Text: Mark 9:33-35
“They came to Capernaum. When he was in the house, he asked them, “What were you arguing about on the road?” But they kept quiet because on the way they had argued about who was the greatest. 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.” NIV
Introduction
Greatness is a subject that is perhaps least talked about by Christians. You might be aware of this but might have never considered why. My observations on this matter have largely revealed a deeply entrenched mentality among Christians which in many senses has lead to an unfruitful silence on this subject.
To many being Christian and greatness are two opposed values. You can not be a worthy Christian and at the same time be called a great man especially by the world. On occasions when the subject is address within the church body, you end up feeling that desiring greatness is a worldly ambition and should never be consider by a true Christian. But this perspective I contend is contrary to what Christ revealed while here on earth. Let us therefore examine together the intricacies of this subject as discussed by our Lord Jesus.
The argument
One day, while on their way to Capernaum, Jesus disciples picked up an argument about who was the greatest among them. Interestingly they had just left the scene where they had failed to drive a demon out of a possessed boy (refer to Mark 9:14-30). Jesus had been on a mountain with Peter, James and John where he transfigured and talked with Elijah and Moses. Upon returning to the foot of the mountain, he found his disciple arguing with a large crowed because they had failed to drive out this demon. Now from such a failure and just a few verses latter, they start arguing about who the greatest among them was. Can you picture this? A group of failures arguing about who the greatest among them is. It is like ten people failing a test and latter comparing results to determine which of them is a better failure. I guess you have seen this before. Two people fail a test, and one asks the other, “what mark did you get” and the other says “30%” the inquirer then says “am better than you, I got 39%.” What the inquirer is saying in actual fact is that he is a better failure than the other. This in a sense is what the disciples where doing.
The bible does not indicate who started the raw, but perhaps it was James, John or Peter who might have picked on their fellow disciple for such a failure stating that if they had been around, they would have done better. But let us not speculate further because the bible does not say.
The disciples had an overt desire for greatness. They made no secret of it and each argued with the other vouching for their presumed greatness. They all thought they were greater one than the other.
Now Jesus knew their ongoing argument. But waited until they went inside the house in Capernaum behind closed doors before he confronted them about the matter. What a considerate master he is. He did not want to address the matter publicly and risk shaming them. His primary concern was to get them to know the truth about greatness and that is what we are also interested in.
Behind Closed doors
Behind closed door Jesus asked them what they were arguing about, but they failed to produce an answer. Now Jesus being who he was already knew what the argument had been about. His response to them holds the key to understanding greatness and diffusing ever negative thought against you becoming great. He said “...If anyone wants to be first, he must be the very last, and the servant of all.” Mark 9:35
Instead of rebuking them or condemning them about their desire for greatness, Jesus supplies them with the key to becoming great. In this Jesus revealed to them and us that it is not wrong to want to become great. It is not pride desiring greatness and God is not against us becoming great. On the contrary, he wants you to become great. This is why Jesus took the time to speak about this matter to his disciples. Here are three truths we can derive from Jesus words.
1. Greatness is for anyone
Notice that he does not address his disciple only but the whole of humanity. He said “If anyone wants to be first, he must the very last, and the servant of all.” Greatness is for “anyone” who desires it and not an elite group or those with some special gift. It is for “anyone.”
2. Greatness is for the desirous
Greatness only follows those who desire it. You will never stumble into greatness or find yourself in its arms by chance. It is never the case. Rather greatness follows “anyone” who “wants” it. You must “want to be first.” Do not feel guilt for wanting to be first or the greatest. It is not a sin.
Consider Jesus words again.
“...If anyone wants to be first, he must be the very last, and the servant of all.” Mark 9:35
3. Greatness is a decision
Greatness is a decision you make. You must decide you want to be first and great. It is a conscious and deliberate choice and is therefore tied to the activities and little choices you make daily. Each step matters.
The path to greatness
For so long, Christians have feared expressing their desire for greatness because it might be wrongly classed as pride. To compound this problem, most teachings on the subject have shaped the minds of many Christians to think retrogressively. If a brother or Sister in the Lord dares to parade their ambition to be the best and by far the greatest in a certain aspect, his ambition is likely to meet with a trashing from the “BE HUMBLE CLUB”
Jesus however held a different view. To him it is not the "what" of becoming great the matter, but the "how." His focus in the text we read is not whether you become great or not, or in what you become great. But how you do it. He did not turn to his disciples and begin a lecture about what the areas or careers to pursue or concentrate on to become great. But he told them exactly how to become great. It does not matter whether you want to be the greatest musician, chef, economist or student in the world but Jesus showed us that there is only one universal principle for getting there. You “must be the very last and the servant all.” This is the "how" and not the "what" of greatness.
To achieve greatness, one must chose to deliberately be last and serve all. You cannot be selective as to whom you serve. Your service is to the world and you must serve all.
This is not to say you must serve the entire population on earth before you become great, but rather that your service must be available to all those God directs into your path. Do not have favourites irrespective of whether certain people treat you good or bad. Afford each person equal amounts of your service in life with a thankful heart. Do not grumble about it. Thank God for the privilege of those he has given you to serve. It is in serving them that you become great.
Though you might be more talented, beautiful or handsome, true and lasting greatness does not result from downsizing other in an attempt to make yourself appear better. The world’s model of greatness is based on advocacy and comparison. It provides measures for greatness and weighs each man against them. Are you smart enough? Are you rich or wealth? Do you have the hottest body in the world? These are the things that the world uses to measure greatness and create legends. Jesus however points out that heavens model of greatness is based on relationships and how you contribute to them.
Servant hood fuels the greatest relationships on earth. Trying to become great the worlds way only fosters competition and rivalry like we saw with the disciples arguing. Heavens way to greatness promotes relationships and service to one another. It is the best economy that has ever been deployed.
If you desire true and lasting greatness, then chose to do it heavens way. Become a servant of all. Decide to leave a legacy of greatness and I promise you won’t regret it.
In conclusion allow me to say,
“No man has ever become great without first desiring to be great, deciding to become great and then deprecating themselves to become a servant and friend of all.”
God bless you!
Author: Ephrem Namagonya
