Whoever Desires to Be Great (part 2)
Introduction. As children, we soon learned that those who have greater abilities often receive preferential treatment. The best players were chosen first and never got cut from the team, the smartest students got the awards, and those who were popular had the most friends. At some point, we began to long for something that would bring some of these rewards to us. We sought for greatness and esteem. As we grew to become adults, this didn’t change. Those with abilities still dominate the work place, and any other place we work with others. Thus, ambition and goal setting is often not just for success, but for the power, dominance, and greatness it confers.
The apostles manifested the same feelings near the end of Jesus earthly ministry. They too saw that those who attain positions of authority were wealthy and had power. Thinking Jesus was about to “restore the kingdom to Israel,” they sought this same dominance in His kingdom. It did not take long for these feelings and thoughts to become known to each other. While walking on a road, whether as a challenge or just expressing desire, they began to give their own reasons why they would be the greatest. Each had his own plan and vision, and each thought his own abilities and strengths would lead him to be the one to come into prominence, taking authority over the others.
Yet, Jesus saw this as the “pride of life” masking itself as ambition. Though not present with them, He heard it all and brought it up as a general question: “What was it you disputed among yourselves on the road?” (Mk. 9:33-37). Their silence revealed either embarrassment or a fear that Jesus would not approve: “they kept silent, for on the road they had disputed among themselves who would be the greatest.” Jesus expressed no disapproval. He did not tell them there was no such position. He simply revealed that if they truly wanted to be great, they must travel in an entirely different direction: “If anyone desires to be first, he shall be last of all and servant of all.” This was contrary to all experience and desires. In Jesus’ kingdom, the greatest person would place himself at the very bottom of the pecking order. Instead of seeking the benefits of being first, they must give those benefits to those who were least. For the Christian, the road to greatness leads to the bottom. All that was once known must be forgotten. Everything that happened in our home, school, athletics, and the workplace was wrong if it makes Jesus’ conclusion here seem strange.
More startling was Jesus’ second revelation. Those who truly want to be first and greatest must seek it through service. This too is exactly the opposite of most previous experiences. Since our youth, the purpose of greatness was to get others to serve us. This bursts the bubble. Greek philosophers proclaimed “How can a man be happy when he has to serve someone?” What Jesus revealed here was so new and inconceivable they could not understand it yet, but in the years to come they would not only understand, but they would joyfully live it!
On the final journey to Jerusalem, James and John came to Jesus, seeking preeminence. They asked to sit on His right and left hand in His kingdom. (Mk. 10:41-45). Jesus answered them: “you do not know what you ask,” because they had no idea of the extent and vastness of this kingdom. After Jesus died, all the “spirits of just men made perfect,” from Abel to John the Baptist came into the “church of the firstborn.” (Heb. 12:22-24). Jesus did not say there was no such position. Only that it was for “those for whom it is prepared by My Father.” But that was not the only thing Jesus affirmed. By asking them if they were willing to drink the cup He was about to drink and be baptized with the baptism of suffering, He once again revealed it would require great sacrifice and a lifetime of service. What they sought would not bring what they desired.
The response of the other apostles revealed they also did not yet understand. Their indignation centered on the same flawed reasoning. They believed James and John’s request would lead to a loss for themselves. Jesus brought them all together to once again explain the true nature of greatness in His kingdom. This time Jesus told them that their thoughts mirrored those among the Gentiles: “You know that those who are considered rulers over the Gentiles lord it over them, and their great ones exercise authority over them.” In worldly kingdoms, in vast empires of commerce, and even in the home, rulers of all types “lord it over” and “exercise authority over” those they consider beneath them. That is what the apostles were seeking. Most who leave the world to become a Christian think in this way. They enter the church and just like the apostles think it is a place to seek the same greatness as they did while in the world. If we still believe that greatness confers power and that power brings the benefit to force others to submit and serve us, then we too are not yet thinking clearly. That’s exactly what happened in Corinth and Paul condemned them for being carnal. (1Cor. 1:10-13; 3:1-7)
Jesus revealed that in His kingdom, greatness would only be linked to sacrifice, service and humility. Those who dwell in His spiritual kingdom must be far different: “it shall not be so among you; but whoever desires to become great among you shall be your servant.” This is the most profound and important of all Jesus’ teaching on this subject. Like Himself, the greatest in His kingdom will be those who serve and help others. In order to become great, the desire to be served must be replaced with the desire to serve. For Jesus to see us as great, we must use our power, strength and abilities to lift those who are weak, seeking to give to those who are weak what the Gentile rulers kept only for themselves. The very things the apostles sought at that time were the very things that must be sacrificed and given to others in order to become truly great.
In order to fully explain His meaning, He worded it in a slightly different way: “And whoever of you desires to be first shall be slave of all.” This is among the greatest paradoxes Jesus ever revealed. In the kingdom of God, what is seen by all others as down and demeaning, is actually up and exalting, leading to greatness! Those with the ambition to be first have been shown the path and given the criteria to assess their greatness. Becoming a slave of all is the only way to become first. Some who learn this decide such greatness is not worth attaining. They either leave the church or change it to match their own desires. This is exactly what Jesus condemned in the Jewish leaders.
Jesus gave His own example: “the Son of Man did not come to be served but to serve and to give His life a ransom for many.” Every true Christian understands this, but not everyone applies it. Upon the first day of every week, as we partake in the Lord’s supper, we remember He gave “His life a ransom for many.” As we think of His body, we remember that before the Word became flesh, He was far higher than we can comprehend. He was the Word who was with God, was God, and had used His power to create the entire universe and all that is in it. (Jn. 1:1-3). He never used His greatness to force others to serve or give Him the best. He never sought what the Gentiles sought. Jesus came to seek and save. He used His greatness to serve, bless and lift those who were weak. Jesus took His service to the ultimate level as He gave His life as a ransom for those beneath Him.
Conclusion. How we view these things manifests our own maturity and has a great bearing on whether or not we can ever become great. We are moving quickly to stand before the Lord in judgment. Will we stand great or least?
The apostles manifested the same feelings near the end of Jesus earthly ministry. They too saw that those who attain positions of authority were wealthy and had power. Thinking Jesus was about to “restore the kingdom to Israel,” they sought this same dominance in His kingdom. It did not take long for these feelings and thoughts to become known to each other. While walking on a road, whether as a challenge or just expressing desire, they began to give their own reasons why they would be the greatest. Each had his own plan and vision, and each thought his own abilities and strengths would lead him to be the one to come into prominence, taking authority over the others.
Yet, Jesus saw this as the “pride of life” masking itself as ambition. Though not present with them, He heard it all and brought it up as a general question: “What was it you disputed among yourselves on the road?” (Mk. 9:33-37). Their silence revealed either embarrassment or a fear that Jesus would not approve: “they kept silent, for on the road they had disputed among themselves who would be the greatest.” Jesus expressed no disapproval. He did not tell them there was no such position. He simply revealed that if they truly wanted to be great, they must travel in an entirely different direction: “If anyone desires to be first, he shall be last of all and servant of all.” This was contrary to all experience and desires. In Jesus’ kingdom, the greatest person would place himself at the very bottom of the pecking order. Instead of seeking the benefits of being first, they must give those benefits to those who were least. For the Christian, the road to greatness leads to the bottom. All that was once known must be forgotten. Everything that happened in our home, school, athletics, and the workplace was wrong if it makes Jesus’ conclusion here seem strange.
More startling was Jesus’ second revelation. Those who truly want to be first and greatest must seek it through service. This too is exactly the opposite of most previous experiences. Since our youth, the purpose of greatness was to get others to serve us. This bursts the bubble. Greek philosophers proclaimed “How can a man be happy when he has to serve someone?” What Jesus revealed here was so new and inconceivable they could not understand it yet, but in the years to come they would not only understand, but they would joyfully live it!
On the final journey to Jerusalem, James and John came to Jesus, seeking preeminence. They asked to sit on His right and left hand in His kingdom. (Mk. 10:41-45). Jesus answered them: “you do not know what you ask,” because they had no idea of the extent and vastness of this kingdom. After Jesus died, all the “spirits of just men made perfect,” from Abel to John the Baptist came into the “church of the firstborn.” (Heb. 12:22-24). Jesus did not say there was no such position. Only that it was for “those for whom it is prepared by My Father.” But that was not the only thing Jesus affirmed. By asking them if they were willing to drink the cup He was about to drink and be baptized with the baptism of suffering, He once again revealed it would require great sacrifice and a lifetime of service. What they sought would not bring what they desired.
The response of the other apostles revealed they also did not yet understand. Their indignation centered on the same flawed reasoning. They believed James and John’s request would lead to a loss for themselves. Jesus brought them all together to once again explain the true nature of greatness in His kingdom. This time Jesus told them that their thoughts mirrored those among the Gentiles: “You know that those who are considered rulers over the Gentiles lord it over them, and their great ones exercise authority over them.” In worldly kingdoms, in vast empires of commerce, and even in the home, rulers of all types “lord it over” and “exercise authority over” those they consider beneath them. That is what the apostles were seeking. Most who leave the world to become a Christian think in this way. They enter the church and just like the apostles think it is a place to seek the same greatness as they did while in the world. If we still believe that greatness confers power and that power brings the benefit to force others to submit and serve us, then we too are not yet thinking clearly. That’s exactly what happened in Corinth and Paul condemned them for being carnal. (1Cor. 1:10-13; 3:1-7)
Jesus revealed that in His kingdom, greatness would only be linked to sacrifice, service and humility. Those who dwell in His spiritual kingdom must be far different: “it shall not be so among you; but whoever desires to become great among you shall be your servant.” This is the most profound and important of all Jesus’ teaching on this subject. Like Himself, the greatest in His kingdom will be those who serve and help others. In order to become great, the desire to be served must be replaced with the desire to serve. For Jesus to see us as great, we must use our power, strength and abilities to lift those who are weak, seeking to give to those who are weak what the Gentile rulers kept only for themselves. The very things the apostles sought at that time were the very things that must be sacrificed and given to others in order to become truly great.
In order to fully explain His meaning, He worded it in a slightly different way: “And whoever of you desires to be first shall be slave of all.” This is among the greatest paradoxes Jesus ever revealed. In the kingdom of God, what is seen by all others as down and demeaning, is actually up and exalting, leading to greatness! Those with the ambition to be first have been shown the path and given the criteria to assess their greatness. Becoming a slave of all is the only way to become first. Some who learn this decide such greatness is not worth attaining. They either leave the church or change it to match their own desires. This is exactly what Jesus condemned in the Jewish leaders.
- They love the best places at feasts, the best seats in the synagogues, 7 greetings in the marketplaces, and to be called by men, 'Rabbi, Rabbi.' 8 But you, do not be called 'Rabbi'; for One is your Teacher, the Christ, and you are all brethren. (Mt. 23:6-9).
Jesus gave His own example: “the Son of Man did not come to be served but to serve and to give His life a ransom for many.” Every true Christian understands this, but not everyone applies it. Upon the first day of every week, as we partake in the Lord’s supper, we remember He gave “His life a ransom for many.” As we think of His body, we remember that before the Word became flesh, He was far higher than we can comprehend. He was the Word who was with God, was God, and had used His power to create the entire universe and all that is in it. (Jn. 1:1-3). He never used His greatness to force others to serve or give Him the best. He never sought what the Gentiles sought. Jesus came to seek and save. He used His greatness to serve, bless and lift those who were weak. Jesus took His service to the ultimate level as He gave His life as a ransom for those beneath Him.
Conclusion. How we view these things manifests our own maturity and has a great bearing on whether or not we can ever become great. We are moving quickly to stand before the Lord in judgment. Will we stand great or least?