Jesus said to them, "The kings of the Gentiles Lord it over them; and those who exercise authority over them call themselves Benefactors. But you are not to be like that. Instead, the greatest among you should be like the youngest, and the one who rules like the one who serves.
Luke 22:25-26
Jesus calls us to servant leadership. This is very countercultural. In society the leader is always served by others and others give up their lives in service of the master. But Jesus did the opposite Ann's calls us to do likewise.
He said to them, "But now if you have a purse, take it, and also a bag; and if you don't have a sword, sell your cloak and buy one. It is written: 'And he was numbered with the transgressors' ; and I tell you that this must be fulfilled in me. Yes, what is written about me is reaching its fulfillment."
Luke 22:36-37
An interesting passage. Some may take it to be Jesus advocating swords or in modern times guns. While I don't believe Jesus was opposed to them, I think something else is in view here: namely that while at one point they were popular and had favor with those around them, soon was coming a time when they would be called sinners and be outcasts who are hunted down. In God's kingdom, his people God through times of favor and times of disfavor with those around them.
"Why are you sleeping?" he asked them. "Get up and pray so that you will not fall into temptation."
Luke 22:46 NIV
Luke 22:46 NIV
This is a key to avoiding temptation: get up and pray!
No comments:
Post a Comment