True Leadership

Luke 22:24-30.  This sermon was preached by Pastor Marty on February 7, 2016. 

We have been looking at the Passover Supper that Jesus shared with his disciples on the night he was betrayed.  Each of the disciples was destined to have a critical role in the work of Jesus moving forward.  Yet, this brought great temptation with it.  They renewed an old favorite pastime of squabbling among themselves about who was the greatest disciple.  This argument gives rise to great insight from Jesus into what makes a great leader.

Who is the greatest disciple?

It is common in any group to have a clash of inflated evaluations of self and the disciples were not immune.  Verse 24 brings this out.  Of course, self-evaluations are always there and are not wrong necessarily.  However, Jesus taught that judgments should not be according to appearance, but rather should be righteous (John 7:24).  Clearly the disciples failed on this evening.  Yet, they become an example of what we should not do.  Take joy in the fact that, even when you fail, you can provide an example to yourself and others.

The word translated as dispute is a bit unclear.  The word that is translated here means more than just a dispute and the strife that goes with it.  It is literally a “love of disputes” that is referred to.  Thus this was not just a difference of opinion, but a love of arguing with each other.  Sometimes when you argue with someone you realize that either you or they fall into the trap of arguing for arguments sake.  You may use logic for your point but then refuse that same logic from the other side, which is both illogical and hypocritical.  Such love of dispute is not anchored in a love of God, or a love of righteousness and truth.  It is anchored in contention itself.  Conflict can become a habit that mimics addiction.  However, Christians are called to be peacemakers, not lovers of strife.  Their question of which of them is the greatest stirs up a spirit of arguing within the group.

Jesus steps in and uses the situation to teach about true leadership.  Notice the word “considered.”  They are all concerned on how they are considered by the others.  They each think the others should consider them the greatest.  Jesus points this out as a problem.  They are thinking like the world about power and position.  He reminds them that in the world the rulers exercise dominion and rule over the people.  The people in turn often admire them and give flattering titles like “benefactor” to them.  Thus in the world leaders are often seeking the admiration of the crowd and the titles that they may give in consideration of them.  People will often take pride in an oppressive leader if they think the leader is benefiting the status of the nation within the world.

Greatness is defined by Jesus

Our knee-jerk answer to the question of which of them was the greatest might be to exclaim, “None of you are great!  Only Jesus is great!”  Yet, take notice that this is not how Jesus responded.  None of them are claiming to be greater than Jesus.  They are only thinking among themselves, and Jesus gives them an honest explanation of what greatness is in God’s eyes, rather than men’s.  So who do you want to “consider” you great, God or people?

Christian leadership must not seek privileges nor to be served by others.  Jesus points out that in the systems of this world the older ones obtain privileges the higher they move up in leadership.  To become like the younger is not to use the system for these privileges.  In fact it is to be as one who has none.  One of the problems with our government today is the many privileges that they have legislated for themselves.  This is also seen in the way that great leaders of this world are served by lesser leaders.  To move up in leadership is to have more servants at your beck and call.  This creates a kind of sycophantic system in which younger leaders serve greater leaders in flattery and unhealthy ways in order to obtain position and privilege.  Think of how corrupt religious and secular institutions can become through this dynamic.  Even in the sciences there is a system in which the younger plebes do research and write papers in order to please the older ones who hold the power of their advancement.  In a perfect world this would not be a problem.  But, welcome to Earth.

How does the Lord respond to this?  “Not so among you!”  It is sad to see how often we have tossed such words aside in the heat of the moment in order to obtain what our flesh desires, greatness.  Whether in local churches, within denominational structures, or among the body of Christ as a whole, we have continued to transgress this command and to our own detriment.

Yet, Jesus then points to himself.  The example that Jesus gave of servant-leadership is contrary to the way of the world.  It would be interesting to know exactly when the foot-washing of the disciples occurred.  Even so, it works the same whether he had already done it or did it right after these words.  As Jesus washes their feet, he takes a lowly position that would be given to the lowest plebe in any worldly system.  All of the disciples would have stated strongly that Jesus was the greatest among them.  Thus Jesus highlights the inner dissonance that exists.  They know that he is the greatest and yet they continue to follow the world’s ways in order to obtain their own greatness.  The greatest leader in God’s eye is the one who will come down off their throne and serve those under them.  The world serves for the privileges and the accolades of men to the expense of pleasing God.  The disciples of Jesus must not follow that model.  The believer must reject privilege and use the position and power to serve those “under” their authority.  Even then, the service must be done not to please those you help, but instead God.  Of course Jesus was within 24 hours of his ultimate service.  He would become the substitute for the punishment of their sin.  If Jesus led to please his disciples, he would have never gone to the cross.  They didn’t want a crucified leader.  They wanted Jesus to walk into Jerusalem and take over.  They wanted the fame of the world, not the hatred.

The rewards of following Jesus

In verses 28-30 Jesus changes his tone.  Though he has verbally stripped them of any appearance of being great disciples, he transitions to what they have done that he thinks is truly great.  On top of that he tells them they will be rewarded for it.  Many had left Jesus over the course of the last months.  The crowds had quit following after him.  Even Judas was in the middle of leaving him.  The disciples themselves would scatter in unbelief of what would happen to Jesus the next day.  Even today, followers of Jesus are being challenged.  Will we leave Jesus in order to give allegiance to something else?  Or, perhaps we will simply redefine Jesus and thus serve “another” Jesus, a Jesus of our own making and in our own image?  These men had remained with Jesus through his trials.  The word has the sense of a trial that is intended to prove the genuineness of something.  Jesus was enduring a test to prove whether he truly was the Anointed Son of God.  His teachings and way of living life was undergoing a test.  And, as he is being tested, so those who are learning his way are to be tested.  Jesus was joyous to have these men in all their weakness and frailty, who had nevertheless stuck with him.  “Who else has the words of Life, Lord?”  The truth of Christ and his way is undergoing a test in this generation.  Will we stand by Jesus unwavering, or will we betray him?  Will we learn to seek his approval, or will we seek the consideration of each other, striving to be seen as great?  His testing is our testing.  So, learn to trust the master.  His way leads to life.

Verses 29-30 are interesting.  In a sense Jesus speaks of two kingdoms: one that he is giving to his disciples and one that they will join him in later.  The way they lead in the kingdom that he gives them will be rewarded in the Lord’s kingdom later.  He will not be present as they lead the Church after his ascension.  Thus their faithful service in the first century to lay down a foundation for the Church to be built upon would be rewarded in the coming millennial kingdom.  If we will listen to the commands of our Lord then we will find sure reward later.  Do not worry about the level of your authority and strive to get higher and higher.  Whatever authority comes your way in life, use it to honor Jesus and not yourself.  Use it to serve those under you in a way that will cause the Lord to think you are great.  At times that may make people under your influence to think less of you.  But that must not matter to us.

Do not embrace worldly thinking in any part of your life, much less within the Church.  It is high time that we drop the ways of the world and adopt the ways of the master, our Lord Jesus.

Leadership audio

Parable of the Minas

Luke 19:11-27.  This sermon was preached on July 26, 2015 by Pastor Marty Bonner.

The parable that Jesus gives us today is a picture of the whole church age from the leaving of Christ to his coming back again.  As we analyze this parable we will gain a big-picture view regarding what God has been doing over the last two millenniums, and what is happening in the now.  In fact we see that both unbelievers and those who call themselves Christians have a choice to make every day.  Am I going to trust Jesus as my King or not? Regardless of our decision, it will be the key to our fate when Christ returns.  This world and the United States of America will not continue on as they are.  Father God has declared Jesus as the King of kings and Lord of lords.  This will not be overruled.  The sooner we deal with that the better it will be with us.

Jesus Had To Leave To Receive His Kingship

In verse 11 we are given the reason for this parable.  Jesus was approaching Jerusalem and the people thought Jesus would institute the Kingdom of God on the spot.  Clearly Jesus wants to dissuade their expectations and prepare them for what was really going to happen: crucifixion, resurrection, and ascension.  In fact this is a recurring dynamic that we saw back in Luke 18:31-33.  No matter what things looked like on the surface, Jesus was headed into a situation where he would be rejected and killed.

Now this parable is very similar with the parable of the talents in Matthew 25.  Though some details are different, the spiritual points being made are the same.  Jesus would not receive his kingship from the people of Israel or even the people of this world.  He is not appealing to people to vote him in as king.  That might be a bit of a shocker to those of us who are used to living in a republic.  But, rather, God the Father is his source of authority to be king of the earth.  This will not be given to any man, either now or in the future, but Jesus.

In this parable Jesus pictures himself as a nobleman with the promise to become king, but with some things to do in order to secure it.  The distant country his is traveling to is heaven.  In Matthew 25 we are told that the return is not till after a long time has passed.

Thus the world experiences a period of time when there is rightful king is not present, but his servants are. These servants are tasked with taking care of his affairs. Though it has been 2,000 years and some would scoff at the idea of Jesus returning to earth, this is the testimony of the one who rose from the dead and ascended into heaven.  He told us in advance of the Resurrection so that we could understand and believe what was going on now. 

Jesus has received His kingship and that kingship is over the whole earth, not just Israel.  In Psalm 2 we are given a glimpse into this global decree of God the Father.  “Why do the nations rage, And the people plot a vain thing? ² The kings of the earth set themselves, And the rulers take counsel together, Against the Lord and against His Anointed, saying, ³ “Let us break Their bonds in pieces And cast away Their cords from us.” ⁴ He who sits in the heavens shall laugh; The Lord shall hold them in derision. ⁵ Then He shall speak to them in His wrath, And distress them in His deep displeasure: ⁶ “Yet I have set My King On My holy hill of Zion.”  This would be a good description of the world today.  In fact, we are actually seeing many countries, who appeared to want Jesus to be king, changing their minds (AKA USA and Europe).

Before the nobleman (Jesus) leaves, he divvies out money to 10 servants, at one mina apiece.  Now a mina is about 3 months wages.  So what do these minas represent?  Jesus clearly gave the gifts of Truth, Wisdom, and Spiritual Gifts to the church as he left.  On another level we who become Christ’s servants by faith in his absence also receive gifts of him.  Now we have natural gifts such as: money, position, power, and we have spiritual gifts.  So what am I doing with these things?  Am I serving the business of my Lord Jesus, or am I using it for my own benefit?  In Matthew 25 differing amounts are given to the servants according to their ability.  But in this parable it is an equal amount.  Why this difference? Some gifts of the Lord are given in differing amounts, and others are given equally to all.  Think of it this way.  All believers receive the same Gospel and same Holy Spirit enabling them.  And yet, other things are not equal.  Not all have the same amount of money, influence, and abilities.  The question is not how much I have received, but what am I doing with it?  If you feel like God has not given you very much and you are envious of other servants who have great amounts, be careful.  God has not slighted you and if you are faithful you will be blessed.  Thus the mina really represents our life and the opportunity it gives us to serve Jesus.  No matter how long it is, we all have only one life with which to serve him.  So let’s make it matter!

“Do business till I come” implies that we should be doing the business he wants done versus the business we want done.  Thus verse 10 is critical.  Jesus has come to seek and save the lost.  That is his business.  We are to use all the gifts that come to us in life to add people to the house or Church of Christ, or better bring them into relationship with him.  Now notice that Jesus does not leave task masters behind to whip us and make us work.  He only leaves us with the means to do the work and the knowledge that he will return. 

Lastly, the citizens in this parable are the lost who do not want Christ to be their king.  Matthew 25 does not have this aspect.  But it can initially be seen as Israel’s rejection of Christ as king.  The country men of Jesus would not have him as king.  It is interesting that such a situation happened when Herod the Great was to become king.  He had to go to Rome in order to secure the kingship.  When the Jews found out about it, they sent a group to Caesar to protest.  Of course he was a wicked man and worth resisting.  But Jesus is the righteous one they said they were awaiting.  Yet, it goes beyond Israel.  To this day many individuals and nations have rejected Jesus as King.  They make it abundantly clear to God the Father that they do not like his decree.  Thus Psalm 2 becomes very descriptive of the world back then and today.  Even America is in the middle of changing its mind on who it will serve.  Initially we threw ourselves at the mercy of God.  “Our cause is just, save us.  We have no king but King Jesus!”  These are the kinds of things we said.  God was merciful and we were able to prevail against the British Empire.  But now we will not have Jesus as King of this nation. And, this is being made abundantly clear to God in heaven.  How we ought to warn people of the coming judgments upon those who refuse to trust God’s ways.  Regardless of our objections, Jesus will return and he will be king.

When He Returns He Will Begin His Rule On Earth

The day or hour of the return of Jesus is not known by anyone, but the Father.  Thus Jesus is pictured preparing a place for his servants and waiting the command of the Father to go back.  In verses 15-26 we see this return.

The first thing he does is settle accounts with his servants.  Part of his kingship is to settle accounts with his servants who served him while he was gone.  It is possible to see a hint towards the rapture in the phrase, “he then commanded these servants to whom he had given the money to be called to him” in verse 15.  The judgment seat of Christ is described in 1 Corinthians 3.  This is where each Christian’s work will become clear, whether it was valuable for Christ or not.  Even some who work will find that their work is not up to par.  But they will still be saved.  This shouldn’t be confused with the Great White Throne Judgment that happens after the millennial reign of Jesus.  It is a judgment of believers only and they are not being judged for salvation, but for rewards.  This parable adds another possibility (which we do not see in 1 Corinthians 3) that some will not work at all, but justify their lack of concern for Christ’s things.  This surface profession has no desire to work for his kingdom beneath it.  Only 3 of the 10 workers are revealed.  One turned a mina into 10, another turned a mina into 5 and the last did nothing with it. Those who are faithful will receive a reward that involves their activity in the future kingdom.  Even though there is varying levels of success, those who work all receive reward.

Yet we see a different situation with the servant who does not work. These servants have obviously done something, but they have done nothing in regards to the Lord’s business.  They are content to live life for themselves and give lip service to their connection to Jesus and take hold of his gifts.  In the end they only surrender back to the Lord what he gave them in the first place (their life), but no goods and no increase.  This is a description of all who live for themselves.  They use God’s gifts for their own benefit and eventually surrender them one by one until in death they surrender it all, only to be found wanting.  They were only servants in name.  They never really put their faith in Jesus as their kings, or in the reality of his coming back.  It is sad to see the self-justification of this individual.  It is made by blaming his actions on the Lord himself.  “You are harsh, rough, and rigid,” (see vs. 21).  Also he complains that the servants do the work, but Jesus reaps the benefits and then holds us accountable.  Matthew adds a motivation of fear.  He is afraid that if he doesn’t have at least what he was given that he will be judged.  The hypocrisy of the answer is that they then should have done a bare minimum so that there was at least an increase.  Thus to them who accuse God of being harsh and use it as an excuse, God will show himself harsh.  But to those who recognize the grace of God and use it to motivate themselves, God will show that He is gracious.  Jesus is a good king.  Why would we fear if we are doing our best to work for him?  This makes the harsh things being said about Jesus and God in the modern age dangerous.  We have much to answer for.  In Luke this servant just loses his mina.  But in Matthew 25 the unprofitable servant is cast into utter darkness where there is weeping and gnashing of teeth.  Thus some who claim to be believers will find themselves losing what was given to them and kicked out of the kingdom.

The last thing the king does is to deal with the citizens who reject him as king.  These citizens are executed.  Let us never fool ourselves.  In this life there is a heaven to gain and a hell to avoid.  God will bless those who in righteousness serve him and he will punish those who in wickedness rejected His attempts to give them Truth.  God is leading this world into the greatest era of peace it has ever known.  But mankind will not have it.  It fights against His purposes and refuses to cooperate.  Thus a date of judgment has been set.  Until that day comes our judgment is not set in stone.  We can affect it to the good or the bad.  Make sure you become a servant of Jesus today and ensure your place in his kingdom.

Parable Minas audio

We Have No King But Jesus

We apologize that there is no audio for this sermon.

Today we celebrate Palm Sunday; the time that Jesus entered Jerusalem to great messianic celebration, only to be crucified a week later.  So turn with me to Matthew 21:1-9 as we talk about that day.

First, I titled this message, “We Have No King But Jesus,” because people who live in the United States of America have a heritage of seeing Jesus as their king.  Leading up to the Revolutionary War this statement became a rising theme among the colonies.  It is even stated that the response of the Lexington militia to British Major Pitcairn’s command to lay down arms and disperse in the name of King George was, “We recognize no Sovereign but God and no King but Jesus.”  It is important to understand that, in the minds of our forefathers, this was not a statement of anarchy and rebelliousness.  But rather, it was a stand against a king who ruled with a chaotic tyranny in the name of God.  They knew that Jesus was no tyrant and that any tyrannical ruler who tries to substantiate themselves by pointing to Jesus was both wrong and not a true follower of Jesus.  Thus they set up a system of government that could keep our sinful nature in check and yet also keep the leaders in check.

A Different Kind Of King

Matthew opens up this chapter by giving us the setting of the triumphal entry of Jesus.  He ends by quoting a prophecy from the Old Testament that points Israel to how their king would come to them.  Now in his birth and life, Jesus did not look much like the kings of this world.  Though it is true that Jesus was to be king, he was a very different sort of person.  Thus the prophecy says that he will come lowly and humble.  Most people of great station and position are full of themselves and the power that they have.  Or, they pretend humility for the purposes of manipulating others.  However, in the end they will always prove to be for themselves as they advance and others are left behind, used up.  Yet, Jesus was quite the opposite.  In fact, he spent himself completely and left his disciples behind to be raised up in his place, full of the same Spirit he was, and in order to carry on the work he had started.  Yes, Jesus did great miracles and made amazing statements, but humility was the hallmark of his character.

Part of his lowliness is found in that Jesus was determined to serve Israel and the rest of the world, rather than to rule.  He shows us the real reason for leaders.  They are supposed to serve the people they are over.  Ruling should equal serving.  Yet, in this life that hardly happens.  Even when people start out correctly and with the right purposes, it quickly degenerates into a system of people using their rule in order to serve themselves, not the people.

Truly a Savior King

In this world people often look to leaders to fix the problems and save the nation.  Israel was no different upon this occasion.  Generally this is a mixed bag.  Some are far worse than others, and some are better than others.  Israel had seen a lot of leaders, both political and religious, over the years.  On this day we find the crowds crying out the word, “Hosanna!”  This word is actually a cry for help that could be translated as “Save us!”  They recognized Jesus as the Anointed King (Messiah) promised by God.  So they cry out for Jesus to fix everything.  Now it is easy to cry out for salvation.  But, no one says such things without having expectations of what that might entail.  Jesus was coming to save them, but not to satisfy all their expectations of what that would look like.  In this case the leader truly does know better than the masses what their greatest needs really are.

Thus the question is, “save us from what?”  Their expectations included removing the Romans, oppressive taxes, corrupt leaders on the throne and corrupt leaders within the priests.  Yes, they did need saved, and they were saying the right things.  But they had no clue what Jesus had come to save them from.  In 1 Thessalonians 1:9-10 it says, “For they themselves declare concerning us what manner of entry we had to you, and how you turned to God from idols to serve the Living and True God, and to wait for His Son from heaven, whom He raised from the dead, even Jesus who delivers us from the wrath to come.”  Now Israel understood that the wrath of God was going to be poured out on the nations of the world because of their sin and rejection of him.  However, they did not realize that they too were in danger of that same wrath.  In fact, if Jesus did not come the world would have come to an end in those very same days.  Our sin and our bondage to it had placed us guilty before the God of heaven.  If He truly is righteous then He surely must bring judgment upon us.  Jesus was coming to save them, but he was coming to save them from their sins: the hold they had on them, the path they were dragging them down, and the destruction that waited at the end of it.  God has set a day of Judgment, a judgment upon the whole world.  It will be a time of wrath upon those who have chose wickedness and sin over the top of him and his salvation.

This King Is Coming Again

In Revelation 19:11-16, we see a radically different picture of King Jesus.  In the first century he came from among the people, lowly, and for the purpose of dying on their behalf.  But in the future, he will come from above in great power and for the purpose of removing the wicked leadership of the earth, and taking up the reins of power.

Of course, the wicked leaders will not like that and thus the passage reveals that the kings of the earth will turn their military power upon Christ and his army.  But they will be no match as the wrath of God is poured out upon this earth.

Yet, he does not come to destroy the earth, but to remove the wicked.  Thus Jesus will set up a righteous and true administration.  He will not judge the way that we judge.  On one hand is wants to give mercy and yet on the other he will execute justice.  Can you imagine what it would be like to take our problems, whether as individuals or as nations before one who is omniscient, and most wise?  First of all, he would see through much of the lies that we spread in order to make our case better.  And, second of all his judgments will actually set things right instead of only making them go underground so that they can come back again only worse.

Is Jesus Christ your king today?  He is the King of all kings and the Lord of all lords.  Someday soon that will be revealed to the whole world.  Make sure that you are ready for that day by turning in faith to Jesus and allowing him to save you from the wrath that is to come.