Who Is the Greatest?

Volunteer Appreciation
Who Is the Greatest?

I. Introduction

II. The Last Supper

A. John 13:1a (NIV) It was just before the Passover Festival. Jesus knew that the hour had come ….

B. Luke 22:14-15 (NIV) ¹⁴When the hour came, Jesus and his apostles reclined at the table. ¹⁵And he said to them, “I have eagerly desired to eat this Passover with you before I suffer.”

C. Luke 22:24 (NIV) A dispute also arose among them as to which of them was considered to be greatest.

D. John 13:1 (NIV) It was just before the Passover Festival. Jesus knew that the hour had come for him to leave this world and go to the Father. Having loved his own who were in the world, he loved them to the end.

E. Matthew 20:20a (NIV) Then the mother of Zebedee’s sons came to Jesus with her sons ….

F. Matthew 20:21 (NIV) “What is it you want?” he asked. She said, “Grant that one of these two sons of mine may sit at your right and the other at your left in your kingdom.”

G. Matthew 20:24 (NIV) When the ten heard about this, they were indignant with the two brothers.

H. Luke 22:14 (NIV) When the hour came, Jesus and his apostles reclined at the table.

I. Whenever there’s concern over who’s on , the bigger concern is who’s on the .

J. John 13:3 (NIV) Jesus knew that the Father had put all things under his power, and that he had come from God and was returning to God; ….

K. John 13:4-5 (NIV) …⁴so he got up from the meal, took off his outer clothing, and wrapped a towel around his waist. ⁵After that, he poured water into a basin and began to wash his disciples’ feet, drying them with the towel that was wrapped around him.

L. “I want My followers to be willing to do what pride-filled, self-absorbed, inward-focused people are unwilling to do!”

M. Matthew 20:21b, 24-26a (NIV) ²¹She said, “Grant that one of these two sons of mine may sit at your right and the other at your left in your kingdom.” ²⁴When the ten heard about this, they were indignant with the two brothers. ²⁵Jesus called them together and said, “You know that the rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and their high officials exercise authority over them. ²⁶Not so with you.”

N. Matthew 20:26-28 (NIV) ²⁶“Not so with you. Instead, whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant, ²⁷and whoever wants to be first must be your slave—²⁸just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.”

III. Conclusion

A. John 13:12-14 (NIV) ¹²When he had finished washing their feet, he put on his clothes and returned to his place. “Do you understand what I have done for you?” he asked them. ¹³”You call me ‘Teacher’ and ‘Lord,’ and rightly so, for that is what I am. ¹⁴Now that I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also should wash one another’s feet.”

B. In God’s economy, greatness isn’t measured by who gets the throne. It’s measured by who’s willing to pick up the towel.