Doing the work that we do now in a spiritual or a “religious” context has given me a front row seat to how we, as human beings, align ourselves within hierarchies. For no other reason that I can discern than I tend to be the speaker and therefore teach others, and maybe – or, being honest, I would tend to say likely – also that I am an American and it seems that am frequently considered to be one who has money and can be financially or influentially helpful to others, I frequently have conversations where people tell me that they want to do the “work of God” for me, or as part of an organization together.
I’m not saying that organizations are bad, but Jesus warned his disciples against this tendency to create the hierarchies of people who are over and those that are under.
In fact, the disciples were having an argument about who was the greatest amongst them when Jesus rebuked them to explain how they were to relate to one another:
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. For who is greater, the one who is at the table or the one who serves? Is it not the one who is at the table? But I am among you as one who serves. You are those who have stood by me in my trials. And I confer on you a kingdom, just as my Father conferred one on me, so that you may eat and drink at my table in my kingdom and sit on thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel.
Luke 22:25-30
The kings of the Gentiles called themselves the Benefactors, but what were they really doing? They were lording over those who were under them. They were using their money to assume influence and power. Those that were being paid were being told by the others what to do. Not because it was right. Not because it was the leading of God that showed them the way, but because it was what that king wanted.
That Gentile king wanted to build his kingdom. He wanted his own power. Not the kingdom of God, but a kingdom with his name upon it. His power. His money. His influence.
And it is for this reason that the king would lord over the others, forcing them to do what he wanted them to do through the use of his money. Calling himself a Benefactor, but acting as a king in the place of God.
And this is what Jesus was warning his disciples against. Don’t do this. Don’t be like this! No, instead, be like the one who serves. Don’t try to determine who is the greatest. Those who do that act like the Gentile kings because they are trying to build their own kingdoms. No, instead, be like one who serves. “Do as I have done”, to paraphrase Jesus.
Jesus conferred a kingdom upon the disciples. It is the same kingdom that we are a part of even today. But it is not a kingdom where we become the kings. Jesus is the king. He is the one who rules over this kingdom. He made the disciples to be the judges to rule over the 12 tribes of Israel, but he is still the king. He is the head. None of us are, nor will be. Instead, our role is to be the servant. Regardless of what we do. Regardless of what we look like from a human perspective. Regardless of the accolades that others might give or whom others seem to say of us, we are each just servants at the table, and we must remain servants at the table. That is our role.
Jesus came as a servant despite being a king. We must continue his example and follow his lead as we work within his kingdom to God’s glory.