While driving on a family road trip with his young sons, Bill is deep in thought. Then he solemnly looks over his shoulder and announces, “They are planning to kill me. Three days after I’m dead and buried, I am going to rise.” Neither of our sons processes that declaration. You know why? They miss their dad’s statement because their childish hearts are too busy arguing over the question, “Who is the greatest?” They want to settle it once and for all. How could they become great?
JESUS’ DOUBLE SIGH
Bill asks them what they are fighting about. On hearing the answer, Bill just looks at his kids and sighs. Can you hear Jesus’ sigh in Mark 9:30-50? He just told His disciples something that should rock them to the core, but they are too busy arguing over who is #1. The same selfish attitude continues. John is perturbed. He tells Jesus, “Teacher, we saw someone casting out demons in your name, and we tried to stop him, because he was not following us.” At this point, the disciples are doubly upset. Who is the greatest? Isn’t the disciple club exclusive? I think Jesus double sighs at this point.
A SERVANT’S WORK
Previously, nine of the disciples failed miserably at casting out a demon. Jesus rebuked them both for their lack of faith and prayer. Yet each of the Twelve thinks they should be the greatest. What does it mean to be #1? The disciples are clueless. Soon, they will share a meal, and Jesus will kneel and wash their feet. The Creator of the Universe does the chore of a servant. Jesus stated, “If anyone would be first, he must be last of all and servant of all.”
WILLING TO ENTER THE HUMBLING PLACES
For a Christian, this means being willing to enter the humbling places, where there is no public recognition. It means swallowing pride, reaching out in love first to the unlovable, and traveling to the back of the line. Greatness comes alive in humility.
TAKING OUT THE TRASH
Pastor Joby Martin shares his first encounter with Charles Martin. Joby says: “When I first met him, I had only heard that he was a New York Times bestselling author. I didn’t know him at all. Charles came up to me and said, ‘Hey, if I can ever do anything around the church, let me know.’” Joby continues, “Most of the time when people ask me that, what they really mean is, ‘I’m a little above that. Is there something special like I already do?’ I’m just checking his spirit when I reply, ‘The trash always needs to be taken out.’ And then I forgot about it. About two weeks later, I leave church and walk outside. Guess who’s out there throwing the trash away for the next several years? New York Times bestselling author Charles Martin. Why? Because he just did whatever needed to be done when he was asked.
LOWER TO LIFT OTHERS UP
“You want to be great, then lower yourself and become a servant. You see, our world teaches us it’s a dog-eat-dog world where you’ve got to climb over people to get to the top. But Jesus says, in my kingdom, you lower yourself so that you can lift others up.”
GREATNESS COMES ALIVE IN HUMILITY
Does Jesus repeatedly sigh over us and our approach to servanthood? Are you willing to enter the humbling places where no one can applaud you? Do you swallow pride? Do you humbly first reach out in love to the unlovable? Will you eagerly travel to the back of the line? Greatness comes alive in humility. Jesus got on His knees and washed feet. How far are you willing to go?
Click to listen to “How to Be Great”.
