Luke 22:24-62 "The Servant Leader" [use for Psalm intro] Psalm 88 is the only Psalm that ends in the grave. It is the only Psalm that ends in despair. You have caused my beloved and my friend to shun me; my companions have become darkness. Have you ever been there? Abandoned by friends and afflicted by God? No light can pierce the darkness? No comfort and warmth can reach you out in the cold? Only the question remains: O LORD, why do you cast my soul away? Why do you hide your face from me? But no answers. Reformed people like to think that we have all the answers. But we don't. We need Psalm 88 to remind us that there are times when there are no answers at least, no answers available to us! The Psalm starts, O LORD, God of my salvation . . . The Psalmist, Heman the Ezrahite, recognizes that yes, there is an answer out there but he doesn't have it. I am shut in so that I cannot escape. And not just shut in by enemies. It is not that he is trapped by his foes and waits for God to deliver him. No, You have put me in the depths of the pit... Your wrath lies heavy upon me... If it was your enemies who oppressed you, then you could hope in God, but what do you do what it is God himself who is against you? Psalm 88 speaks of the path that our Lord Jesus Christ walked for us. He was abandoned by his friends and even abandoned by God. 1. The Servant Leader (22:24-38) At precisely the moment when Jesus is preparing to go to the cross, the eleven start squabbling about which one of them was to be regarded as the greatest. I'm not quite sure what they were saying, "I healed 75 people, and you healed only 32." Or, "James is a better preacher than Matthew." Or, "Jesus spends more time with Peter, James and John, so it's got to be one of them!" But whatever it was, Jesus corrects them. The kings of the Gentiles exercise lordship over them, and those in authority over them are called benefactors. Jesus is referring to the patronage system of the Romans (among others). You could not survive in the Roman world without a patron or a benefactor. Every day you would begin the day by waiting on your patron, and seeing if he had any tasks for you. It was a system of deference and hierarchy. Because the patron himself would be under the patronage of some higher benefactor. The patron was the master and those under his patronage served him. But not so with you. Rather, let the greatest among you become as the youngest, and the leader as one who serves. Notice the importance of age. The youngest member was given the most menial duties. (It is still a custom on some committees to give the youngest member the responsibility of taking minutes. That is why I am presently the clerk of the OPC's ecumenicity committee-- and I'm likely to have that job for a while, because I'm 20 years younger than anyone else on the committee!) For who is greater, the one who reclines at table or one who serves? Is it not the one who reclines at table? Jesus points out the obvious. The one who reclines at table is greater than the one who serves. But I am among you as the one who serves. Leadership in the kingdom of God is not supposed to look like the leadership of the world. We'll be opening nominations for elder and deacon in the next few months. Yes, pastors, elders and deacons are supposed to lead the church but they are supposed to lead the same way Jesus did: as those who serve. As you think about the men in the church, look for those who serve. After all, those who are called to leadership in the kingdom of God must first share in the sufferings of Christ. Jesus says that the eleven are those who have stayed with me in my trials. They have endured faithfully (at least until now!), and so Jesus says: I assign to you, as my Father assigned to me, a kingdom, that you may eat and drink at my table in my kingdom and sit on thrones judging the twelve tribes of Israel. Notice that servant leadership does not diminish the reality of the leadership. The twelve apostles will sit on thrones and judge the twelve tribes of Israel. Jesus has come to bring judgment upon Israel upon Jerusalem and the temple and so his servant leaders will share in exercising that judgment. There is real authority exercised. Paul says in 1 Cor 6 that we will judge angels. Those who share in Christ will also share in the exercise of Christ's authority. And whatever that will like on the final day, even now we wield the authority of Christ before the nations. How are you using the authority of Christ? Are you serving your family? Are you serving your colleagues at work? Or are you being selfish? Do you demand your own way? Or do you humble yourself and lay down your life for others? Your Bible probably has a new heading for verse 31. "Jesus Foretells Peter's Denial" We tend to break the thought and start a new section here. But Jesus is still talking about servant leadership. And now he turns to Simon Peter and says, Simon, Simon, behold, Satan demanded to have you (plural referring to all the 12) that he might sift you (plural referring to all the 12) like wheat, but I have prayed for you (singular) that your faith (singular) may not fail. And when you (singular) have turned again, strengthen your (singular) brothers. Just as Jesus has exemplified servant leadership, so also will Peter. Satan has launched his counterattack against the Kingdom of God. He is trying to destroy the twelve. But Jesus has prayed for one. He has prayed for Peter, so that Peter might imitate Christ in his servant leadership. Don't be bashful about acknowledging the importance of Peter to the 12. Jesus says that it is Peter who will strengthen his brothers. The problem with the Roman Catholic view is not that they have a high view of Peter (we should all have a high view of Peter!) The problem is that they claim that the bishop of Rome is supposed to exercise Peter's authority! Jesus' point to Peter is that God will preserve him through the coming trial, and when he does, his responsibility is to strengthen his brethren. While Peter is certainly unique in this, there is a general principle here: When God brings you through trials, he does this so that you might be able to strengthen and comfort others. But Peter doesn't get the point. Lord, I am ready to go with you both to prison and to death. Peter thinks that he is ready for anything. But Jesus says, I tell you, Peter, the rooster will not crow this day, until you deny three times that you know me. This is a battle that Jesus might fight alone. No one is ready to go with him down this path. All will forsake him. Again, do not pay any attention to the new section headings in your Bible! Jesus is still talking about servant leadership. He is still talking to them about their place in his kingdom. When I sent you out with no moneybag or knapsack or sandals, did you lack anything? They said, Nothing. In other words, Jesus has provided for them all this time. They had no money but Jesus provided. They had no change of clothing but like Israel in the wilderness, God provided for every need. But now [Jesus says] let the one who has a moneybag take it, and likewise a knapsack. And let the one who has no sword sell his cloak and buy one. This is one of the strangest commands of Jesus. Why does he tell his disciples to buy swords? Jesus is leaving them. Their servant leader who has guided them down every path and protected them from every foe will be taken from them. Notice what Jesus himself says: For I tell you that this Scripture must be fulfilled in me: 'And he was numbered with the transgressors.' For what is written about me has its fulfillment. You will be left alone. Your teacher and protector will be taken from you. So you will need a sword to protect yourself from those who would destroy you. Jesus cites Isaiah 53:12, claiming that he is the suffering servant of Isaiah 53. The disciples' didn't get the point. All they hear is the command to go get their swords, so they quickly grab the two that are on hand and say, Look, Lord, here are two swords. Jesus replies, It is enough. You really don't get the point right now. But you will. 2. The Prayer of the Servant Leader (22:39-46) So Jesus took them out to the Mount of Olives. And when he came to the place, he said to them, Pray that you may not enter into temptation. Jesus is still showing them what a servant leader is all about. He encourages them to pray and then he himself models what they should be doing! He withdrew from them about a stone's throw, and knelt down and prayed, saying, Father, if you are willing, remove this cup from me. Nevertheless, not my will, but yours, be done. Jesus has just blessed the cup, saying, "this cup that is poured out for you is the blood of the new covenant." But now he asks the Father to remove this cup from him. What cup is he talking about? This is the cup of God's judgment. The prophets spoke of God pouring out the cup of his wrath against his enemies making them drink even the dregs. That is the cup that is now poured out. the cup that is poured out upon Jesus, that he might drink it for us. Jesus makes it clear that he does not look forward to drinking this cup. But he also makes it clear that he will do his Father's will. This, too, is servant leadership! Enduring the cross for the sake of those under your care. This is Jesus' prayer for you: that you might endure the cross for the sake of others; and this is what he died to accomplish! Consider Peter. Will Peter stand firm that night? Will Peter endure faithful? No. We see in verses 54-62 how Peter fails. But then in the book of Acts we will see Peter standing firm, enduring through trials far worse than anything he went through on this night. What is the difference? We could say the Holy Spirit and that would be correct. But why was the Holy Spirit poured out on God's people? The Holy Spirit was poured out on us, because the cup of God's wrath was first poured out on Jesus. And there appeared to him an angel from heaven, strengthening him. There came a messenger from his Father as the angel of the LORD had strengthened Elijah so now an angel from heaven strengthens Jesus. And being in agony he prayed more earnestly; and his sweat became like great drops of blood falling down to the ground. Luke tells of the sweat like drops of blood because he wants you to understand that the agony of Christ was not inflicted primarily by the blows of men. It was not the beating ordered by Pilate, or even the crucifixion on the cross that caused his agony; it was when he drank the cup of God wrath, stricken, smitten, and afflicted by his own Father. But even as Jesus is in agony, his disciples are "sleeping for sorrow." "Yeah, I'm really bummed about what Jesus said about being betrayed and killed." "Me too. (Yawn). I can't even keep my eyes open!" They do not understand. And so Jesus says, Why are you sleeping? Rise and pray that you may not enter into temptation. 3. Betraying the Servant Leader (22:47-53) But even as he spoke, there came a crowd, and the man called Judas, one of the twelve, was leading them. He drew near to Jesus to kiss him, but Jesus said to him, Judas, would you betray the Son of Man with a kiss? And when those who were around him saw what would follow, they said, Lord, shall we strike with the sword? Now they get it! This is why Jesus made sure they brought swords! It's time to fight against the Romans and their corrupt allies in the priesthood! Without waiting for Jesus' answer, one of them struck the servant of the high priest and cut off his right ear. John tells us that this was Peter. Predictably impetuous, Peter thinks that he's figured out the plan. But Jesus said, No more of this! And he touched his ear and healed him. Peter will not do much damage with this sword. But when Peter learns to wield the sword of the Spirit in the book of Acts, then Peter becomes truly dangerous! Also notice that Jesus is once again demonstrating the power of a servant leader. Peter might have gotten arrested for striking the high priest's servant. But when Jesus heals his ear, he not only is showing kindness to his enemies (an important lesson for the disciples), but he is also protecting Peter one last time. After all, how are you going to prove that Peter struck him? You try telling a judge, "he cut my ear off"-- "Um, and then Jesus put it back on"! But Jesus turns to the chief priests and officers of the temple and elders, who had come out against him, Have you come out as against a robber, with swords and clubs? When I was with you day after day in the temple, you did not lay hands on me. But this is your hour, and the power of darkness. The priests, the temple officials and the elders of Israel have become the agents of the power of darkness. 4. Denying the Servant Leader (22:54-62) Then they seized him and led him away, bringing him into the high priest's house, and Peter was following at a distance. And when they had kindled a fire in the middle of the courtyard and sat down together, Peter sat down among them. Peter had said, "Lord, I am ready to go with you both to prison and to death." He is committed to sticking by his master. But he is also scared. He wants to stay near Jesus, but he doesn't want to be identified with him. First a servant girl recognizes him: This man also was with him. But he denied it, saying, "Woman, I do not know him." Then someone else said, You also are one of them. But Peter said, "Man, I am not." Finally another insisted, Certainly this man also was with him, for he too is a Galilean. But Peter said, "Man, I do not know what you are talking about." At that moment, a rooster crowed, and Jesus turned and looked at Peter. That glance pierced Peter to the heart, and Peter remembered the saying of the LORD, how he had said to him, Before the rooster crows today, you will deny me three times. And he went out and wept bitterly. Conclusion What do you learn from Luke 22? Certainly the principle of servant leadership is important. Being good at ordering people around does not make you a good leader. Rather a good leader is characterized by laying down your life for others. But that would isolate verses 24-30 from the rest of the chapter. Luke's point is that there is only one true servant leader. Everyone else fails. Everyone else falls short. Have you failed at being a servant leader? Welcome to Club Peter. Far from being a servant leader, Peter cannot even handle being a follower. The twelve whom Jesus assigned to judge the 12 tribes of Israel miserably failed. One betrayed Jesus to his death. The best of the bunch denied Jesus three times, and the rest turned their backs on Jesus and fled. Does that sound like your story? When the going got tough, the tough got going and they high-tailed it out of there as fast as they could! Take comfort, because even those who knew Jesus face-to-face, who were personally trained by the Lord of Glory, fell flat on their faces when trials came. But that is not the end of the story. Because Jesus drank the cup of wrath poured out by his Father, therefore he now pours out his Spirit upon his people. You may have denied Jesus. You may have failed to trust him in the midst of trials and temptations. But even when we are faithless, God is faithful. Your hope is always Jesus.