Whoever Desires to Be Great (part 3)
Introduction. In order for infants to survive, they must have some means to let their parents know their needs. God created them to make their needs known through crying. An infant who is hungry, cold, lonely, uncomfortable or sick will cry. This can be very disruptive to a family, but since infants can’t reason or understand, we are patient and endure. They can’t think: “mom is tired and has an important appointment tomorrow, so I should not cry”, so we accept the sacrifice of getting up at night to serve them. As soon as they are old enough to reason and understand, we train them to be more considerate. Often, as we train them about selfishness, they resist. They enjoy being first and the center of everything. They don’t want to be second, but as part of the “foolishness bound up in the heart of a child; the rod of correction will drive it far from him.” (Pr. 22:15).
Godly and loving parents will do all they can to train their children to be as considerate and unselfish as possible. We teach them to say “please” because no one is obligated to do something for them, “thank you” to show appreciation for the “favor”, and “I’m sorry” when they inconvenience someone. Parents who love Jesus want their children to become so concerned for the needs of others that they naturally fulfill Jesus command: “Whatever you want men to do to you, do also to them, for this is the Law and the Prophets.” (Mt. 7:12). Think of it! Considerate children fulfilling the golden rule are doing exactly what the Law & Prophets were designed to accomplish. Parents do their children a great service by “training them in the way they should go.”
Yet, in spite of our parents’ greatest effort, most of us are still selfish to some degree. Recognizing our selfishness for what it is and seeking to remove it is one of the greatest things we can do to become great in the kingdom of heaven. The more care and concern we have for others, the greater our value as a Christian. “If anyone desires to be first, he shall be last of all and servant of all,” and “whoever desires to become great among you shall be your servant. And whoever of you desires to be first shall be slave of all.” (Mk. 9:35; 10:43-44). Only unselfish people who can see and truly care about the needs of others can understand these words. For some, these words are a foreign language and therefore incomprehensible. How can being last of all be equated with being first? Jesus’ apostles were among those unable to understand. These words were spoken as they made their final journey to Jerusalem. All of them sought to be first and greatest! They hoped for the chief seats, the best food, and the service and deference of all who were under them.
Even on the same night Jesus was betrayed, soon after He asked them to remember His body and blood, there was “a dispute among them, as to which of them should be considered the greatest.” (Lk. 22:17-27). Clearly the warnings and teachings above had not yet reached past the barrier of their own selfish desires. They still only sought what was best for them. Jesus again pointed to the Gentiles as the source of this thinking. While the Law and the prophets taught them to put others first, they sought what the Gentiles sought: the “greatest” who could “exercise lordship” over the weak. Jesus again commanded: “But not so among you; on the contrary, he who is greatest among you, let him be as the younger, and he who governs as he who serves.” Leaders and great ones in the kingdom of heaven do not seek or take the best. They unselfishly put the needs of the weak above their own. Although still incomprehensible to them, Jesus used His own example: “Yet I am among you as the One who serves.” From the moment Jesus left heaven, He had lived what He was teaching them. He set aside His needs and took the role of a servant.
Jesus did something on His final night as an example to them, to prove that regardless of the depth of service, no one is above serving others. Because they wore sandals and walked dusty roads typical of that era, their feet had become dirty. This was why the custom of washing feet arose. Although those who provided the upper room had left a towel and basin of water, no servant had been provided to do it for them. (Jn. 13:1-17). While the apostles were aware of the need and saw the basin and towels, not one of them was considerate and unselfish enough to volunteer. Jesus waited until the meal was in progress to give them full opportunity to volunteer. All His previous teachings on the greatness of serving should have led them to want to wash each other’s feet, but none of them had grown enough in this area to volunteer. The weakness of selfishness still held them back.
By the time John wrote his gospel, he had many years to consider this event. Through the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, he knew exactly what Jesus was thinking as He began to wash their feet: “knowing that the Father had given all things into His hands, and that He had come from God and was going to God.” Jesus knew He was “the word who was with God and was God.” (Jn. 1:1-3). He knew that soon, “all authority has been given to me in heaven and on earth,” (Mt. 28:18) and He would be “exalted to the right hand of God.” (Acts 2:33). The Holy Spirit wanted this understood.
Knowing the reason why they refused to wash each other’s feet, and knowing that multitudes of future disciples would also be afflicted with the same selfishness, Jesus chose this demeaning task as a clear example for all to follow. He wanted to show them what truly great people do in His kingdom. Peter’s response clearly revealed why Jesus needed to wash their feet, along with exposing the worldly view to which they still clung. Peter was still firmly convinced that greatness was based upon selfishly taking and not unselfishly giving. This was why he refused to stoop so low to wash his fellow apostles’ feet. He saw it as a sign of weakness and servitude. This was also why Peter refused to allow Jesus to wash his feet. Peter knew how great Jesus was, and in his worldly view of greatness, he could not allow Jesus to serve him like this. He thought he was giving Jesus great honor when he said: “You shall never wash my feet!”
Jesus response to Peter reveals why He served them in this way. He told Peter, “What I am doing you do not understand now, but you will know after this.” Peter knew Jesus was washing his feet, but the reason He was doing it was still incomprehensible. Only those who understand the greatness of serving others and being considerate of others could understand. Peter thought his refusal was an act of respect and submission to Jesus’ greatness. But it really was rebellion, a refusal to submit and be taught a vital lesson. Jesus was very stern in his response. Every disciple must learn that the greater one becomes in the kingdom of heaven, the greater the service he must perform. If Peter could not learn this, “you have no part with Me.” Consider the implications of this statement. Peter’s refusal to allow the greater (Jesus) to serve the lesser (Peter) made it impossible for him to be either a disciple or an apostle. After Peter submitted, one by one, the Lord and Master washed the feet of all the twelve, including Judas.
After He finished and had sat down, He asked them the question designed for all disciples to carefully consider: “Do you know what I have done to you?” Jesus did not want the simple answer “you washed our feet.” He wanted an answer based on: “You call Me Teacher and Lord, and you say well, for so I am.” Jesus knew that they knew of His greatness, but He reminded them because it was the foundation of His lesson. As He gave the true application: “If I then, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another's feet,” He made it clear that it was the principle and not the specific action. Jesus was not instituting foot washing into the church. He was teaching about the greater serving the weaker. He taught of unselfish care and concern for the needs of others and a willingness to lower ourselves to whatever extent necessary to take care of those needs. His final words made that very clear.
Conclusion. Jesus could not have been clearer, yet multitudes have never understood. No servant is greater than his master. Since Jesus was so considerate of man’s needs that He left His glory in heaven to serve them and was so considerate of the needs of His apostles that He did a lowly task to serve them, no other disciple is too high to do the same. Yet, it is clearly a two-step process.
The first and for many the most difficult is to even see and know the truth about our own selfishness. We have to see that “whatever you want men to do to you, do also to them” “and just as you want men to do to you, you also do to them likewise.” Everything we had hoped to receive from others out of our own selfish desires for greatness must be set aside as we learn to give those things to those who are weaker. The more selfish we are as we enter the kingdom, the harder it will be for us to see it. But as we carefully read through all that Jesus did for them, sooner or later the truth will dawn.
The second thing is just as important. After we can finally see the truth about selfishness and learn the need to be considerate and caring for the needs of others, we are only blessed if we then do it. Greatness in the kingdom of heaven comes when we remove selfishness and selflessly serve others in any and every way we can.
Godly and loving parents will do all they can to train their children to be as considerate and unselfish as possible. We teach them to say “please” because no one is obligated to do something for them, “thank you” to show appreciation for the “favor”, and “I’m sorry” when they inconvenience someone. Parents who love Jesus want their children to become so concerned for the needs of others that they naturally fulfill Jesus command: “Whatever you want men to do to you, do also to them, for this is the Law and the Prophets.” (Mt. 7:12). Think of it! Considerate children fulfilling the golden rule are doing exactly what the Law & Prophets were designed to accomplish. Parents do their children a great service by “training them in the way they should go.”
Yet, in spite of our parents’ greatest effort, most of us are still selfish to some degree. Recognizing our selfishness for what it is and seeking to remove it is one of the greatest things we can do to become great in the kingdom of heaven. The more care and concern we have for others, the greater our value as a Christian. “If anyone desires to be first, he shall be last of all and servant of all,” and “whoever desires to become great among you shall be your servant. And whoever of you desires to be first shall be slave of all.” (Mk. 9:35; 10:43-44). Only unselfish people who can see and truly care about the needs of others can understand these words. For some, these words are a foreign language and therefore incomprehensible. How can being last of all be equated with being first? Jesus’ apostles were among those unable to understand. These words were spoken as they made their final journey to Jerusalem. All of them sought to be first and greatest! They hoped for the chief seats, the best food, and the service and deference of all who were under them.
Even on the same night Jesus was betrayed, soon after He asked them to remember His body and blood, there was “a dispute among them, as to which of them should be considered the greatest.” (Lk. 22:17-27). Clearly the warnings and teachings above had not yet reached past the barrier of their own selfish desires. They still only sought what was best for them. Jesus again pointed to the Gentiles as the source of this thinking. While the Law and the prophets taught them to put others first, they sought what the Gentiles sought: the “greatest” who could “exercise lordship” over the weak. Jesus again commanded: “But not so among you; on the contrary, he who is greatest among you, let him be as the younger, and he who governs as he who serves.” Leaders and great ones in the kingdom of heaven do not seek or take the best. They unselfishly put the needs of the weak above their own. Although still incomprehensible to them, Jesus used His own example: “Yet I am among you as the One who serves.” From the moment Jesus left heaven, He had lived what He was teaching them. He set aside His needs and took the role of a servant.
Jesus did something on His final night as an example to them, to prove that regardless of the depth of service, no one is above serving others. Because they wore sandals and walked dusty roads typical of that era, their feet had become dirty. This was why the custom of washing feet arose. Although those who provided the upper room had left a towel and basin of water, no servant had been provided to do it for them. (Jn. 13:1-17). While the apostles were aware of the need and saw the basin and towels, not one of them was considerate and unselfish enough to volunteer. Jesus waited until the meal was in progress to give them full opportunity to volunteer. All His previous teachings on the greatness of serving should have led them to want to wash each other’s feet, but none of them had grown enough in this area to volunteer. The weakness of selfishness still held them back.
By the time John wrote his gospel, he had many years to consider this event. Through the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, he knew exactly what Jesus was thinking as He began to wash their feet: “knowing that the Father had given all things into His hands, and that He had come from God and was going to God.” Jesus knew He was “the word who was with God and was God.” (Jn. 1:1-3). He knew that soon, “all authority has been given to me in heaven and on earth,” (Mt. 28:18) and He would be “exalted to the right hand of God.” (Acts 2:33). The Holy Spirit wanted this understood.
Knowing the reason why they refused to wash each other’s feet, and knowing that multitudes of future disciples would also be afflicted with the same selfishness, Jesus chose this demeaning task as a clear example for all to follow. He wanted to show them what truly great people do in His kingdom. Peter’s response clearly revealed why Jesus needed to wash their feet, along with exposing the worldly view to which they still clung. Peter was still firmly convinced that greatness was based upon selfishly taking and not unselfishly giving. This was why he refused to stoop so low to wash his fellow apostles’ feet. He saw it as a sign of weakness and servitude. This was also why Peter refused to allow Jesus to wash his feet. Peter knew how great Jesus was, and in his worldly view of greatness, he could not allow Jesus to serve him like this. He thought he was giving Jesus great honor when he said: “You shall never wash my feet!”
Jesus response to Peter reveals why He served them in this way. He told Peter, “What I am doing you do not understand now, but you will know after this.” Peter knew Jesus was washing his feet, but the reason He was doing it was still incomprehensible. Only those who understand the greatness of serving others and being considerate of others could understand. Peter thought his refusal was an act of respect and submission to Jesus’ greatness. But it really was rebellion, a refusal to submit and be taught a vital lesson. Jesus was very stern in his response. Every disciple must learn that the greater one becomes in the kingdom of heaven, the greater the service he must perform. If Peter could not learn this, “you have no part with Me.” Consider the implications of this statement. Peter’s refusal to allow the greater (Jesus) to serve the lesser (Peter) made it impossible for him to be either a disciple or an apostle. After Peter submitted, one by one, the Lord and Master washed the feet of all the twelve, including Judas.
After He finished and had sat down, He asked them the question designed for all disciples to carefully consider: “Do you know what I have done to you?” Jesus did not want the simple answer “you washed our feet.” He wanted an answer based on: “You call Me Teacher and Lord, and you say well, for so I am.” Jesus knew that they knew of His greatness, but He reminded them because it was the foundation of His lesson. As He gave the true application: “If I then, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another's feet,” He made it clear that it was the principle and not the specific action. Jesus was not instituting foot washing into the church. He was teaching about the greater serving the weaker. He taught of unselfish care and concern for the needs of others and a willingness to lower ourselves to whatever extent necessary to take care of those needs. His final words made that very clear.
- “For I have given you an example, that you should do as I have done to you. 16 Most assuredly, I say to you, a servant is not greater than his master; nor is he who is sent greater than he who sent him. 17 If you know these things, blessed are you if you do them.”
Conclusion. Jesus could not have been clearer, yet multitudes have never understood. No servant is greater than his master. Since Jesus was so considerate of man’s needs that He left His glory in heaven to serve them and was so considerate of the needs of His apostles that He did a lowly task to serve them, no other disciple is too high to do the same. Yet, it is clearly a two-step process.
The first and for many the most difficult is to even see and know the truth about our own selfishness. We have to see that “whatever you want men to do to you, do also to them” “and just as you want men to do to you, you also do to them likewise.” Everything we had hoped to receive from others out of our own selfish desires for greatness must be set aside as we learn to give those things to those who are weaker. The more selfish we are as we enter the kingdom, the harder it will be for us to see it. But as we carefully read through all that Jesus did for them, sooner or later the truth will dawn.
The second thing is just as important. After we can finally see the truth about selfishness and learn the need to be considerate and caring for the needs of others, we are only blessed if we then do it. Greatness in the kingdom of heaven comes when we remove selfishness and selflessly serve others in any and every way we can.