Having rebuked the disciples for arguing about who would be most important in Jesus' Kingdom (Luke 22:24-26), the Lord changed the metaphor from politics to serving at table.  It would have been a poignant moment.  He, their Lord and Master, had just taken the role of a slave in washing their feet before the supper (John 13:1-17).  He hosted the Passover meal serving them bread and wine which represented His body and blood (Matthew 26:26-28).  

The title of ‘servant’ was an important Old Testament clue.  Moses, Caleb, David, Job, and the whole of Israel were all called, ‘My servant’, by God.  They each served the purpose of God in their generation (Acts 13:36).  But ‘My Servant’ was also the mysterious title of the Messiah in Isaiah 52:13-15.  He would serve every generation.  That servant would be ‘lifted up’ on a cross and disfigured.  It would please the Lord to crush Him and cause Him to suffer (Isaiah 53:10).  And all so that many could be made right before God and forgiven (Isaiah 53:11).  Jesus served the disciples even though His death was only hours away: They, the trainee apostles, were the honoured guests at the Last Supper – prefiguring the great wedding banquet when Jesus is fully united with all those who believe in Him (Revelation 21:1-7).
 
So, Jesus asked the question: ‘Who is the greatest; the guest or the servant?’  He told them that He had honoured them above Himself and one day would honour them further with authority in His Kingdom.  On that day, the angels will serve them as they share the banquet with Jesus.  But, until then, they are called to serve and not to rule. Philippians 2:5-8 puts it like this: "In your relationships with one another, have the same mindset as Christ Jesus: who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be used to his own advantage; rather, he made himself nothing by taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness.  And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to death – even death on a cross!"
 
Fallen human nature longs to wear a crown of authority.  But Jesus showed that we cannot expect a crown of righteousness unless we are willing to take up our cross (Luke 9:23-25).  That is normal Christianity (Philippians 1:29).  Failure to understand this, snatches our focus away from Jesus and lets us assume that our rights, welfare and pleasure have priority: it will also seriously reduce the church's passion for cross-cultural mission.  Yes, there are many joys as we follow Christ; His provision is always sufficient, and heaven will be wonderful.  But until then, God is building a kingdom of humble servants who are willing to suffer for the sake of their Lord on earth, because they are assured of His honour at the heavenly banquet (Luke 14:16-24).  It is time to check your attitudes and passions; are they set on things above or fixed on getting the best deal out of this world (Colossians 3:1-4)?  It is a hard question but one that needs to be answered, for Jesus' sake and yours.