Who is Greater?
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August 27, 2007 |
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 "And there arose also a dispute among them as to which one of them was regarded to be greatest ... You are those who have stood by Me in My trials ... that you may eat and drink at My table in My kingdom, and you will sit on thrones judging the twelve tribes of Israel" (Luke 22:24-30).
The Passage Reading on which today's message is based documents a "dispute among [Jesus' disciples] as to which of them was regarded to be greatest." The fact that they had been chosen as Jesus' disciples out of the countless who had followed Him alone should have sufficed to provide them with a source of pride. However, the disciples wanted to argue amongst themselves to see who was the greatest.
Insisting on such factors as their age, the time of the calling, the extent of their knowledge and education, and the fact that they are with Jesus when others are not, His disciples wanted the respect and recognition to which they believed they were entitled once Jesus assume the glory to which they believed He was entitled.
Becoming the truly greatest, however, requires one to be recognized by God first. Only then will he become the greatest both in spirit and in flesh and become the greatest not only in this world but also in the heavenly kingdom.
What kind of individual will be "the greatest" in God's sight?
1.It is he who humbles himself and serves.
In Matthew 18:4 Jesus tells us, "Whoever then humbles himself as this child, he is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven," and in Matthew 20:26-27, He urges us, "Whoever wishes to become great among you shall be your servant, and whoever wishes to be first among you shall be your slave."
Jesus' Word can sound contrary to the ways of this world in which people try to boast themselves, their possession and achievements or even make up or exaggerate things they do not have or have not achieved. Humbling oneself is considered an act of foolishness.
In the truth, however, the more one humbles himself and serves others, the "greater" he will be. In selecting a leader in any group or organization, the result will favor the candidate who honors and serves even the children and sacrifices his time, money, and energy over the one who has a desire to be served. The former, with his love and virtue, can cherish many people in his heart, which will in turn enable him to receive the recognition of the people with whom he works and be lifted up and used for God's purpose.
This principle applies to our life in this world as well. Those unable to see big pictures of things may think that the one who boasts and exalts himself is greater but the one who is deemed the greatest by the others is the one who serves them and humbles himself. Of course, as those in the darkness detest the light and prefer others also in the darkness, it may at first appear that the ones walking in the light are being ignored. Yet, the one who humbles himself and serves others in earnest will receive the recognition of the people and God.
For instance, if a son and his wife bring for his parents a large, expensive gift, the former can be confident to his parents and siblings at a family reunion. On the other hand, a daughter-in-law whose husband and family are not doing so well financially despite working long hours may feel ashamed for being unable to buy her parents-in-law a nice gift. Now, if she thought to herself, 'How dare they put me down like that, showing off their money?' became disappointed, and only lamented at her circumstances, how difficult would life be for her?
Yet, if she thought, 'How nice of my brother-in-law and his wife to do such wonderful things for our parents-in-law!' and served the rest of the family even more faithfully and diligently, how could God not be moved and touched? An individual with such a heart and attitude will always be at peace with himself and thus feel as though he were in heaven whenever and wherever, and as peace and laughter blossom at home, he will receive the respect and recognition from his family.
One thing to keep in mind here is that service which is pleasing to one's own sight is not true service; neither is service from a heart that can become corrupt and change over time. Only with the heart and the attitude by which one can rejoice in seeking other people's interest will he be able to cherish many people with his love and virtue and deemed "the greatest" before God as well as man.
2.It is he who lives by God's commandments and teaches them.
In Matthew 5:19 Jesus tells us, "Whoever then annuls one of the least of these commandments, and teaches others to do the same, shall be called least in the kingdom of heaven; but whoever keeps and teaches them, he shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven."
From this passage alone, we can gather that there is a hierarchy in the kingdom of heaven. The glory and rewards for each individual entering heaven will differ from those of the other. If a preacher of God's Word "annuls one of the least of these commandments, and teaches others to do the same," he will become "the least" in heaven. He must teach people to have the highest regard for and wholly live by every commandment found in the 66 books of the Bible.
However, no matter how well and eloquently a preacher may teach his flock, if he does not live by God's Word he will not be "greater" or "the greatest" and, just like the Pharisees and the priests, he will be rebuked and called a "hypocrite." It is even more wrong for one to fail to live by God's Word despite his knowledge of it. Besides, how could he expect to manifest God's power and have authority on the words of his mouth if he does not keep God's commandments himself yet teaches others to do so?
When one lives by God's Word that he preaches, God will remember him and his deeds and establish him as the greatest in heaven. Furthermore, with the strength and authority he will receive from above, he will be able to faithfully carry out his God-given duties, bear many fruit, and receive the recognition and respect from many people as the signs of God's guarantee will always accompany him.
3.It is he who always walks with the Lord amidst trials.
When Jesus came into this world and suffered, His disciples accompanied Him and partook in His trials. When Jesus starved, they starved; when He was persecuted by evildoers, they were also persecuted. For that reason Jesus promised them in Luke 22:28-30, "You are those who have stood by Me in My trials; and just as My Father has granted Me a kingdom, I grant you that you may eat and drink at My table in My kingdom, and you will sit on thrones judging the twelve tribes of Israel."
Jesus' Words of promise, however, apply not only to His disciples with whom He endured trials during His times but also to those who are persecuted today in His name for righteousness in order to wholly obey God's Word. Here, being "persecuted" does not refer to the suffering brought forth by one's own wrongdoings. If the believers confessing their faith in God keep compromising their faith with the world, they will not be "persecuted."
People who lived lives of debauchery but have since been transformed and are now living holy lives will be persecuted. Those who have merely come to church on Sundays but are now diligently participating in a variety of worship services will be persecuted. When members at a church live by God's Word, when the Lord is with the church, and when the Holy Spirit manifests His power there, the enemy devil will do anything to bring the church down.
Yet, if we love God from the depths of our hearts we need not fear trials or persecution (1 John 4:18). Only when we love God with a whole heart and rid ourselves of fear can we wholly partake in the trials of Our Lord. When people wholly loving God boldly face all trials, the Lord will bring triumph and make them the greatest in heaven. In other words, they will eat and drink at His table and reign over the 12 tribes of Israel.
Here, "the 12 tribes of Israel" refer to all the citizens of the heavenly kingdom who have been saved by their faith. "Reigning over the 12 tribes of Israel" does not mean that the people in heaven are to be controlled or governed but rather that such people bound for New Jerusalem are that much more precious and are worthy to be served by all citizens of heaven. For that reason the latter part of Revelation 22:5 reads, "And they will reign forever and ever."
"Eating and drinking at the Lord's table" also applies only to the future citizens of New Jerusalem. Those who have not cast away all of their sins of the heart will not even be able to see the face of Our Lord who is the light itself (Hebrews 12:14). One must have accomplished perfect sanctification if he is to eat and drink at the Lord's table. Only those who are qualified to enter New Jerusalem by having accomplished the sanctification of the heart and been faithful in all God's household will be deemed to have always walked with the Lord amidst trials and join Him at His table.
Dear brothers and sisters in Christ, the God of justice will give to each individual according to his deeds (Revelation 2:23). I exhort you to make most of the time, accomplish sanctification, be faithful in all God's household, and become "the greatest" before God. May each of you enter and dwell in New Jerusalem, eat and drink at the Lord's table, and enjoy the authority and glory befitting kings and queens, in the name of Our Lord I pray!
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