Hello,
Read Luke 22
We are getting to the point where there is way too much to point out, and insights that I will gloss over, so I’m looking to you to see what catches your eye in these last few chapters. Today, we come to the Last Supper, Jesus praying on the Mount of Olives and his betrayal and arrest.
What I find interesting in today’s passage (again I’m limiting things here and trust that the Spirit is illuminating plenty for you) is that the disciples arguing about who is the greatest among them shows up again here in Luke (Lk 22.24-27). We’ve seen this argument already in Luke 9.46-48, and clearly the disciples still haven’t gotten it. Jesus reminds them of the ways of the world, the ways others exert power and authority, show off their greatness. But Jesus tells them again that isn’t his way. For Jesus, the way up is down. The greatest like the youngest, the leader like a servant.
Again, it’s so clear as I think about Mary’s song in Luke 1.46-55 that proclaims this inversion of power—the mighty brought down, the lowly lifted. Or even just the birth of Jesus as God becomes flesh in a baby. God Almighty as an infant. God Almighty in the form of a human, in order to bring Good News, to serve, to bring salvation as the Savior of the world. But it all starts with this down is up approach.
Jesus said, “I am among you as one who serves.” Jesus has modeled for us what it looks like to live as a blessing to the world around us. He has shown us the way to live. And yet, if I’m honest, if most of us are honest we wrestle, and struggle, and push back against this down is up mentality all the time.
As you gaze at your manger scenes this week, as you reflect on the birth of Jesus, in what ways does God becoming human in a little baby challenge you to live into this down is up principle. How can you better embrace the upside-down kingdom of God? How can you serve those closest to you today and tomorrow? Let’s be honest, if we can’t serve those closest to us, we’re going to have a hard time serving the strangers we meet.
What is the Spirit highlighting for you in this passage?
Grace and Peace,
Matt