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True Greatness

True Greatness

As Jesus approached His final week leading up to His crucifixion, He spoke plainly to His disciples about the events that were about to unfold in Jerusalem. He wanted them to know that the horrific thingsĀ that would happen to Him were fully anticipated. So He spells it out for them (for the third time), that in Jerusalem He will be arrested, condemned, mocked, flogged, and crucified before being raised back to life on the third day (Matt. 20:18ā€“19).

It would be reasonable to expect that our Saviorā€™s words would stir within His disciples deep concern or at least questions about His welfare. That is hardly, however, the response that is recorded.

Instead of concern for Jesus, Matthew tells us that James and John, together with their mother, were preoccupied with concern for their future status. In their presence, their mother knelt before Jesus and made this outlandish request: ā€œSay that these two sons of mine are to sit, one at your right hand and one at your left, in your kingdomā€ (20:21).

I wonder if it ever dawned on James and John ā€” those ā€œsons of thunderā€ā€” how incongruent their aspirations were with their motherā€™s intervention. James and John watched as their mother tried to coax Jesus into elevating them into positions of greatness. If you want to be seen as great, then it is probably best not to have your mama give your nomination speech.

Despite the insensitivity that was displayed by this request at this time, Jesus does not scold His disciples (or their mom) for making it. Instead, He takes the opportunity to underscore the nature of true greatness, a lesson He had previously taught in Matthew 18:1ā€“4, and to teach them how to achieve it.

In the world, greatness is usually measured in terms of power, prestige, and popularity. The greatest person is the one who has the most people under his authority. Jesus contrasts this common understanding of greatness with true greatness. ā€œYou know that the rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and their great ones exercise authority over them. It shall not be so among you. But whoever would be great among you must be your servant, and whoever would be first among you must be your slaveā€ (20:25ā€“27).

The pathway to true greatness is humble-minded servanthood. This lesson is so counterintuitive that it is not easily learned or remembered. When we think of great people, servants and slaves are not the first images that come to mind. Yet Jesus says that we will pursue true greatness only to the degree that we regard ourselves in such terms.

The pathway to true greatness is humble-minded servanthood.

He doesnā€™t condemn the aspiration to be great. He directs it along the right path. The lesson is very simple, yet incredibly hard. If you want to be regarded as great in Godā€™s kingdom, then make it your agenda to give yourself in service to others. If you want to attain the highest rank, then start thinking of yourself as a slave to your brothers and sisters in the Lord.

Greatness in Godā€™s kingdom will not be achieved by misusing your authority, nor by being content merely to care only for your own needs. Rather, it will be developed by intentionally meeting the needs of other people. Preparing a meal for a family with sickness, helping a widow with household repairs, helping an immigrant to learn English ā€” the possibilities are endless. The point is this: If you want to be great in the kingdom of God, then you must serve others.

Servant-deeds must be accompanied by a servant-attitude. Actually, Jesus uses an even stronger word by saying that whoever desires to be first in His kingdom must become a ā€œslave.ā€ How does a slave think of himself? He certainly does not go around expecting people to serve him. On the contrary, he recognizes that it is his lot to meet the needs of others.

The attitude of a slave is described by Jesus in Luke 17:7ā€“10. After performing their service, they do not expect praise or even expressions of gratitude in return. They see themselves as ā€œunworthy servantsā€ who have merely done their duty.

Greatness in Godā€™s kingdom will be achieved by intentionally meeting the needs of other people.

You can gauge how far along you are in developing a servantā€™s heart by taking note of how you respond when someone treats you like a servant. When feelings of resentment, bitterness, or anger emerge when our acts of kindness seem unappreciated that is a good indicator that we still have a way to go in our pursuit of true greatness.

Jesus caps off this lesson by reminding us that, as our Master, He Himself ā€œcame not to be served but to serveā€ (Matt. 20:28). And His service cost Him His very life in order to rescue us for God.

No one is greater than Jesus Christ, and no one has humbly served others more sacrificially than He. If you want to be great in His kingdom, then take up your cross and follow Him in a life of joyful sacrifice that blesses and serves other people.


This article originally appeared in the March 2013 issue of TableTalk Magazine.


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Tom Ascol has served as a Pastor ofĀ Grace Baptist ChurchĀ in Cape Coral, FL since 1986. Prior to moving to Florida he served as pastor and associate pastor of churches in Texas. He has a BS degree in sociology from Texas A&M University (1979) and has also earned the MDiv and PhD degrees from Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary in Ft. Worth, Texas. He has served as an adjunct professor of theology for various colleges and seminaries, including Reformed Theological Seminary, the Covenant Baptist Theological Seminary, African Christian University, Copperbelt Ministerial College, and Reformed Baptist Seminary. He has also served as Visiting Professor at the Nicole Institute for Baptist Studies at Reformed Theological Seminary in Orlando, Florida. Tom serves as the President ofĀ Founders MinistriesĀ andĀ The Institute of Public Theology. He has edited theĀ Founders Journal, a quarterly theological publication of Founders Ministries, and has written hundreds of articles for various journals and magazines. He has been a regular contributor toĀ TableTalk, the monthly magazine of Ligonier Ministries. He has also edited and contributed to several books, includingĀ Dear Timothy: Letters on Pastoral Ministry,Ā TheĀ Truth and Grace Memory BooksĀ for children and Ā Recovering the Gospel and Reformation of Churches.Ā He is also the author ofĀ From the Protestant Reformation to the Southern Baptist Convention,Ā Traditional Theology and the SBCĀ andĀ Strong and Courageous. Tom regularly preaches and lectures at various conferences throughout the United States and other countries. In addition he regularly contributes articles to theĀ Founders websiteĀ and hosts a weekly podcast calledĀ The Sword & The Trowel. He and his wife Donna have six children along with four sons-in-law and a daughter-in-law. They have sixteen grandchildren.
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