URC Daily Devotion 11 June 2026

Church and State 4 
 
Luke 22.24-30 
 
A dispute also arose among them as to which one of them was to be regarded as the greatest. But Jesus said to them, ‘The kings of the Gentiles lord it over them; and those in authority over them are called benefactors. But not so with you; rather the greatest among you must become like the youngest, and the leader like one who serves. For who is greater, the one who is at the table or the one who serves? Is it not the one 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, just as my Father has conferred on me, a kingdom, so that you may eat and drink at my table in my kingdom, and you will sit on thrones judging the twelve tribes of Israel.’
 
Reflection
 
In today’s passage Jesus has to explain to the disciples that authority in the kingdom of God, and even in the church, will look like the diametric opposite of state authority.
 
Jesus’ observation that not only do kings “lord it over” their populations, but also that those in authority end up being called “benefactors” is perceptive. Most rulers – democrats and autocrats – come to believe that they wield power in beneficence. In some cases, they may have come to power with a genuine call – perhaps from God – to serve their people. In other cases, they may have been seeking power for themselves or a particular group of people. But in the end, all tend to end up suffering from the hubris of power. Some examples are egregious – Robert Mugabe of Zimbabwe was educated at a mission school and great hope surrounded his ascent to power at independence. But he became a bloodthirsty dictator.
 
So, Jesus says, the disciples – and by extension all Christian leaders – must exercise a different form of power, based on service. At the Last Supper, Jesus acted as a servant by washing his disciples’ feet. This was not a ritual, but an act of necessary, genuine service. When I was warden of a Christian residential centre, I was standing in the kitchen one mealtime and a church leader from a CWM partner church came and asked for another bowl for his table. I went to get it and handed it over to him. He was amazed that I, the ‘leader’ of that centre, knew where the bowls were kept!
 
In acts both small and large, Christian leadership is being willing to share in the work of the most junior of our colleagues, and doing it with a smile. In my experience, the best government leaders know this too.
 
Prayer
 
Brother, sister, let me serve you,
let me be as Christ to you,
pray that I may have the grace to
let you be my servant too.

(Rejoice & Sing 474)