True Greatness.
In Mark 9:33-37, Jesus catches the twelve disciples off-guard by asking about a lively conversation they were having. They were immediately silenced by embarrassment because “they had argued with one another about who was the greatest.” What’s most fascinating about the text is that Jesus doesn’t disregard their desire for greatness. He doesn’t flatten everyone to one level. Indeed, we’re all accepted equally, but we’re not all the same. He recognizes in his disciples’ desire for greatness as a good thing that has become distorted by sin. And instead of destroying the whole distorted thing, He proceeds to correct their presumptions of how greatness is acquired. God created us with a desire to be great for His glory. Now Jesus presents a way to transform the ugly pursuit of greatness into something beautiful.
As John Piper notes, our desire to be great and significant has been distorted in two ways:
1. it has been corrupted into a longing not to be great, but to be greater than someone else.
2. it has been corrupted into a longing not to be great, but to be known as great.
In verse 35, Jesus presents a remedy for both of these.
1. Stop trying to be just greater than someone else; work to be great according to the vast potential God has placed within you, and if that means being last, then so be it.
2. Stop working to be just known as great; work to be great by serving those around you, especially those in need
Where do we get the resources to do this? Only be seeing Christ through the Gospel:
Mark 10:42-45
“42 And Jesus called them to him and said to them, “You know that those who are considered rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and their great ones exercise authority over them. 43 But it shall not be so among you. But whoever would be great among you must be your servant, 44 and whoever would be first among you must be slave of all. 45 For even the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.”