Who is the Greatest?

When you think about greatness you can name many people who have been or are considered great.  Abraham Lincoln; Mother Teresa; Billy Graham.  Most Christians would say that Jesus was the greatest person who ever walked the Earth. What made Him great? Why do even non-Christians often revere Jesus? This morning we consider what it means to be great in the eyes of God.

 (Mark 9:33-41 NIV)  "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." 36 He took a little child and had him stand among them. Taking him in his arms, he said to them, 37 "Whoever welcomes one of these little children in my name welcomes me; and whoever welcomes me does not welcome me but the one who sent me."

 38 "Teacher," said John, "we saw a man driving out demons in your name and we told him to stop, because he was not one of us." 39 "Do not stop him," Jesus said. "No one who does a miracle in my name can in the next moment say anything bad about me, 40 for whoever is not against us is for us. 41 I tell you the truth; anyone who gives you a cup of water in my name because you belong to Christ will certainly not lose his reward."

 (Mark 10:35-46 NIV)  "Then James and John, the sons of Zebedee, came to him.”Teacher," they said, "we want you to do for us whatever we ask." 36 "What do you want me to do for you?" he asked. 37 They replied, "Let one of us sit at your right and the other at your left in your glory." 38 "You don't know what you are asking," Jesus said. "Can you drink the cup I drink or be baptized with the baptism I am baptized with?" 39 "We can," they answered. Jesus said to them, "You will drink the cup I drink and be baptized with the baptism I am baptized with, 40 but to sit at my right or left is not for me to grant. These places belong to those for whom they have been prepared." 41 When the ten heard about this, they became indignant with James and John. 42 Jesus called them together and said, "You know that those who are regarded as rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and their high officials exercise authority over them. 43 Not so with you. Instead, whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant, 44 and whoever wants to be first must be slave of all. 45 For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many."

(Luke 11:23 NIV)  ""He who is not with me is against me, and he who does not gather with me, scatters."

 
Going Deeper

1.  Jesus teaches on what it means to be great in His kingdom in the following passages.  As you study them see how many principles of Biblical greatness you can list.  Matthew 18:1-5; 20:20-28; 23:1-12; Mark 9:33-37; 10:35-45; Luke 9:46-48; 22:24-30. What does someone who is great in God’s eyes look like?  What kinds of things do they do? 

2.  Think about Jesus.  How many ways did He humble Himself?  Be specific.  To help you think about the different ways, read or think about the accounts of His arrest and trials (Luke chapters 22-23; Matthew chapters 26-27).  See also Philippians 2. 

3.  Think about your life and the ways you interact with the people around you.  How much do you because you want to look good in their eyes, or because you want them to like you?  How much do you do simply because you want to serve them? Is God asking you to humble yourself and serve someone?  Will you?

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