Greatness in God's Eyes

Sitting down, He called the twelve and said to them, "If anyone wants to be first, he shall be last of all and servant of all." -Mk 9:35

Jesus and His disciples are walking through Galilee on their way to Capernaum, perhaps a 10-mile walk or so. The disciples are talking about who is the greatest among them. Why would they be talking about that? Jesus had just told them, "The Son of Man is going to be delivered into the hands of men, and they will kill him..." (9:31). So, in response to the idea that Jesus might get killed, the disciples start vying for who would have the right to be the new leader when He's gone. They talk about their merits, who's done what, and who has been the greatest so far.

When the disciples and Jesus make it to their destination after a long day's walk, Jesus asks them what they were talking about along the way, (even though He already heard what they were talking about). Jesus is deliberately bringing up the conversation in order to teach his disciples the correct way to define greatness, and therefore, who is the greatest among them. Jesus says, "If anyone wants to be first, he shall be last of all and servant of all" (v.35). Then, He picks up a little child who is present in the home in which they are staying, and says, "Whoever receives one child like this in My name receives Me..." (v.37).

The disciples, like many of us, had overlooked the little child as someone not worth their time or service. The little child is just too, little. And that is exactly Jesus' point. Greatness, in God's eyes, is serving the "little" person—the vulnerable, helpless, neglected, overlooked, inconsequential, noninfluential, can't-do-anything-for-you type of person. When we serve someone not to be recognized, not to gain a leg up, not to earn greater status, not to earn more money, or pad our ego, we are exhibiting true greatness. When we consider every person as infinitely valuable and worthy of our humble service, we are exhibiting greatness in God's eyes. Therefore, may we learn to be a servant of all and how to live a life that God would consider truly great!