about greatness.
We taught early on to accomplish something amazing. have everything that is the best. be beautiful. taught and trained to be someone great. Truth is, I've always desired to be the smartest, the best, and the greatest. And let me shamefully admit, I've looked many a times, to be the prettiest, to be most liked... to capture the eye of the world. And I am sorely disappointed when I come up short. (what a continual disappointment it has been =) Today, I was reminded what Jesus thinks about my quest be great.
Mark 9: 33-37 --> On a long walk, Jesus overheard His disciples have a heated argument on who's the greatest among their posse. Maybe Peter started off their little discussion by saying that he was the only one out of the twelve who walked on water, even if it was for like 2 seconds. Of course he was the greatest. John and James might have countered Peter's claim to fame by saying that they were after all "the sons of thunder", and that has to have some significance right? John might have added that Jesus loves him the best, cause Jesus is always super nice to him. Judas might have put his two cents in by stating that he was surely the greatest, because he was responsible for all the finances and without him they would be nothing, worth nothing. Nathaniel might have said that he was definitely the greatest. After all, if TIME magazine needed a quote and picture from the greatest of their group, he definitely looks better in pictures than the other eleven. (Nathaniel sounds like he had a pretty face...) So the argument went on that day. And I don't know about you, but I have conversations in my mind like this about my claims to fame. (yes, in case you were wondering, I have many conversations in my mind.. don't judge!) But listen to what Jesus told His disciples that day -- "If anyone desires to be first, let him be last of all and servant of all" (Mark 9:35). Jesus told His guys, if you want to be great, learn to be a servant. Cause the person who is the servant is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven.
That sounds backward right? I mean is the powerful judge or the lowly janitor great and mighty? I would say the judge. Christ would say the janitor. Our worldly concept of greatness differs from heaven's perspective. The reason? Heaven's concept of anything and everything is defined by the Darling of heaven, Jesus. So in this case, Jesus Christ defines what it means to be great. And He does not equate greatness to a crown of gold but a crown of thorns... Cause you see, God, the King of Kings, the Great and Awesome Creator of the Universe, stepped down from His throne and became a servant, to show the world what it is to Love and provide His people salvation and freedom from sin and death. He humbled Himself even to the point of death on a cross, that He might have the company of selfish, money driven, world pursuing, sin seeking, wretched worms such as you and I.
So.. who is great? What does greatness look like. It looks like God. A great and awesome God, at whose throne angels worship, who became a servant. And His expectation is that we follow His example. That we would leave our arrogant, I'm-better-than-you, looks in the trash and simply care for one another, serve one another to display Love. That we would pray for the unloved. intercede for the rebellious, stubborn, and the reckless of our generation. that we would go beyond what the world tells us what kindness is and show the world the love of God. that we would humble ourselves so that someone else might see the glorious Christ in us.
I have a passion that I am praying God would grow. To live this life only and solely for His glory.. and let everything else be everything else. I'm trying not to focus on being the best or the greatest or trying to be the prettiest or the smartest. I'm making Christ my focus and trying to worship Him with the 'everything else' in my life. My hope and prayer is that you would join me.
(Please note: The dispute on who's the greatest was not described with the detail I gave it in the Bible. I imagined much of the details of the account, for your and my entertainment. If you want the full unedited version, please be sure to click the link for the Scripture)
Mark 9: 33-37 --> On a long walk, Jesus overheard His disciples have a heated argument on who's the greatest among their posse. Maybe Peter started off their little discussion by saying that he was the only one out of the twelve who walked on water, even if it was for like 2 seconds. Of course he was the greatest. John and James might have countered Peter's claim to fame by saying that they were after all "the sons of thunder", and that has to have some significance right? John might have added that Jesus loves him the best, cause Jesus is always super nice to him. Judas might have put his two cents in by stating that he was surely the greatest, because he was responsible for all the finances and without him they would be nothing, worth nothing. Nathaniel might have said that he was definitely the greatest. After all, if TIME magazine needed a quote and picture from the greatest of their group, he definitely looks better in pictures than the other eleven. (Nathaniel sounds like he had a pretty face...) So the argument went on that day. And I don't know about you, but I have conversations in my mind like this about my claims to fame. (yes, in case you were wondering, I have many conversations in my mind.. don't judge!) But listen to what Jesus told His disciples that day -- "If anyone desires to be first, let him be last of all and servant of all" (Mark 9:35). Jesus told His guys, if you want to be great, learn to be a servant. Cause the person who is the servant is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven.
That sounds backward right? I mean is the powerful judge or the lowly janitor great and mighty? I would say the judge. Christ would say the janitor. Our worldly concept of greatness differs from heaven's perspective. The reason? Heaven's concept of anything and everything is defined by the Darling of heaven, Jesus. So in this case, Jesus Christ defines what it means to be great. And He does not equate greatness to a crown of gold but a crown of thorns... Cause you see, God, the King of Kings, the Great and Awesome Creator of the Universe, stepped down from His throne and became a servant, to show the world what it is to Love and provide His people salvation and freedom from sin and death. He humbled Himself even to the point of death on a cross, that He might have the company of selfish, money driven, world pursuing, sin seeking, wretched worms such as you and I.
So.. who is great? What does greatness look like. It looks like God. A great and awesome God, at whose throne angels worship, who became a servant. And His expectation is that we follow His example. That we would leave our arrogant, I'm-better-than-you, looks in the trash and simply care for one another, serve one another to display Love. That we would pray for the unloved. intercede for the rebellious, stubborn, and the reckless of our generation. that we would go beyond what the world tells us what kindness is and show the world the love of God. that we would humble ourselves so that someone else might see the glorious Christ in us.
I have a passion that I am praying God would grow. To live this life only and solely for His glory.. and let everything else be everything else. I'm trying not to focus on being the best or the greatest or trying to be the prettiest or the smartest. I'm making Christ my focus and trying to worship Him with the 'everything else' in my life. My hope and prayer is that you would join me.
(Please note: The dispute on who's the greatest was not described with the detail I gave it in the Bible. I imagined much of the details of the account, for your and my entertainment. If you want the full unedited version, please be sure to click the link for the Scripture)
So... this was pretty much amazing & well-said! ;D
ReplyDeleteA lot of wisdom in that message, even though you did admit to having conversations in your head. ;D
I think this whole message goes back to the cross in that Christ died for God's will to be done & for His Father to be glorified... and when you think about it, He also put us first & showed His love for us by dying on that cross. ;D
We gotta live life thinking its an honor to be last in life if that means God is glorified & put first. It's His story... we're just characters that have to be willing to follow His storyline. ;D
Blessings! -Z