One Of You Will Betray Me, So Argue About Which One Of You Is The Greatest
January 7, 2011 - Found this post that had never been posted. Better late than never - maybe.
This is my sermon for Maundy Thursday. The texts was Luke 22.14-32. I chose this because we virtually never get to hear Luke's telling of the Last Supper. I try to point out what is unique about the good Doctor's version, and what I think it means to us all.
Luke’s telling of the Last Supper reminds me of a cover version of a song. A cover song is when someone other than the original performer sings a song, usually in a different arrangement. Sometimes, the tempo is different, the instruments are different and the new performer re-interprets the song.
We are more familiar with the telling of the Last Supper that Matthew and Mark give us, or what Paul tells in the first Corinthian letter. Luke’s telling of the story is familiar, but there are some differences that jump out to us. Two cups of wine? Judas is never identified as the one who will betray Jesus? Jesus tells the Apostles that one of them will betray him, but then the Apostles argue over who is the greatest? There is much to this telling that is familiar. But the differences stand out. If any of you watch ‘American Idol,’ you have seen a contestant do a version of a familiar song, but it is just, well, different. When it comes time for the judges to give their feedback, they will say, “Well, that was different.”
I want to look at some of the ‘different’ parts of Luke’s telling of the gathering around the table as Jesus and his Apostles had the Passover meal. Luke includes Jesus’ statement about wanting to eat Passover with his disciples and knowing this was Passover explains why there are two cups of wine. During the Passover meal, four cups of wine are blessed and shared. Looking at just the sharing of the bread and the second cup, especially with the words Christ speaks about them, makes this more familiar with the other versions of this meal.
But after announcing the new covenant to be established in his blood, Jesus announces one of the Apostles will betray him. In Luke’s telling, they ask one another who it could be. They do not ask Jesus who it is, and he does not tell them. Judas is not singled out. Rather, the Apostles ‘ask one another which one of them it could be who would do this. A dispute also arose among them as to which one of them was to be regarded as the greatest.’ [Luke 22.23-24] They question one another, “Is it you? Are you going to betray our Lord?” Then they quickly dissolve into an argument over which one of them is the best. “It could not be me. I am the most faithful follower of our Master. It must be you, you are not as faithful as I am.”
In Luke’s telling of the Gospel of Christ, the twelve disciples are identified early on. They witness numerous miracles: healings, exorcisms, feedings and the raising of the dead. They heard incredible teachings and a variety of parables. They were sent out as part of the seventy by Jesus, to go out and heal, cast out demons and teach. They have seen, heard and done great things. Surely, it could not be them who would betray Jesus.
Jesus told them he would be handed over to the authorities, to the unbelievers, to be killed, but that he would be raised on the third day. They never assumed one of them, one of the ones whom had been with him from Galilee, one of the ones whom he empowered and sent out, one of the Twelve, would betray him. Each of them knew it could not be themselves. They were devout. They were loved the Lord. How could it be me? I would never betray the Lord.
Jesus never resolves their dilemma. He instead tells them he will give authority to those who have been with him throughout his ministry. But he commands them to lead as servants. He does not want them to lead as benefactors in Roman society do, arbitrarily giving how much and to whom as they decide. Instead, they are to use their authority to be of service.
Jesus specifically warns Peter that all of the Apostles are going to be tested. They will be thrashed and sifted like wheat; beaten, shaken and subject to pressure. Jesus has prayed they will be strong and not fail, but he tells Peter he will need to be strong for all of them, especially when he turns back. Because Jesus knows Peter will deny him. He also knows Peter will be the first to be tested, and Peter will fail. But Peter will turn back to his brothers, and be accepted. There are no conditions put on his return. Peter will be tested and will fail and will be accepted by the other apostles. In fact, he will be a support for them as they endure their own tests.
Why is no one is identified as the one who betrays Jesus? Could it be that all of the Apostles, all of the ones gathered around that table betray Jesus? While Judas specifically plots to hand Jesus over to the Temple authorities, all of the Apostles betray Jesus in one way or another. They deny him and abandon him, leaving him to the fate prescribed for him. They value their own lives over his.
It is like that for us as well. We all are tested in our faith. We are all challenged by life and we are all challenged by death. We know we could never betray, never deny Jesus, but then we hide our faith in our words and deeds. We allow a multitude of events, opportunities and situations to come between God and ourselves. We know God is capable of great things. We have experienced them in our lives. But we have failed God. We have not returned God’s love with our own. We take God for granted. We value our own lives more than his. We all betray God in one way or another.
The purpose of the meal they consumed is important. It is the meal of Passover, commemorating when God spared the people of Israel from a plague of death being brought against their captors in Egypt. God spared the Israelites because they were marked with the blood of an unblemished, innocent lamb, sacrificed to spare them from death.
In the new covenant Jesus promises to the Apostles, the forgiveness of sins is sealed with his blood. The blood of the unblemished Lamb sacrificed to free everyone from the bonds of sin and death. The meal we celebrate in remembrance of that night, of that act, of the life, death and resurrection of Jesus Christ is for all. It is for all for the forgiveness of sins. It is for all who have betrayed Jesus, including us. Because we have been forgiven and our debt is paid. It is for all who have sinned and continue to sin.
Maundy Thursday is supposed to hurt. It reminds us we have betrayed our Lord.
Good Friday is supposed to hurt. It reminds us we are the ones Jesus is nailed to a cross for. We are the ones he dies for.
These days of Holy Week remind us of the love given for us in the body of the Son of God and the love poured out for us in the blood of the Lamb. These days show us the cost of our sin and disobedience.
But while we know the end of the story, while we know the victory Sunday brings, today and tomorrow, we should remember the cost.
This is my sermon for Maundy Thursday. The texts was Luke 22.14-32. I chose this because we virtually never get to hear Luke's telling of the Last Supper. I try to point out what is unique about the good Doctor's version, and what I think it means to us all.
Luke’s telling of the Last Supper reminds me of a cover version of a song. A cover song is when someone other than the original performer sings a song, usually in a different arrangement. Sometimes, the tempo is different, the instruments are different and the new performer re-interprets the song.
We are more familiar with the telling of the Last Supper that Matthew and Mark give us, or what Paul tells in the first Corinthian letter. Luke’s telling of the story is familiar, but there are some differences that jump out to us. Two cups of wine? Judas is never identified as the one who will betray Jesus? Jesus tells the Apostles that one of them will betray him, but then the Apostles argue over who is the greatest? There is much to this telling that is familiar. But the differences stand out. If any of you watch ‘American Idol,’ you have seen a contestant do a version of a familiar song, but it is just, well, different. When it comes time for the judges to give their feedback, they will say, “Well, that was different.”
I want to look at some of the ‘different’ parts of Luke’s telling of the gathering around the table as Jesus and his Apostles had the Passover meal. Luke includes Jesus’ statement about wanting to eat Passover with his disciples and knowing this was Passover explains why there are two cups of wine. During the Passover meal, four cups of wine are blessed and shared. Looking at just the sharing of the bread and the second cup, especially with the words Christ speaks about them, makes this more familiar with the other versions of this meal.
But after announcing the new covenant to be established in his blood, Jesus announces one of the Apostles will betray him. In Luke’s telling, they ask one another who it could be. They do not ask Jesus who it is, and he does not tell them. Judas is not singled out. Rather, the Apostles ‘ask one another which one of them it could be who would do this. A dispute also arose among them as to which one of them was to be regarded as the greatest.’ [Luke 22.23-24] They question one another, “Is it you? Are you going to betray our Lord?” Then they quickly dissolve into an argument over which one of them is the best. “It could not be me. I am the most faithful follower of our Master. It must be you, you are not as faithful as I am.”
In Luke’s telling of the Gospel of Christ, the twelve disciples are identified early on. They witness numerous miracles: healings, exorcisms, feedings and the raising of the dead. They heard incredible teachings and a variety of parables. They were sent out as part of the seventy by Jesus, to go out and heal, cast out demons and teach. They have seen, heard and done great things. Surely, it could not be them who would betray Jesus.
Jesus told them he would be handed over to the authorities, to the unbelievers, to be killed, but that he would be raised on the third day. They never assumed one of them, one of the ones whom had been with him from Galilee, one of the ones whom he empowered and sent out, one of the Twelve, would betray him. Each of them knew it could not be themselves. They were devout. They were loved the Lord. How could it be me? I would never betray the Lord.
Jesus never resolves their dilemma. He instead tells them he will give authority to those who have been with him throughout his ministry. But he commands them to lead as servants. He does not want them to lead as benefactors in Roman society do, arbitrarily giving how much and to whom as they decide. Instead, they are to use their authority to be of service.
Jesus specifically warns Peter that all of the Apostles are going to be tested. They will be thrashed and sifted like wheat; beaten, shaken and subject to pressure. Jesus has prayed they will be strong and not fail, but he tells Peter he will need to be strong for all of them, especially when he turns back. Because Jesus knows Peter will deny him. He also knows Peter will be the first to be tested, and Peter will fail. But Peter will turn back to his brothers, and be accepted. There are no conditions put on his return. Peter will be tested and will fail and will be accepted by the other apostles. In fact, he will be a support for them as they endure their own tests.
Why is no one is identified as the one who betrays Jesus? Could it be that all of the Apostles, all of the ones gathered around that table betray Jesus? While Judas specifically plots to hand Jesus over to the Temple authorities, all of the Apostles betray Jesus in one way or another. They deny him and abandon him, leaving him to the fate prescribed for him. They value their own lives over his.
It is like that for us as well. We all are tested in our faith. We are all challenged by life and we are all challenged by death. We know we could never betray, never deny Jesus, but then we hide our faith in our words and deeds. We allow a multitude of events, opportunities and situations to come between God and ourselves. We know God is capable of great things. We have experienced them in our lives. But we have failed God. We have not returned God’s love with our own. We take God for granted. We value our own lives more than his. We all betray God in one way or another.
The purpose of the meal they consumed is important. It is the meal of Passover, commemorating when God spared the people of Israel from a plague of death being brought against their captors in Egypt. God spared the Israelites because they were marked with the blood of an unblemished, innocent lamb, sacrificed to spare them from death.
In the new covenant Jesus promises to the Apostles, the forgiveness of sins is sealed with his blood. The blood of the unblemished Lamb sacrificed to free everyone from the bonds of sin and death. The meal we celebrate in remembrance of that night, of that act, of the life, death and resurrection of Jesus Christ is for all. It is for all for the forgiveness of sins. It is for all who have betrayed Jesus, including us. Because we have been forgiven and our debt is paid. It is for all who have sinned and continue to sin.
Maundy Thursday is supposed to hurt. It reminds us we have betrayed our Lord.
Good Friday is supposed to hurt. It reminds us we are the ones Jesus is nailed to a cross for. We are the ones he dies for.
These days of Holy Week remind us of the love given for us in the body of the Son of God and the love poured out for us in the blood of the Lamb. These days show us the cost of our sin and disobedience.
But while we know the end of the story, while we know the victory Sunday brings, today and tomorrow, we should remember the cost.
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