Greatness and Sifted Weakness

Luke 22:24-34

The Disciples Argue About Greatness

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."

Jesus Predicts Peter's Denial

31 And the Lord said, "Simon, Simon! Indeed, Satan has asked for you, that he may sift you as wheat. 32 But I have prayed for you, that your faith should not fail; and when you have returned to Me, strengthen your brethren."

33 But he said to Him, "Lord, I am ready to go with You, both to prison and to death."

34 Then He said, "I tell you, Peter, the rooster shall not crow this day before you will deny three times that you know Me."

Here is a recollection of the pride of the disciples seeking greatness and the weakness of denial for self perseveration out of fear which results in faith sifted with its testing by the Lord to strengthen it.  The pride rose up as to which disciple would be seen as the greatest or most important and influential among the chosen ones.  They failed to grasp the humility of their Lord who had been giving them the example and teaching them for all that time.  They would later come to reflect on these words and be humbled in their service in His name as they imitated Christ Jesus, but that was still a work in progress just as it is with us in our lifelong sanctification as He works in us and we gradually are changed (Psalm 138:8, Philippians 1:6, 2:12-13).  Jesus made it clear that they were not to be worldly in pursuing greatness and honor, but that they must instead be as a younger under submission and service to the older who rules over them.  They were to see that though Jesus sat as Master at the table, He lowered Himself to serve them instead (Matthew 20:28, John 13:15-17, Philippians 2:7-8) as their example to follow as servants of others as unto Him.  Their reward for serving was a crown of His righteousness (2 Timothy 4:8) and the kingdom of God over His people for their service as His first followers.  The weakness of denial followed immediately after this as the bedrock apostle Peter boasted that he would never deny the Lord after hearing Jesus tell him plainly that Satan would sift him like wheat on the threshing floor of trials and temptations.  The Lord told him He was praying for Peter to hold fast on his faith in such times so he in turn could strengthen others when he returned to follow the Lord in unwavering trust once more.  This is an encouragement to us all.  We are weak and find strength in Him (2 Corinthians 12:10) to strengthen and comfort others (2 Corinthians 1:3-4) in their failures of faith as we all learn and grow to trust Him more.  We need not be proud like Peter and continue to boast that we will never fail Him but admit we all are capable of doing so and will in time as trials and tribulations overcome us at times.  What we do then determines our growth in sanctification.  If we are like Peter, when we fail miserably we will then trust in humility and serve with more grace in enduring resolve by His strength and wisdom in place of our hubris of boasting in ourselves.  Our greatness is in Christ alone and our weakness is sifted to eliminate the chaff of sin from the seed of Him growing in us (2 Corinthians 3:18) as we are transformed in ever increasing glory (Romans 8:29-30) into His image.  This is true greatness in sifted weakness.