What Jesus Meant by "The Last Will Be First"

Throughout the course of human history, various societies have been governed by kings or rulers. Upon the death of the king, his power and inheritance are typically passed down to his eldest son, a practice commonly referred to as the right of the firstborn or birthright.

This tradition extends beyond kingship to encompass families as well, as fathers would often bestow their authority upon their firstborn as the rightful heir of the family estate. However, what happens when the firstborn is not the most qualified or capable individual for the position?

History has shown that firstborns frequently misuse their birthright, exploiting it for personal gain and causing conflicts and violence. Interestingly, the Bible emerged within a culture where the right of the firstborn was accepted as the norm. Nevertheless, in the biblical narrative, God consistently challenges this cultural convention.

From the very beginning, God consistently selects the younger sibling or the latecomer to receive the birthright. For instance, in the story of the first two brothers, Abel is favored over his older brother Cain. Furthermore, God declares that Isaac, Abraham's second-born son, will receive the blessing and inheritance instead of his firstborn son Ishmael. Additionally, when Isaac becomes a father, God promises that Jacob, the younger son, will hold authority over his older brother Esau and inherit God's blessing. When the people of Israel desire a king, they choose Saul, a tall and powerful ruler, who in turn has a firstborn son named Jonathan.

However, God selects the next king from a humble family, David, who happens to be the youngest of eight brothers. Thus, in the Bible, the birthright does not necessarily belong to those who are first or deemed most significant. God consistently challenges human-made systems of power and value that often lead to abuse, choosing instead to upend them. However, this does not eliminate conflict in the Bible. Often, the older sibling becomes resentful for being passed over, and the younger sibling who receives the birthright may also abuse their newfound power. In fact, most of the wars and conflicts depicted in the Bible revolve around sibling rivalries.

By tracing the genealogies in the biblical narrative, one realizes that everyone is interconnected, resulting in a vast family feud. Whether the older or younger sibling attains authority, the human family remains trapped in an eternal struggle over who should come first. This is where the story of Jesus becomes significant.

His early followers referred to him as the firstborn of all creation, denoting his status. In the New Testament, Jesus is portrayed as God incarnate, the eternal son of God who brought the world into existence and possesses ultimate authority. If anyone deserves the ultimate birthright, it is undoubtedly Jesus. He proclaimed that God's royal power was being manifested in a new way through himself, but it was a power redefined.

Jesus taught that true greatness comes from serving others rather than seeking to be first. He emphasized that those who hold genuine authority are the ones who serve. This redefinition of power is beautifully expressed in an early Christian poem about Jesus. Although he possessed the very nature of God, Jesus did not exploit his equality with God for personal gain. Instead, he willingly relinquished his status and power and took on the role of a servant.

Jesus willingly associated with and served the poor, even extending his service to his rivals. He demonstrated that true power is demonstrated through selfless love. However, Jesus did not shy away from confronting those in positions of power. He challenged the leaders of Israel for using their authority to benefit themselves at the expense of the majority. Sadly, this ultimately led to his execution. Similar to angry firstborn sons, these leaders exploited their power to have Jesus killed. Yet, one cannot truly extinguish the firstborn over all creation.

Jesus, the author of life itself, rose from the dead and ascended to become the ruler of Heaven and Earth. In recognition of his resurrection, he earned the title of the firstborn from among the dead. Jesus then informed his followers that he was sharing all of his authority, birthright, and blessings with them as brothers and sisters.

This enabled them to establish communities that functioned as a new type of family, guided by Jesus' redefined notion of power. These communities rejected rivalries and invited all individuals to partake in the responsibility of being sons and daughters within this new royal family. It is when Jesus' followers comprehend that true power is rooted in love that they genuinely become the family of the firstborn.