Radical Kingdom Servanthood
by Rev. Kirby Williams
Learning that true Kingdom greatness is to be found in servanthood.
Text: Luke 22:24-27
Date: 08/17/2025, the Combined service.
Series: "Luke: Thy Kingdom Come" Part 206
Description:
After Jesus drops the bombshell on His disciples that one of them is a betrayer, they amazingly fall into a dispute over who is the greatest. We will dig into this strange reaction and try to determine both the nature and the source of the contention. Using strong language, Jesus responds with a sharp rebuttal, comparing their behavior to pagan overlords rather than His disciples. He then describes one of the primary attributes of a true Kingdom-dweller which is selfless, humble servanthood. In doing so, He makes it clear that the Kingdom of God is governed by a radically different value system than the fallen world. He goes beyond a mere discussion of preferred behavior to establish that greatness is not found in power, or prominence, or wealth, or even knowledge. But rather, using Himself as the ultimate example, He reveals that true Kingdom Greatness is to be found in radical Kingdom servanthood.
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I. Introduction
II. Exposition of the text, Luke 22:24-27.
A. Context
1. Luke's progression of thought, Luke 22:21-23.
2. The foot-washing, John 13:12-17.
B. Probing the "right-side-up" reality of Kingdom Greatness.
1. The dispute, vs. 24, John 13:30.
a. Analyzing the nature and source of the dispute.
i. Probing the nature of the dispute.
ii. Probing the source of the dispute.
1) Differing ideas of what happened, Luke 14:7; Matt. 20:20-21.
2) The impact of evil, Gen. 4:7.
3) Evidence of grace, Eph. 2:4-5.
b. An oft-repeated lesson of sanctification, Luke 9:46,48.
2. The worldly illustration, vs. 25.
a. The image being created.
i. Using the Gentiles as an example, Luke 3:1; Matt. 22:19-21.
ii. The lust for power, 1Tim. 6:15; Rom. 13:1; Psa. 2:2,4.
b. The upside down world.
3. The radical difference of the Kingdom of God, vs. 26.
a. A forceful negation.
b. The Kingdom virtue of servanthood.
i. A different value structure.
ii. The paradox.
1) The greatness of "youth", Lev. 19:32; 1Sam. 16:11; Luke 14:10; Matt. 18:4.
2) The leadership of servanthood.
4. The Kingdom illustration, vs. 27.
a. The rhetorical question, Luke 10:40.
b. The obvious answer.
c. The powerful personal illustration.
i. Remembering who is speaking, Luke 21:27; 22:22.
ii. Remembering what He has said, Luke 9:48, 12:37, 13:14-15,30-33; Isa. 53:11; Matt. 20:28.
d. A radically different value system.
III. Application, Luke 6:44.
IV. Conclusion
