Wednesday 24 August 2022
- Bible Book:
- Luke
‘The greatest among you must become like the youngest and the leader like one who serves.’ (v. 26)
Background
Today is celebrated in some Christian traditions as the feast of St Bartholomew. Apart from his name appearing in lists of the disciples (Matthew 10:3, Mark 3:18, Luke 6:14, Acts 1:13) we know nothing about him from the New Testament. There is a later tradition that he became a missionary to India.
Our reading today consists of words of Jesus at the Last Supper, which Bartholomew can be presumed to have heard. Verses 24-27 overturn common notions of greatness. The great one is the servant.
Verses 28-30 are more difficult, but at their core is the point that, as for Jesus, suffering will be followed by exaltation, so those who suffer for God’s kingdom will enjoy the triumph of it with him. The language is traditional and verse 30 should not be interpreted as a reference to the current nation of Israel, or to Jews more generally.
To Ponder:
- How realistic is verse 26 in today’s competitive world?
- What are the ‘trials’ a follower of Jesus may encounter in today’s world?