Friendly Rivalry

Twins and siblings very close in age often have friendly rivalries such as how many pizza pieces one can eat or how fast one can run, etc. The Greek word for such friendly rivalry is filo-nikos, a combination of “love” (filos) and “quarrel” (nikos).

One day, Jesus’s disciples had a friendly rivalry (filonikos) wondering “Who they thought was the greatest” (Luke 22:24). Each of the disciples had something to brag about: Peter, John, and Jacob/James were with him at special occasions like the transfiguration; Andrew and Philip were Greek speakers and brought the Greeks to Jesus; Matthew was a rich tax collector, etc. Who was the greatest? This was a friendly rivalry between intimate friends.

Jesus took the opportunity to teach them about his rule.

“The kings of the nations lord over them, and those in power over them call themselves ‘benefactors.’ But you shouldn’t be like that. He who wants to be the greatest must become like the youngest, and the one who wants to lead as a servant.” (Luke 22:25–26)

There should be a marked difference between the people of the world and Jesus’s disciples. Whereas the people of the world exalted themselves as kings and benefactors, Jesus’s disciples must think of themselves as the least (“the youngest”) and servants.

They had a good model in Jesus.

“Who is usually the greatest — the one who reclines at the table to eat or the one who serves? Not the one who reclines at the table to eat. But, see, I have been a servant among you.” (22:27)

This was ever so evident on the last night he feasted with them. Instead of reclining at the table with them and having them serve him, he removed his master’s clothing, put on a servant’s clothing, and began to wash the disciples’ feet. Like him, they shouldn’t strive to be leaders, authorities, and benefactors of people. Instead, they should think of themselves as the least, the youngest, the lowest, and servants.

Christian ministry is full of layers of leadership: deacons, elders, pastors, bishops, etc. In my academic world, I climbed the academic ladder from a lecturer to an assistant professor, an assistant professor to an associate professor, and from an associate professor to a full professor. We become like kings and benefactors in the world. The Lord Jesus wants us to be the least, the youngest, and servants, just as he was to the disciples.