June 21 2025

Saturday June 21

Luke 22:24-30

A Doormat For Jesus

24 Now there was also a dispute among them, as to which of them should be considered the greatest. 25 And He said to them, "The kings of the Gentiles exercise lordship over them, and those who exercise authority over them are called 'benefactors.' 26 But not so among you; on the contrary, he who is greatest among you, let him be as the younger, and he who governs as he who serves. 27 For who is greater, he who sits at the table, or he who serves? Is it not he who sits at the table? Yet I am among you as the One who serves. 28 But you are those who have continued with Me in My trials. 29 And I bestow upon you a kingdom, just as My Father bestowed one upon Me, 30 that you may eat and drink at My table in My kingdom, and sit on thrones judging the twelve tribes of Israel."

Today, we're looking at Luke chapter 22:24-30. Jesus has just revealed that Judas is His betrayer, who went out to gather men to arrest Him and take Him to the high priest to be crucified. Now, Jesus is still at the table with His disciples, and an astonishing thing happens next. In verse 24, a dispute arises among them about which of them should be considered the greatest.

This was not the first time the disciples had committed this sin (Matt. 20:20-28; Mark 9:33-37; Luke 9:46-48), but in the light of what their Lord had said and done that evening, this latest exhibition was inexcusable. Perhaps the argument grew out of their speculating over who would betray Him, or there may have been some jealousy over the way they had been seated at the table. When you are interested in promoting yourself, it doesn't take much to start an argument.

It's remarkable that after Jesus washed their feet, shared the Passover, and announced His betrayal, the disciples are arguing over who will be the greatest in the kingdom. It still hasn’t dawned on them, despite Jesus telling them several times—back in Luke chapter 9—that He would be crucified. Their dispute began even then, on the way to Jerusalem, about who would be the greatest. I can imagine, with Judas among them, they were all thinking, "I’ll be sitting next to Jesus in His kingdom, ruling over others." They were trying to position themselves above one another as disciples of Christ.

It’s sad that this happens even in our churches today. As Jesus heard them disputing, He taught them a lesson: "We’re not to be like the Gentiles. In the Roman Empire, people promote themselves, legally or illegally, doing anything to gain places of honor, power, and authority." It almost sounds like today—people lie, cheat, steal, and act corruptly to get to the top, even in the corporate world. Jesus said, "That might be the way of the Gentiles, who are called benefactors and given titles of honor, striving to be recognized, to be somebody, to be famous. Yet when they get there, they find it’s not what it seems."

Jesus continued, "It’s not going to be that way among My people. I’m the example—I’m the one who serves." He pointed out that those who sit at the table are honored, part of the authority, but He had just washed their feet, serving them. "That’s how it’s to be among you," He said. "In My kingdom, the greatest is the one who serves."

Oswald Chambers put it beautifully, saying we are to be doormats for people. Nobody likes someone rubbing the dirt off their feet onto you, but Jesus said that’s what we’re to be. I’ve always thought, if someone rubs their dirt off on me, hopefully they’re cleaner now, and thank God I have the opportunity to serve. It’s not always easy to have that attitude, but we look to Jesus as our example. In His “Sermon on the Mount of Beatitudes” in Matthew 5:44, Jesus taught us what our response should be to those who step on us: “But I say to you, love your enemies, bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you, and pray for those who spitefully use you and persecute you”.

Jesus closed this lesson on servanthood by reminding them of their future reward in the kingdom (Luke 22:28-30). In spite of their weaknesses and failures, the disciples had stood by Jesus during His earthly ministry, and God would honor them for their faithfulness. We should not mind being servants today, for we shall sit on thrones in the future kingdom! For that matter, our faithful service today is preparing us for the rewards we shall receive. Jesus has set the example: first the cross, then the crown.

We have something to look forward to, but for now, we are servants—doormats for Jesus. I trust you’ll be one for someone today as you serve them.

God bless!