Who Is the Greatest?
33 They came to Capernaum. When he was in the house, he asked them, "What were you arguing about on the road?" 34 But they kept quiet because on the way they had argued about who was the greatest.
35 Sitting down, Jesus called the Twelve and said, "If anyone wants to be first, he must be the very last, and the servant of all."
Are we like the disciples or what?!? Can’t you just hear them now...”I’m the greatest”...”Oh no! You’re quite mistaken; I’m the greatest”...”You guys are both crazy! Didn’t you hear me say that He was the Christ? I’m confident I am the greatest!”...and on and on it went through the voices of twelve disciples that desired human recognition, elevation, and admiration. How very easy it is to fall into the trap of longing for praise from men rather than God. Pride is an insidious monster – it grabs us by the neck before we know it! Jesus tells us in John:44 How can you believe if you accept praise from one another, yet make no effort to obtain the praise that comes from the only God? John 5:44 (NIV) Don’t get me wrong, we all can use an “atta boy” or an “atta girl” from time to time to strengthen and encourage us to persevere on this road called life. That’s not what this is referring to here. It is the elevation of self for human affirmation and recognition that is to be despised. Anytime we try to elevate self overtly or covertly it is despicable in God’s sight. It is not about us. It is all about Christ and His name being glorified and magnified above all. As John the Baptist said:30 He must become greater; I must become less. John 3:30 (NIV) Christ is to be our Supreme example. It is said of Him in John:24 But Jesus would not entrust himself to them, for he knew all men. 25 He did not need man's testimony about man, for he knew what was in a man. John 2:24-25 (NIV) And again in Mark: 13 Later they sent some of the Pharisees and Herodians to Jesus to catch him in his words. 14 They came to him and said, "Teacher, we know you are a man of integrity. You aren't swayed by men, because you pay no attention to who they are; but you teach the way of God in accordance with the truth. Mark 12:13-14 (NIV) We are told by the prophet Micah:
8 He has showed you, O man, what is good.
And what does the LORD require of you?
To act justly and to love mercy
and to walk humbly with your God. Micah 6:8 (NIV)
Jesus turned the world upside down with His teaching. To be the greatest we must be the servant of all. Again, using Jesus as our example we are told in Matthew:
28 just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many." Matt 20:28 (NIV)