what I'm imagining.
You are those who have stayedwith me in my trials.
It sounds a bit like a rebukePeter and James and John and
Luke and Matthew and Thaddeus.
They're just going at it.
I'm better than you, I've donethis and I've done this.
And you just imagine Jesussaying guys, guys, guys, why are
we fighting?
You have been with me in mytrials and I assign to you.
(21:57):
This is a guarantee.
This isn't a potential offer.
This is I am giving this thingto you, the same as my father
gave it to me.
Guys, I'm giving you a kingdom,an entire kingdom.
You're gonna eat and drink, notjust at any table.
You're gonna be at and drink,not just at any table.
You're going to be at my table,not just in any kingdom.
In my kingdom, that lastsforever.
(22:19):
You, 12 dudes minus one, plusone later, are going to sit on
thrones judging the tribes ofIsrael.
Boys, why are we fighting?
I have something so much betterfor you, christians.
Jesus expects you to expect agreat reward that you could
(22:43):
never earn.
This rebuke that Jesus gives islooking at the boys who are
fighting over their greatnessand he's just saying guys, guys,
guys, guys.
I wish you could see this.
I just wish you could see it.
I wish you could see this.
I expect you to expect a greatreward that you could see this.
I just wish you could see it.
I wish you could see this.
I expect you to expect a greatreward that you could never earn
.
So quit trying, quit trying tobe impressive, quit trying to
(23:05):
show how great you are.
Quit trying to point at thebrokenness of others.
I'm literally trying to handyou a kingdom you could never
earn.
Christians, I think a lot ofour confidence comes from this
reality that Jesus expects abeliever to expect a great
(23:25):
reward.
Live as though it's alreadyyours.
And as Jesus points to thiskingdom, he outlines three
people who are going to get it.
Now I'm going to quit using theword kingdom for just a moment.
The text is going to continue,but none of us ever grew up in a
monarchy.
Most of us don't think aboutprovincial times and like
(23:48):
property lines.
I'm going to start using theterm a perfect world.
Jesus is now saying here's thekingdom I'm going to hand to you
and here are the people who aregoing to get it.
A perfect world awaits thosewho underestimate, overestimate
and follow First.
A perfect world is waiting forthose who underestimate the
enemy.
(24:10):
Welcome to my favorite part ofthis entire text.
Absolutely love this Simon.
Simon, you get the sense thatSimon, who is Peter, is always
the hothead, even though Jesushas said guys, I'm trying to
give you a kingdom.
Simon might have a little sideconversation going on, still
(24:31):
leaning into his own greatness,and twice Jesus says his name to
get his attention.
Simon, simon, look right here.
Hey, buddy, can I just tell youwhat's actually going on right
now?
Satan demanded to have you.
That should sober the mood, bythe way.
All right.
The great serpent, the greatsnake, the dragon, has demanded
(24:52):
to have you that he might siftyou like wheat.
I love this, I love this, butI've prayed for you.
The power of Jesus's words.
I wanted you guys to get an ideaof what it meant when Jesus
said hey, simon, the devil hasdemanded to have you.
He wants to sift you like wheat.
(25:13):
I'd be willing to bet about$100,000.
There's not a soul in this roomthat has sifted wheat in the
last week.
One of you may have done it ona mission trip.
Like, isn't this crazy?
I'm being biblical right now,but that would still be in the
vast minority.
So I wanted to show you whatthis looks like.
Are we able to do that, guys inthe back?
So I'm going to start inreverse.
(25:34):
Maybe it's worth it.
Okay, can you go back?
Can you rewind it to the frontend?
Sorry, Dad, this is the final.
They're separating.
That's not too bad.
All right, this is what happensbefore it gets all shaken up.
I would have bet all of this.
(25:54):
But when Jesus says, hey, peter,satan demanded.
This is what he's thinkingabout.
This is how it begins.
Hey, peter, satan called me upthe other day and said he wants
to beat you to a pulp.
Just thought you may want toknow that you guys can cut it in
the back.
This is what it looks like.
Peter the enemy came and justsaid he wants to pound you to
(26:17):
death.
He then wants to shake up yourlife and then he wants to
separate you away.
But I've prayed for you.
What would be your expectedresponse?
Hey, he's coming after you, butdon't worry, my mouth is a
sword and I will split theserpent in half.
Fear not, peter, I am with you,I will hold you up.
Jesus simply says these words,but I've prayed for you that
(26:42):
your faith may not fail and,when you have turned again,
strengthen your brothers.
This kingdom is given to thosewho underestimate the enemy.
Peter's so caught up incomparing himself to the people
he goes to church with that he'sforgotten that there's an enemy
who actually wants to beat himdown, shake him up and separate
(27:04):
him.
He's so concerned about how helooks in front of his peers, who
really ought to be histeammates in this limp along
little race, that he hasforgotten who the enemy is.
And yet there is a kingdom whoawaits even those.
When Jesus says he prays foryou, this is something that I
would jot down.
What stands out to me is thatJesus's prayers never fail
(27:25):
because of his power, hispermanence and his purpose.
When he says Simon, satandemanded to have you.
This is the person you wantpraying for you.
You want Jesus praying over you.
A snake from the beginning.
The dragon from the very endsaid he wants you.
(27:46):
Peter, don't sweat it, I haveprayed for you.
This is power.
It's not just the power ofChrist, it's his permanence.
How often has somebody asked youto pray for them and you're
like, yeah, man, I'll pray foryou, no problem.
Whoops, you're rememberingright now You're supposed to
pray for that guy three monthsago and you're like Lord, I know
(28:07):
you've already dealt with this,but can my prayer maybe be
proactive, so that I'm not heldup?
I've prayed so many like pastproactive prayers.
Lord, can you hear this throughthe echoes of time and know
that I meant to pray this amonth ago?
Has anybody else ever prayedthat way?
Are y'all confident in God'somniscience?
I am, I am.
I pray all the time for stuffthat's already happened.
Why, well, I pray for you too.
(28:32):
I promise.
Most of the time I refuse toleave.
So if you say, will you prayfor me, what you're gonna get is
an arm around your shouldersaying yes.
And it's happening now, becauseI don't like the way that feels
.
I love this.
Hebrews 7.
The prayers of Jesus are notjust powerful.
The former priests were many innumber.
We have but one, jesus, becausethey were prevented by death
(28:54):
from continuing in office.
This may not make you smile,but it ought to.
What the Bible's saying isthere were a lot of priests who
really wanted to shepherd people.
Well, they had this littleproblem they just kept dying.
And so they would pray for youfor a period of time and then
they'd quit because they woulddie.
But here we have Jesus, verse24,.
He holds this priesthoodpermanently.
(29:16):
He never stops being a priestbecause he continues forever.
His prayers are not justpowerful.
Jesus' prayers are permanent,ever being prayed, constantly
being lifted up, in a way thatmy mind cannot even fathom that
he would be praying constantlyfor believers, sitting next to
(29:36):
the Father, lifting me up,lifting you up if you're a
Christian, because he continuesforever.
And then the writer of Hebrewssays and look, if this is true,
then consequently, he is able tosave to the uttermost those who
draw near to God through him,to the uttermost those who draw
near to God through him, sincehe always lives to make
(30:00):
intercession for them.
Jesus always lives to makeintercession for you.
If you don't know this,christian, you have missed out
on one of the greatestfaith-encouraging, inducing
realities of life.
Jesus has never quit prayingfor you, and his prayers have an
incredible purpose.
It was so kind of Christ to havethese words written down for us
(30:21):
in John 17.
These are the prayers thatJesus says he is praying over
his disciples.
I'll just make a couple ofnotes here.
I'm not praying for the world.
I'm not praying for everybodywho's ever lived in this moment.
I'm praying for those whom Godhas given me.
He goes on and he says look,I'm no longer in this world, but
(30:41):
they are.
So, god, I need you to be withthem.
I need you to give them theHoly Spirit, make them one, even
as we are one.
I've given them everything Ican.
I've given them everything Ican.
I've given them your word.
The world is going to hate them.
It has hated me.
I pray that you would sanctifythem, make them like me, that
they would be able to make itthrough this world.
And here's the deal Just likeyou sent me into the world, I
(31:04):
sent them into the world.
But the best part to me of thisis all in verse 20.
It's Jesus saying hey, I'm notjust praying this for Peter and
James and John.
I'm not asking for these only,but for those who will believe
in me.
This is Jesus praying for everyChristian in the room.
This is Jesus praying for everyChristian you have ever met.
(31:26):
This is Jesus praying for everyChristian that will ever become
Father.
I desire that they you can putyour name here, if you're a
Christian whom you have given memay be with me where I am.
Live as though there is akingdom guaranteed waiting for
(31:49):
you.
Don't waste your life on thisone.
Live your life for the next one.
It is a guarantee, and Jesusexpects believers to expect this
to be the case.
I want them to see my glorythat you have given me, and one
(32:10):
day they absolutely will.
Jesus has powerful prayers andhe never stops praying them, and
his purposes are unbelievable.
Do you know that Christ ispraying for you?
Secondly, this perfect world iswaiting even for those who
overestimate themselves.
(32:32):
I read the first half of this,but picking up in verse 33, here
Peter said notice, hey, simon,simon, pay attention, quit
arguing with your brothers.
And then, 30 seconds later,here's Peter.
Lord, I'm ready to go with youto prison and to death.
I'm ready, like you.
Just point, I'll go, cuff me up, drag me away, beat me.
(32:53):
If you got to take my own life,I am ready.
And Jesus lovingly says no,you're not, but you will be.
And this is the message to everylimping Christian.
You know, jesus, I'm done.
(33:15):
I'm not limping through thisanymore.
Hey, bud, if I don't bring youhome right now, you're not
completely done.
You may have a 100% successrate if you memorize this
scripture.
The Holy Spirit will never letyou down.
If you wanna fight sin and youhave received my spirit, you're
going to win.
But sometimes you're not goingto want to win, sometimes you're
(33:37):
going to want to lose, becauselosing feels easier.
Jesus, I'm ready.
No, you're not, but you will be.
Peter, I tell you the rooster isnot going to crow this day
until you deny three times that.
You know me, it's pretty lateat night at this point.
(33:57):
Do you know how difficult it isto go from I'm ready to go to
prison and die for you todenying somebody?
It seems like it should take aminute to get from point A to
point Z on that.
You certainly wouldn't expectit to happen quickly.
I've got two roosters at myhouse and I will tell you
they're not waiting around.
On Peter.
He has a very short period oftime.
(34:18):
This rooster is gonna go offright before the sun comes up.
This is Jesus saying in thismoment you're telling me you're
ready to go to prison and you'reready to die.
No, you're not, peter.
Three times before the sunrises, you're gonna say you
don't even know me.
But Peter, one day you will be,and when you choose to
(34:43):
recognize that, even though youkeep limping, I will carry you
forward.
You will be able to do this.
In fact, you actually will dothis, and you will be an
encouragement to the verybrothers that you are fighting
with right now.
(35:05):
When Jesus says turn again, theconcept is both physical and
spiritual.
In the Greek word here, he'ssaying Peter, you're literally
going to turn your back on meand you're going to walk away.
But when you turn your back onme and walk away, you're going
to turn your soul away from metoo.
When you turn back, when you,what's an R word that talks
(35:29):
about turning?
When you repent of this R wordthat talks about turning, when
you repent of this, yourbrothers are going to need you
to strengthen them, and you willbecome the man who will go to
prison.
You will become the man whowill give his life, philippians
1.6, I'm sure of this.
Bank on it.
Count on it.
(35:49):
He who began a good work in youwill bring it to completion at
the day of Christ Jesus.
Dl Moody gives us this beautifullittle passage in thinking
about Moses's limping life.
Moses spent 40 years thinkinghe was somebody, the son of a
Pharaoh.
He spent 40 years learning hewas nobody, being cast out, and
he spent 40 years discoveringwhat God can do with a nobody.
(36:12):
You don't need to be impressive, you just need to be movable by
the Spirit of God.
This upsets Peter, who thinksthat he's ready, even though he
is not.
But one of the reasons he's notready is he doesn't want to
follow a rejected king, and thisperfect world waits for those
(36:36):
who follow a rejected king.
And he said to them when I sentyou out with no money, bag or
knapsack or sandals, did youlack anything?
And they said, no, jesus, we'venever lacked anything.
You told us we didn't need anextra pair of shoes and turns
out we didn't.
You told us not to take moneyand people provided for us.
You told us we didn't need toworry about our defense and we
(36:58):
have always been well cared forJesus, we've never needed
anything.
And he said to them but nowthis is massive, because what
this is pointing to is a realityand redemptive history that
only lasts for a few days.
What's about to happen is Jesusis saying something's about to
change Christians today, pleasehear me on this, even you have
(37:22):
not experienced this.
He is looking at these 12 andhe's saying you're about to go
through two or three days thatno one has ever gone through on
the planet, and I'm trying totell you to get ready.
I'm telling you now, let theone who has a money bag take it.
Hey guys, hold onto your moneyand put it in your back pocket.
But, jesus, you told us toalways be generous.
You talked about the widow whogave up those two copper coins,
(37:45):
and that was the example ofgenerosity.
Jesus is like hey, hold ontoyour money for just a minute
Pack.
Hey, hold on to your money forjust a minute.
Pack a bag.
You're gonna need a sleepingbag and a change of clothes.
In fact, you, who I've told notto fight, you need to go out
and sell your cloak and buy asword.
Jesus, you want us to buy asword, which, by the way, all of
(38:05):
a sudden makes sense as to whyPeter goes around chopping off
people's ears.
Okay, because right after thispeople show up with torches and
swords and Peter's like amazing,he just told me to pick up a
sword and he like goes all at it.
How amazed must Peter have beenwhen Jesus is like what are you
doing?
Put the sword away.
It's like how do I follow thisguy?
(38:26):
He literally just told me topick up a sword.
Why have you ever wondered that?
Why would you tell a guy likePeter to go get a sword and then
rebuke him when he uses it?
Well, the reason why is becauseof what's coming next.
Hey guys, there's a scripturethat has to be fulfilled in me.
He was numbered with thetransgressors.
(38:50):
Jesus is saying hey guys, I'mgoing to have to become a
criminal To die the death thatyou need me to die.
I'm going to have to be seen asa criminal and you, for the
past three years, have been thebest friends, the associates,
the workers, the comrades of aknown criminal.
You're going to need a littlebit of money in your back pocket
(39:11):
for a couple of days, guys.
Man, it's not going to fallfrom heaven.
You are going to feel veryscared and very alone, and it's
not going to be the worst thingin the world for people to know
that these guys had swords whenwe saw them last, so that you
can tuck away into a home for aperiod of time.
What is written about me hasits fulfillment.
(39:32):
And they said look, lord, hereare two swords.
And he said it's enough.
They're not about to go into abattle, they're about to have to
defend themselves.
This is why they start hoardingand packing and defending.
This is why Jesus points tosomething that we've never seen
him point to for these two days.
Because Jesus knew this.
This was written about Jesusbefore he came in the flesh that
(39:56):
he would be despised andrejected by men.
He would be a man of sorrows,he'd be acquainted with grief,
he would be someone that menhide their faces from.
He would be despised People.
People would not esteem him.
Therefore, I will divide him aportion.
Because of this sacrifice,because of this understanding of
(40:21):
what is truly great, jesus willget a kingdom, and the one who
is a rejected king will get akingdom that never ends.
And he's going to divide thespoil with the strong.
He's going to give it to thosewho make it to the very end,
because he poured his soul outto death, because he was
(40:41):
numbered.
He was counted like one of you.
He got into your mess.
He was considered atransgressor.
He bore the sin of many and,just as he prays for us, he
interceded for us.
A kingdom, a perfect worldwaits those who underestimate
their enemy, who overestimatethemselves and who follow a
(41:03):
rejected king.
Now.
I don't know if you noticed thisor not.
Bennett, you can come on.
I don't know if you noticedthis or not.
Those don't seem like thethings you would expect someone
to do to inherit a perfect world.
Underestimate the enemy thatsounds like somebody who doesn't
make it to the end.
Overestimate yourself thatsounds like somebody who pops up
(41:25):
in the midst of a battle andgets chopped down a bit early.
Following a rejected king doesnot sound like a winning
strategy.
You would expect a winning list.
A perfect world awaits thosewho overcome.
A perfect world awaits thosewho battle the enemy and wrestle
him into submission.
(41:46):
A perfect world waits on thosewho endure until the end.
It's not what you see Jesus sayto his disciples.
A perfect world awaits failuresof people.
A perfect world awaits thosewho limp through, and there's a
kingdom awaiting those whounderestimate their enemy and
(42:09):
overestimate themselves so longas they follow the rejected king
.
I was watching a short video.
I'll show this to you as we getready to reflect.
And as I show it to you, Iwonder who you are in this clip.
This is a NCAA race.
It's a women's marathon andthey're getting to the very end.
(42:33):
And this girl from BostonCollege it happens again.
I don't understand runners, I'llnever understand runners, but I
appreciate them forillustration purposes.
She can't make it.
Her mind wants to be there.
You think she didn't train.
You think she showed up halfcocked.
You think she didn't hydratebefore she did everything she
was supposed to do and her bodygives out.
(42:54):
And then someone from anotherteam comes and picks her up.
She can't even walk.
Somebody from another teamcomes and picks her up.
She can't even walk.
These two people who are barelythemselves trying to make it to
the end.
But this is the nature ofincarnational service.
(43:17):
It's you getting your handsdirty, getting worn out and
recognizing that every one of usare the one in the middle.
You were never supposed to runthis race, not to the end.
You were never going to make it.
(43:38):
The cool thing is Jesus runs itperfectly and then he goes and
picks you up and drags youacross the finish.
And the amazing thing is Goddoesn't look at your time and
disqualify you.
(43:58):
He says I'm going to give youthe time of the guy who carried
you across.
Welcome to a kingdom that isassigned to you.
If I am in this room and I havenot been trusting in Christ,
(44:20):
there is a king who is rejectedby this world that wants to drag
you across the finish line.
And you don't need to beimpressive to be dragged.
You just need to throw up ahand and ask For some, it may be
for the forgiveness of sin.
For some of you it might be.
You need to come down and talkwith me or talk with one of the
pastors and say, hey, I justneed to get dragged.
(44:41):
And if Jesus is saying he'lldrag me across the finish line
to a kingdom that is perfect,that will never end.
I just want to throw my hand up.
Help me figure that out.
For some of us, we may just needto be reminded that you are
always supposed to be carriedanyway.
Don't try to be impressive.
Just try to be present andspend your life serving as
(45:04):
somebody who will, at their best, be dragged across the finish
line.
Across the finish line.
This is what ultimately givesChrist glory and gives you joy
as you lean into the hands ofyour Savior.
Take a moment to think, take amoment to reflect at who Christ
(45:24):
is and then bet it.
When you're ready, let'sworship this King who was
rejected together.
Join me in the reading of God's Word.
We're going to be on page 882in the Pew Bibles.
It's Luke 22, verses 24 through30.
And he said to them the kingsof the Gentiles exercise
lordship over them and those inauthority over them are called
(00:27):
benefactors, but not so with you.
Rather, let the greatest amongyou become as the youngest and
the leader, as the one whoserves.
For who is the greater?
One who reclines at table orone who serves?
Is it not the one who reclinesat table?
But I am among you as the onewho serves.
Speaker 2 (01:06):
Amen, and sit on thrones judging the twelve
tribes of Israel.
This is the word of the Lord.
Amen, back up, pastor.
I loved so much of that, logan,so much of that Highlights for
days.
Brother, I love you and I'mproud of you.
I mean it from the bottom of myheart.
(01:27):
I don't know how old you werewhen you and I first started
hanging out, but you were alittle one at that point and I
could not be more proud of howthe Lord has moved in your life
and how you have desired to beled by him.
As we look at this text, let meencourage you guys hang on one
second, sorry Let me encourageyou guys to sort of think about
(01:47):
what your walk looks like atthis moment in your life.
We used to say it all the time.
I don't know that it's ascommon of a phrase as it used to
be.
What does your walk with theLord look like?
I walk because I have to to getaround.
I'm not a mall walker, I'm nota jogger, I'm not a runner, I'm
not running unless I'm chasingor being chased something or
(02:09):
someone.
But the other day I was outhanging out at the soccer fields
and one of my sister's friendsgrowing up was in a nearby
conversation and I was pickingup pieces of it.
But it was a conversation Ididn't really care to be a part
of because they were talkingabout running.
And all of a sudden theconversation turned into you're
(02:30):
a mom, you have young kids, yourun 10, 12, 13 miles a day.
How do you do that, likelogistically, how do you do that
?
And I'll change her name forthe sake of the story.
Sally said I just have to wakeup really early.
And now all of a sudden I'minterested because I'm like what
do you mean really early?
(02:51):
And the friend she was talkingto said yeah, how early are you
talking about?
And she froze, she paused.
Now I'm very interested becausesomebody is ashamed of
something, somebody is likeself-conscious.
So I slide into thisconversation.
I'm like how early are youwaking up?
Three o'clock in the morning togo running?
First of all, impressive.
(03:11):
My follow-up question again,this is a friend of my sister's
growing up.
Is that healthy?
Like I'm not arguing runningand all this kind of, is it
actually healthy?
And she looked at me and shesaid sort of like sort of, what
we're going to look at today isthe end of the race for the
(03:34):
disciples, or at least the endof the race.
They thought they were going torun.
They don't realize everythingthat's about to happen, even
though Jesus is hand deliveringthis to them.
And here is what it makes methink of.
It makes me and this is whyI've always been curious about
this, and if you're a runner inthe room you can bash me later
but I've never seen this happenon a baseball field.
(03:56):
I've never seen it happen on asoccer field, basketball court,
football field.
I have never seen, certainly tothe extent a person's body
decide I am shutting down,regardless of what your mind
wants to do.
I've seen cramps, but I'mtalking about have y'all ever
watched the videos where peopleare running in a race and all of
(04:17):
a sudden they go giraffe, likebaby giraffe leg?
I was watching a few of thesethis week, just being fascinated
.
I watched a Kenyan or aNigerian runner collapse 20 feet
from the finish line and juststart barrel rolling his way and
I'm looking at it and I'm likeis this like?
Are our bodies meant to be ableto do this?
(04:39):
And the disciples in this textare about to answer the question
what does it look like for usto limp our way to the finish
line.
Statistically, as you'relistening to Logan's testimony,
statistically, 50 to 60% of youare convicted by what he just
said.
Statistically, I would hope thestats are lower.
(05:00):
Are you limping through life?
Are you limping through certainareas of life?
Are there realities in yourpursuit of Christ that, if
you're honest, you've neversprinted at, you've never ran,
you've never jobbed, you havelimped or rolled to try to make
it to the next step?
(05:20):
And might God's word have hopefor those of us who are limping
our way forward.
Let me give you a little bit ofencouragement.
This is John Newton, as I thinkabout disciples.
Limping, as you may think.
If you're a Christian man, whyis this area of my faith?
Constantly a limp John Newtonwould remind us my faith.
(05:46):
Constantly a limp John Newtonwould remind us I am not what I
ought to be.
I am not what I want to be, Iam not what I hope to be in
another world, but still I amnot what I once used to be
Christian.
This is our hope that we arenot what we used to be, because
what we used to be is a hot mess, and this is where we find the
(06:07):
disciples today.
A dispute also arose among them.
This word also carries with ita lot of connotations.
A dispute also arose among themas to which of them was going
to be regarded as the greatest,and he said to them the kings of
the Gentiles exercise lordshipover them and those in authority
(06:27):
over them are calledbenefactors, but not so with you
.
Rather, let the greatest amongyou become as the youngest and
the leader, as the one whoserves.
When the text says a disputealso arose, it means they were
already in one.
Maybe you've been in an argumentwith somebody before and you've
been in an argument withsomebody before and you've seen
the trickle-down effect.
You started arguing about thisand now you're arguing about
(06:50):
that and about four argumentslater.
You don't even remember whatyou were arguing about.
Well, let me tell you what itwas that they were arguing about
.
This.
Moments before and only threeverses before, jesus said but
behold the hand of him whobetrays me is with me on the
table.
One of you is going to betrayme, and all of a sudden, verse
23,.
(07:10):
They began to question oneanother.
That has a legal connotation.
Is it you accusatory as towhich of them it was going to be
?
The progression here could notbe more clear and easy to see.
Jesus says one of you is goingto betray me.
And they look around andthey're like probably this guy,
thomas.
Jesus says one of you is goingto betray me.
And they look around andthey're like probably this guy,
thomas.
I love the part of the sermonlast week where you put up the
pictures and Judas is in thecorner and, like you can tell
(07:32):
they had no idea.
They are literally guessing andI just want you to imagine how
icky and unhealthy thisbeautiful dinner must have
become.
Hey, it's got to be you,because you stole money once.
No, no, no, it's going to beyou, because you always sleep in
and we're constantly waiting onyou.
No, it's going to be you, peter, because you keep chopping
(07:53):
people's ears off and yelling atthem and getting into arguments
.
You're the hothead.
But I want you to notice whathappens next.
In a moment, they go fromarguing over which one of them
is the worst to arguing whichone of them is the greatest.
They've moved into defense mode.
What do you mean me?
It can't possibly be me.
(08:14):
I walked on water with Jesusuntil you sank because you
didn't have faith, peter.
Well, matthew, what are youtalking about?
Hey, I gave up being a taxcollector.
I was wealthy, I had beautifulclothes, I went to the best
parties, I had the best friends.
Certainly I'm the greatest.
I've given up the most.
(08:35):
All you guys gave up was fish.
How hard is that to do anyway?
And you can just see thisseething argument.
And Jesus is like guys, we justhad our first communion.
Can we just hold it togetherfor a minute?
No, christians limp throughmuch of life.
(08:56):
Christians limp to finish linesand Christians limp across them
.
And in this great desire todisplay how great they are,
jesus says can I tell you whatreal greatness is?
One thing worth noting is thatJesus doesn't rebuke their
(09:17):
desire for significance.
He doesn't rebuke that theywant to do great things.
He doesn't rebuke them forhaving grand ideas, looking for
huge opportunities, consideringhow they might advance the
kingdom.
He doesn't rebuke their desireto be significant, but he does
redefine it.
(09:38):
The thing in my life that hasbeen most helpful here in
understanding what truegreatness is, outside of
scripture itself, is this littlebook that I probably give away
at least once a year by TimKeller.
I think all he did was preach agood sermon, turned it into a
book and then just cashed theroyalties forever, which kudos
on stewardship as well.
He's no longer with us.
(09:58):
He's in glory, so I'm not goingto offend him anyway.
This little book by Tim Kelleris called the Freedom of
Self-Forgetfulness.
I got about 20 of them here.
If any of you guys want to grabone on the way out of the
sanctuary, feel free to do so.
But this text, more thananything else, has caused me to
look at my own self and say I dowant to live a life of
(10:19):
significance.
I want my life to matter.
I don't just want to fade intothe crowd, I want to do
something with my life.
But how can I pursue greatnessand not be ashamed of it?
Well, jesus tells us.
He says look, the kings of theGentiles, notice this word.
It's the way a Jewish rabbi andteacher would have said the
(10:42):
rest of the world, the leadersin the rest of the world,
exercise lordship over them, andthose in authority are called
benefactors.
By the way, notice that theexpectation of God's people is
that they would be differentthan the world.
And what leadership looks like?
It's implicit in what Jesus issaying here.
(11:03):
What leadership looks like?
It's implicit in what Jesus issaying here In the world.
The concept is the leader, theauthority, gets benefit from
those below.
You can think about this inbusiness, you can think about it
in military, you can thinkabout it in marriage, you can
think about it in parenting, youcan think about it in work.
The concept is the one who sitsatop receives benefit from
(11:24):
those below, but while the worldis expecting benefit from those
below them, christians are tochoose to bring benefit to those
who are below them.
If I don't believe this, ifyour eyes hit this and you
choose not to believe this,you're going to pursue comfort
(11:49):
in your life.
You are going to pursueprominence in your life.
You are going to scoff asservice, as below you.
If I were to make the rubberhit the road, I might say your
mentality towards service wouldnot look like a rather Rather.
Let the greatest among youbecome, as the youngest, the
(12:09):
leader, as the one who serves.
And then Jesus says hey guys,we're sitting around a table,
let's play this thing out.
Who's greater, the one whoreclines at table or the one who
serves?
Now they ate dinner a littledifferently than we do.
We sit at a table and the foodis in front of us and we eat.
They would have laid on theirside and eaten with one hand
around the table as they allpeered in.
(12:31):
And Jesus is saying who'sgreater?
The one who's reclining at thetable enjoying food and drink,
or the one who is making surethat the table is clear and more
food comes?
Which one of them is greater?
And Jesus says but I am amongyou as the one who serves.
There's going to be a day whenJesus sits down.
It's not this day.
(12:52):
There's going to be a day whenhe sits down at a throne, near a
table that will never run out,in a kingdom that will never end
, with people who will never sin.
But this is not that moment.
And Jesus is saying look, I amhere serving you, unlike every
other leader that the world hasever seen.
(13:13):
If I don't believe this, I'mgoing to scoff at service.
I'm going to think that it isprobably below me.
It is probably below me.
I'm going to think aboutservice with a cut the check
mentality.
You know what?
Just cut the check.
I'll serve in hospitality oncea month.
(13:33):
Just cut the check, and now I'mdone.
Or it might literally becutting the check.
I see somebody who is in need,I see somebody who is
impoverished, I see someone whoneeds help and instead of, like
Christ, walking into thatsituation, let me just throw a
little coin in the direction sothat I don't have to get my
(13:54):
hands dirty.
Christians, a cut-the-checkmentality might be very American
, but it is not very Christian.
Jesus loves us, not with a cutthe check mentality, but
incarnationally.
Just consider our salvation.
(14:15):
For those of us who arebelieving in Christ, jesus could
have appeared, showed up on dayone.
What's up?
All you sinners Hate that I hadto show up.
But let's make this sort ofquick.
I love you.
Because I love you, I'm goingto die for you.
I'm going to die and then off Igo.
No, jesus comes, puts on flesh,toddles through this life,
limps along for 30 years, for 33years.
(14:39):
He knows your struggles, heknows what it is to be tired and
hungry and sweat.
He could have just cut thecheck, but instead he steps into
your world.
It is a better thing to carefor someone than to not.
That is good for them.
But please hear me on this Ifyou want your service to be good
(15:00):
for you, service is not a netloss.
Serving in whatever capacity,the church, your family, your
community, those who you walk by, those who you work with.
It is not a net loss.
(15:22):
To the eyes of a Christian, itis a net positive.
If service presents itself andyour immediate thought is what
about the cost?
How much time is this going totake?
What about my energy?
All of a sudden, you have movedinto a cut the check mentality
instead of an incarnationalmentality, and I would encourage
you with this little quote fromJohn Newton.
(15:44):
I love this.
Okay, apologies, two times thesermon you're gonna have to put
on your nerd glasses.
This is one of them,potentially.
All right, just track me withthis.
John Newton speaking of twoangels.
If two angels were to receiveat the same moment a commission
from God one to go down and ruleearth's grandest empire, the
(16:04):
other to go and sweep thestreets of its meanest village
that means smallest, notangriest it would be a matter of
entire indifference to eachwhich service fell to his lot.
One angel is told you are goingto go and oversee the ruling of
the grandest kingdom the worldhas ever seen.
(16:25):
Your responsibilities are goingto be far reaching your
importance.
Great Angel number two, comehere.
There's this little villagesouth of Mombasa.
The streets need to be swept,and both of them with the same
level of excitement andanticipation would fly to the
(16:48):
places that God has called themto serve.
It would be a matter of entireindifference to each which
service fell to his lot, for thejoy of the angels lies only in
obedience to God's will, andwith equal joy they would lift a
Lazarus and his rags toAbraham's bosom, or be a chariot
of fire to carry an Elijah home.
(17:09):
They couldn't care less if theysmell like death or if they
shoot through the sky like astreaking star.
All they care about is did youguys see that God, the God of
the universe, gave me somethingto do?
How amazing.
And here the disciples are andJesus is with them, and they're
(17:33):
talking about how wonderful theyare Culturally.
Can I give you one thing beforewe move on?
This word fascinates me.
I would not have expected it tobe written this way.
Rather, let the greatest amongyou become as the least is what
I would have expected.
What's tucked into this?
(17:54):
This word youngest is a momentfor our culture to put our eyes
on the expectations of theyoungest.
The newest, the freshest, thegreenest is service.
You do not graduate intoserving Jesus.
It is day one.
Additionally, he literallymeans the youngest In that day
(18:18):
and age the expectations werethat children served.
The expectation is thatchildren are to serve your
children are to serve yourfamilies.
Your children, biblically, areexpected to serve your church.
Children are expected to servetheir communities and somehow
(18:40):
our culture has reversed this,made an idol of it, polished it
in bronze and placed it on themantle, and well-meaning
Christian parents believe theyare doing their children a good
by always serving them to thedeterrent of the children
serving rather than as anexample.
(19:00):
Parents, please hear me on thisthe more you serve, the more
God trains your heart to outlastthis world.
The more you serve Christian,the more this world separates
from you, the more your legsstrengthen and your heart
hardens to be able to last in aworld that does not love you or
(19:21):
like you.
But for those of us who havechildren, be cautious that your
service to them not be adeterrent but an example.
Are you modeling service foryour children or just doing it
for them?
Let me just take a moment andsay I know that's really tough.
(19:43):
I know it's so hard.
It is so much easier for me toserve my family, like pick the
thing.
It is so much easier for me toserve my family and work on the
car, or let's just go with pinestraw.
I drove by the pine straw guyyesterday and now I'm like I
(20:05):
need more pine straw.
Do you know how much easier itis for me to go and shake out
pine straw the way it's supposedto, to get the blower and blow
underneath it so it has thatbeautiful pillow on the front?
I don't know if you know whatI'm talking about, but there's a
way to do pine straw with ablower, right?
Some of you know, some of youcut the check.
I couldn't care less.
All I'm saying is there is aright way to do this.
If I invite my children toserve with me and I put a blower
(20:28):
on them, the pillows may notlook as pretty.
Okay, it is so much better,parents, it is better for your
house to not look as good solong as your children are a part
of the service in it.
It is better for your family tonot look as impressive so long
as you are inviting yourchildren to serve Husbands,
(20:51):
wives, moms, dads, big brothers,big sisters.
Are you modeling service forthose below you or are you just
doing it for them?
The good news is, it's veryeasy for us to take off our
importance if Jesus can convinceus that he has something better
(21:11):
for us and he does.
Jesus is about to hand to thema kingdom.
He's about to say I have acrown that I'm going to offer,
but if you really like yourBurger King crown the one that
has french fry grease stains onit you can hold on to it if you
want.
But I have something so muchbetter for you as you read this,
(21:32):
here's what I'm imagining.
You are those who have stayedwith me in my trials.
It sounds a bit like a rebukePeter and James and John and
Luke and Matthew and Thaddeus.
They're just going at it.
I'm better than you, I've donethis and I've done this.
And you just imagine Jesussaying guys, guys, guys, why are
we fighting?
You have been with me in mytrials and I assign to you.
(21:57):
This is a guarantee.
This isn't a potential offer.
This is I am giving this thingto you, the same as my father
gave it to me.
Guys, I'm giving you a kingdom,an entire kingdom.
You're gonna eat and drink, notjust at any table.
You're gonna be at and drink,not just at any table.
You're going to be at my table,not just in any kingdom.
In my kingdom, that lastsforever.
(22:19):
You, 12 dudes minus one, plusone later, are going to sit on
thrones judging the tribes ofIsrael.
Boys, why are we fighting?
I have something so much betterfor you, christians.
Jesus expects you to expect agreat reward that you could
(22:43):
never earn.
This rebuke that Jesus gives islooking at the boys who are
fighting over their greatnessand he's just saying guys, guys,
guys, guys.
I wish you could see this.
I just wish you could see it.
I wish you could see this.
I expect you to expect a greatreward that you could see this.
I just wish you could see it.
I wish you could see this.
I expect you to expect a greatreward that you could never earn
.
So quit trying, quit trying tobe impressive, quit trying to
(23:05):
show how great you are.
Quit trying to point at thebrokenness of others.
I'm literally trying to handyou a kingdom you could never
earn.
Christians, I think a lot ofour confidence comes from this
reality that Jesus expects abeliever to expect a great
(23:25):
reward.
Live as though it's alreadyyours.
And as Jesus points to thiskingdom, he outlines three
people who are going to get it.
Now I'm going to quit using theword kingdom for just a moment.
The text is going to continue,but none of us ever grew up in a
monarchy.
Most of us don't think aboutprovincial times and like
(23:48):
property lines.
I'm going to start using theterm a perfect world.
Jesus is now saying here's thekingdom I'm going to hand to you
and here are the people who aregoing to get it.
A perfect world awaits thosewho underestimate, overestimate
and follow First.
A perfect world is waiting forthose who underestimate the
enemy.
(24:10):
Welcome to my favorite part ofthis entire text.
Absolutely love this Simon.
Simon, you get the sense thatSimon, who is Peter, is always
the hothead, even though Jesushas said guys, I'm trying to
give you a kingdom.
Simon might have a little sideconversation going on, still
(24:31):
leaning into his own greatness,and twice Jesus says his name to
get his attention.
Simon, simon, look right here.
Hey, buddy, can I just tell youwhat's actually going on right
now?
Satan demanded to have you.
That should sober the mood, bythe way.
All right.
The great serpent, the greatsnake, the dragon, has demanded
(24:52):
to have you that he might siftyou like wheat.
I love this, I love this, butI've prayed for you.
The power of Jesus's words.
I wanted you guys to get an ideaof what it meant when Jesus
said hey, simon, the devil hasdemanded to have you.
He wants to sift you like wheat.
(25:13):
I'd be willing to bet about$100,000.
There's not a soul in this roomthat has sifted wheat in the
last week.
One of you may have done it ona mission trip.
Like, isn't this crazy?
I'm being biblical right now,but that would still be in the
vast minority.
So I wanted to show you whatthis looks like.
Are we able to do that, guys inthe back?
So I'm going to start inreverse.
(25:34):
Maybe it's worth it.
Okay, can you go back?
Can you rewind it to the frontend?
Sorry, Dad, this is the final.
They're separating.
That's not too bad.
All right, this is what happensbefore it gets all shaken up.
I would have bet all of this.
(25:54):
But when Jesus says, hey, peter,satan demanded.
This is what he's thinkingabout.
This is how it begins.
Hey, peter, satan called me upthe other day and said he wants
to beat you to a pulp.
Just thought you may want toknow that you guys can cut it in
the back.
This is what it looks like.
Peter the enemy came and justsaid he wants to pound you to
(26:17):
death.
He then wants to shake up yourlife and then he wants to
separate you away.
But I've prayed for you.
What would be your expectedresponse?
Hey, he's coming after you, butdon't worry, my mouth is a
sword and I will split theserpent in half.
Fear not, peter, I am with you,I will hold you up.
Jesus simply says these words,but I've prayed for you that
(26:42):
your faith may not fail and,when you have turned again,
strengthen your brothers.
This kingdom is given to thosewho underestimate the enemy.
Peter's so caught up incomparing himself to the people
he goes to church with that he'sforgotten that there's an enemy
who actually wants to beat himdown, shake him up and separate
(27:04):
him.
He's so concerned about how helooks in front of his peers, who
really ought to be histeammates in this limp along
little race, that he hasforgotten who the enemy is.
And yet there is a kingdom whoawaits even those.
When Jesus says he prays foryou, this is something that I
would jot down.
What stands out to me is thatJesus's prayers never fail
(27:25):
because of his power, hispermanence and his purpose.
When he says Simon, satandemanded to have you.
This is the person you wantpraying for you.
You want Jesus praying over you.
A snake from the beginning.
The dragon from the very endsaid he wants you.
(27:46):
Peter, don't sweat it, I haveprayed for you.
This is power.
It's not just the power ofChrist, it's his permanence.
How often has somebody asked youto pray for them and you're
like, yeah, man, I'll pray foryou, no problem.
Whoops, you're rememberingright now You're supposed to
pray for that guy three monthsago and you're like Lord, I know
(28:07):
you've already dealt with this,but can my prayer maybe be
proactive, so that I'm not heldup?
I've prayed so many like pastproactive prayers.
Lord, can you hear this throughthe echoes of time and know
that I meant to pray this amonth ago?
Has anybody else ever prayedthat way?
Are y'all confident in God'somniscience?
I am, I am.
I pray all the time for stuffthat's already happened.
Why, well, I pray for you too.
(28:32):
I promise.
Most of the time I refuse toleave.
So if you say, will you prayfor me, what you're gonna get is
an arm around your shouldersaying yes.
And it's happening now, becauseI don't like the way that feels
.
I love this.
Hebrews 7.
The prayers of Jesus are notjust powerful.
The former priests were many innumber.
We have but one, jesus, becausethey were prevented by death
(28:54):
from continuing in office.
This may not make you smile,but it ought to.
What the Bible's saying isthere were a lot of priests who
really wanted to shepherd people.
Well, they had this littleproblem they just kept dying.
And so they would pray for youfor a period of time and then
they'd quit because they woulddie.
But here we have Jesus, verse24,.
He holds this priesthoodpermanently.
(29:16):
He never stops being a priestbecause he continues forever.
His prayers are not justpowerful.
Jesus' prayers are permanent,ever being prayed, constantly
being lifted up, in a way thatmy mind cannot even fathom that
he would be praying constantlyfor believers, sitting next to
(29:36):
the Father, lifting me up,lifting you up if you're a
Christian, because he continuesforever.
And then the writer of Hebrewssays and look, if this is true,
then consequently, he is able tosave to the uttermost those who
draw near to God through him,to the uttermost those who draw
near to God through him, sincehe always lives to make
(30:00):
intercession for them.
Jesus always lives to makeintercession for you.
If you don't know this,christian, you have missed out
on one of the greatestfaith-encouraging, inducing
realities of life.
Jesus has never quit prayingfor you, and his prayers have an
incredible purpose.
It was so kind of Christ to havethese words written down for us
(30:21):
in John 17.
These are the prayers thatJesus says he is praying over
his disciples.
I'll just make a couple ofnotes here.
I'm not praying for the world.
I'm not praying for everybodywho's ever lived in this moment.
I'm praying for those whom Godhas given me.
He goes on and he says look,I'm no longer in this world, but
(30:41):
they are.
So, god, I need you to be withthem.
I need you to give them theHoly Spirit, make them one, even
as we are one.
I've given them everything Ican.
I've given them everything Ican.
I've given them your word.
The world is going to hate them.
It has hated me.
I pray that you would sanctifythem, make them like me, that
they would be able to make itthrough this world.
And here's the deal Just likeyou sent me into the world, I
(31:04):
sent them into the world.
But the best part to me of thisis all in verse 20.
It's Jesus saying hey, I'm notjust praying this for Peter and
James and John.
I'm not asking for these only,but for those who will believe
in me.
This is Jesus praying for everyChristian in the room.
This is Jesus praying for everyChristian you have ever met.
(31:26):
This is Jesus praying for everyChristian that will ever become
Father.
I desire that they you can putyour name here, if you're a
Christian whom you have given memay be with me where I am.
Live as though there is akingdom guaranteed waiting for
(31:49):
you.
Don't waste your life on thisone.
Live your life for the next one.
It is a guarantee, and Jesusexpects believers to expect this
to be the case.
I want them to see my glorythat you have given me, and one
(32:10):
day they absolutely will.
Jesus has powerful prayers andhe never stops praying them, and
his purposes are unbelievable.
Do you know that Christ ispraying for you?
Secondly, this perfect world iswaiting even for those who
overestimate themselves.
(32:32):
I read the first half of this,but picking up in verse 33, here
Peter said notice, hey, simon,simon, pay attention, quit
arguing with your brothers.
And then, 30 seconds later,here's Peter.
Lord, I'm ready to go with youto prison and to death.
I'm ready, like you.
Just point, I'll go, cuff me up, drag me away, beat me.
(32:53):
If you got to take my own life,I am ready.
And Jesus lovingly says no,you're not, but you will be.
And this is the message to everylimping Christian.
You know, jesus, I'm done.
(33:15):
I'm not limping through thisanymore.
Hey, bud, if I don't bring youhome right now, you're not
completely done.
You may have a 100% successrate if you memorize this
scripture.
The Holy Spirit will never letyou down.
If you wanna fight sin and youhave received my spirit, you're
going to win.
But sometimes you're not goingto want to win, sometimes you're
(33:37):
going to want to lose, becauselosing feels easier.
Jesus, I'm ready.
No, you're not, but you will be.
Peter, I tell you the rooster isnot going to crow this day
until you deny three times that.
You know me, it's pretty lateat night at this point.
(33:57):
Do you know how difficult it isto go from I'm ready to go to
prison and die for you todenying somebody?
It seems like it should take aminute to get from point A to
point Z on that.
You certainly wouldn't expectit to happen quickly.
I've got two roosters at myhouse and I will tell you
they're not waiting around.
On Peter.
He has a very short period oftime.
(34:18):
This rooster is gonna go offright before the sun comes up.
This is Jesus saying in thismoment you're telling me you're
ready to go to prison and you'reready to die.
No, you're not, peter.
Three times before the sunrises, you're gonna say you
don't even know me.
But Peter, one day you will be,and when you choose to
(34:43):
recognize that, even though youkeep limping, I will carry you
forward.
You will be able to do this.
In fact, you actually will dothis, and you will be an
encouragement to the verybrothers that you are fighting
with right now.
(35:05):
When Jesus says turn again, theconcept is both physical and
spiritual.
In the Greek word here, he'ssaying Peter, you're literally
going to turn your back on meand you're going to walk away.
But when you turn your back onme and walk away, you're going
to turn your soul away from metoo.
When you turn back, when you,what's an R word that talks
(35:29):
about turning?
When you repent of this R wordthat talks about turning, when
you repent of this, yourbrothers are going to need you
to strengthen them, and you willbecome the man who will go to
prison.
You will become the man whowill give his life, philippians
1.6, I'm sure of this.
Bank on it.
Count on it.
(35:49):
He who began a good work in youwill bring it to completion at
the day of Christ Jesus.
Dl Moody gives us this beautifullittle passage in thinking
about Moses's limping life.
Moses spent 40 years thinkinghe was somebody, the son of a
Pharaoh.
He spent 40 years learning hewas nobody, being cast out, and
he spent 40 years discoveringwhat God can do with a nobody.
(36:12):
You don't need to be impressive, you just need to be movable by
the Spirit of God.
This upsets Peter, who thinksthat he's ready, even though he
is not.
But one of the reasons he's notready is he doesn't want to
follow a rejected king, and thisperfect world waits for those
(36:36):
who follow a rejected king.
And he said to them when I sentyou out with no money, bag or
knapsack or sandals, did youlack anything?
And they said, no, jesus, we'venever lacked anything.
You told us we didn't need anextra pair of shoes and turns
out we didn't.
You told us not to take moneyand people provided for us.
You told us we didn't need toworry about our defense and we
(36:58):
have always been well cared forJesus, we've never needed
anything.
And he said to them but nowthis is massive, because what
this is pointing to is a realityand redemptive history that
only lasts for a few days.
What's about to happen is Jesusis saying something's about to
change Christians today, pleasehear me on this, even you have
(37:22):
not experienced this.
He is looking at these 12 andhe's saying you're about to go
through two or three days thatno one has ever gone through on
the planet, and I'm trying totell you to get ready.
I'm telling you now, let theone who has a money bag take it.
Hey guys, hold onto your moneyand put it in your back pocket.
But, jesus, you told us toalways be generous.
You talked about the widow whogave up those two copper coins,
(37:45):
and that was the example ofgenerosity.
Jesus is like hey, hold ontoyour money for just a minute
Pack.
Hey, hold on to your money forjust a minute.
Pack a bag.
You're gonna need a sleepingbag and a change of clothes.
In fact, you, who I've told notto fight, you need to go out
and sell your cloak and buy asword.
Jesus, you want us to buy asword, which, by the way, all of
(38:05):
a sudden makes sense as to whyPeter goes around chopping off
people's ears.
Okay, because right after thispeople show up with torches and
swords and Peter's like amazing,he just told me to pick up a
sword and he like goes all at it.
How amazed must Peter have beenwhen Jesus is like what are you
doing?
Put the sword away.
It's like how do I follow thisguy?
(38:26):
He literally just told me topick up a sword.
Why have you ever wondered that?
Why would you tell a guy likePeter to go get a sword and then
rebuke him when he uses it?
Well, the reason why is becauseof what's coming next.
Hey guys, there's a scripturethat has to be fulfilled in me.
He was numbered with thetransgressors.
(38:50):
Jesus is saying hey guys, I'mgoing to have to become a
criminal To die the death thatyou need me to die.
I'm going to have to be seen asa criminal and you, for the
past three years, have been thebest friends, the associates,
the workers, the comrades of aknown criminal.
You're going to need a littlebit of money in your back pocket
(39:11):
for a couple of days, guys.
Man, it's not going to fallfrom heaven.
You are going to feel veryscared and very alone, and it's
not going to be the worst thingin the world for people to know
that these guys had swords whenwe saw them last, so that you
can tuck away into a home for aperiod of time.
What is written about me hasits fulfillment.
(39:32):
And they said look, lord, hereare two swords.
And he said it's enough.
They're not about to go into abattle, they're about to have to
defend themselves.
This is why they start hoardingand packing and defending.
This is why Jesus points tosomething that we've never seen
him point to for these two days.
Because Jesus knew this.
This was written about Jesusbefore he came in the flesh that
(39:56):
he would be despised andrejected by men.
He would be a man of sorrows,he'd be acquainted with grief,
he would be someone that menhide their faces from.
He would be despised People.
People would not esteem him.
Therefore, I will divide him aportion.
Because of this sacrifice,because of this understanding of
(40:21):
what is truly great, jesus willget a kingdom, and the one who
is a rejected king will get akingdom that never ends.
And he's going to divide thespoil with the strong.
He's going to give it to thosewho make it to the very end,
because he poured his soul outto death, because he was
(40:41):
numbered.
He was counted like one of you.
He got into your mess.
He was considered atransgressor.
He bore the sin of many and,just as he prays for us, he
interceded for us.
A kingdom, a perfect worldwaits those who underestimate
their enemy, who overestimatethemselves and who follow a
(41:03):
rejected king.
Now.
I don't know if you noticed thisor not.
Bennett, you can come on.
I don't know if you noticedthis or not.
Those don't seem like thethings you would expect someone
to do to inherit a perfect world.
Underestimate the enemy thatsounds like somebody who doesn't
make it to the end.
Overestimate yourself thatsounds like somebody who pops up
(41:25):
in the midst of a battle andgets chopped down a bit early.
Following a rejected king doesnot sound like a winning
strategy.
You would expect a winning list.
A perfect world awaits thosewho overcome.
A perfect world awaits thosewho battle the enemy and wrestle
him into submission.
(41:46):
A perfect world waits on thosewho endure until the end.
It's not what you see Jesus sayto his disciples.
A perfect world awaits failuresof people.
A perfect world awaits thosewho limp through, and there's a
kingdom awaiting those whounderestimate their enemy and
(42:09):
overestimate themselves so longas they follow the rejected king
.
I was watching a short video.
I'll show this to you as we getready to reflect.
And as I show it to you, Iwonder who you are in this clip.
This is a NCAA race.
It's a women's marathon andthey're getting to the very end.
(42:33):
And this girl from BostonCollege it happens again.
I don't understand runners, I'llnever understand runners, but I
appreciate them forillustration purposes.
She can't make it.
Her mind wants to be there.
You think she didn't train.
You think she showed up halfcocked.
You think she didn't hydratebefore she did everything she
was supposed to do and her bodygives out.
(42:54):
And then someone from anotherteam comes and picks her up.
She can't even walk.
Somebody from another teamcomes and picks her up.
She can't even walk.
These two people who are barelythemselves trying to make it to
the end.
But this is the nature ofincarnational service.
(43:17):
It's you getting your handsdirty, getting worn out and
recognizing that every one of usare the one in the middle.
You were never supposed to runthis race, not to the end.
You were never going to make it.
(43:38):
The cool thing is Jesus runs itperfectly and then he goes and
picks you up and drags youacross the finish.
And the amazing thing is Goddoesn't look at your time and
disqualify you.
(43:58):
He says I'm going to give youthe time of the guy who carried
you across.
Welcome to a kingdom that isassigned to you.
If I am in this room and I havenot been trusting in Christ,
(44:20):
there is a king who is rejectedby this world that wants to drag
you across the finish line.
And you don't need to beimpressive to be dragged.
You just need to throw up ahand and ask For some, it may be
for the forgiveness of sin.
For some of you it might be.
You need to come down and talkwith me or talk with one of the
pastors and say, hey, I justneed to get dragged.
(44:41):
And if Jesus is saying he'lldrag me across the finish line
to a kingdom that is perfect,that will never end.
I just want to throw my hand up.
Help me figure that out.
For some of us, we may just needto be reminded that you are
always supposed to be carriedanyway.
Don't try to be impressive.
Just try to be present andspend your life serving as
(45:04):
somebody who will, at their best, be dragged across the finish
line.
Across the finish line.
This is what ultimately givesChrist glory and gives you joy
as you lean into the hands ofyour Savior.
Take a moment to think, take amoment to reflect at who Christ
(45:24):
is and then bet it.
When you're ready, let'sworship this King who was
rejected together.
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