Welcome back to Sonday Life. This is Episode 29 of our Organic Spiritual Living Series entitled “What Greatness Looks Like.” In this episode, we’re going to look at three things that define greatness in the kingdom of heaven. In the last episode about the Parable of the lowest seat at the wedding, we talked about three concepts that Jesus spoke of that changed the world; Compassion, humility, and selfless generosity. We’re going to dig deeper into these concepts, and first, we’ll look at humility.
I thought we’d start by discussing compassion, but as it turns out, we can’t have genuine compassion or true selfless generosity toward the needs of others without humility. So we’ll start there. In the Gospel of Mark, Jesus taught his disciples about the greatness of humility (Mark 9:33-37).
The disciples were arguing about who was the greatest among them. The Bible exposes everything. Scripture doesn’t hide even the flaws or the failings of the so-called saints. We see the disciples, who had major faults, yet God could still use them to preach a message to the world that would bring eternal life to billions. It’s clear the disciples were just as messed up as you and I but thank God he recognizes our imperfections and he can work around them.
This teaching by Jesus about what greatness looks like is recorded in three of the four Gospels. Each writer has a little different emphasis on the incident based on their audience;
- Mark was writing to Gentile/Roman/Jewish converts.
- Matthew was writing to Jewish converts only.
- Luke was writing to Greek converts.
Why did the disciples have this argument about who was the greatest? Because the pace of things happening around them was picking up. They felt something big was about to happen.
- Peter professed Jesus was the Messiah.
- Jesus declared that upon the confession of faith in him, his church will be built.
- Jesus told the disciples that the keys to the kingdom of heaven would be handed over to them.
- Jesus was transfigured before Peter, James, and John, while Moses and Elijah appeared with Jesus.
- Jesus told the disciples he’d suffer, die, and subsequently be resurrected.
The disciples grew up hearing the Messiah would establish a kingdom in Israel. He would be a king like David. He’d have a great military with advisers, generals, and commanders at his side. To the disciples, the kingdom of heaven was the kingdom ‘in the heavens’ that the Messiah would bring to earth. To them, everything pointed to a sudden installation of the kingdom of the heavens. On the road to Capernaum, they were busy updating their resumes.
Approaching Capernaum, Jesus knew they were arguing, but he let them have their discussion. Peter, Andrew, and Matthew lived in Capernaum, so they probably stayed at one of their homes to rest.
When they arrive, Jesus asks why they were arguing. They felt guilty about the argument, and they were too embarrassed to tell him it was about who among them was the greatest, so they didn’t answer.
Jesus left it alone for a minute, then he said to them, “Anyone who wants to be first must be the very last and the servant of all.”
To illustrate his point, he placed a child in the middle of them. He picked the child up and held her and said to them, “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.”
To welcome someone is to not only greet them but show them we’re happy to greet them. When Jesus met someone, they felt welcomed by him. He didn’t make them feel they were inconveniencing him. We should welcome others like we’re welcoming Jesus. We wouldn’t want Jesus to feel he’s inconveniencing us, right? When we receive others in the name of Christ, we’re receiving him. And by welcoming others as Christ, we’re welcoming God also because it’s his will to make everyone feel welcome.
Greatness is the person who receives and welcomes everyone who needs help. Receiving and welcoming those in need into our arms and supporting them in whatever they need. Using the gifts God has blessed us with for the benefit of others instead of ourselves. Greatness is Service over Status.
It’s at this point that Matthew adds a statement to the story about becoming like a little child in (Matthew 18:3-4).
Again, Matthew’s audience is Jewish converts, while Mark’s audience is Gentile converts. Matthew’s statement is the ‘Born-Again’ phrase, with a slight re-write; Truly I tell you, unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven (John 3:3-4). When Jesus told Nicodemus he must be born-again, his response was, “Can I become a child again?” Which Jesus basically said the flesh knows flesh, and the Spirit knows spirit. So you have to change, be born from above, to see the kingdom of heaven.
The Jews expected the ‘kingdom of the heavens’ or the ‘kingdom of God from heaven.’ If the kingdom is from heaven, then to see it or enter it, you need to be ‘of’ heaven. Therefore to see or enter the kingdom of God from heaven, which is spiritual, you need to be born of the Spirit. Your thinking needs to change to see it. The kingdom Jesus was bringing to mankind wasn’t a physical kingdom. It was a spiritual kingdom.
The disciples were taught, like Nicodemus, that the appearance of the kingdom of heaven would be a physical kingdom, and the Messiah would be a king with his advisers and commanders of his army.
Matthew adds this in his Gospel so the Jewish converts would recognize they need to change their thinking. Mark and Luke didn’t include it because their audience didn’t expect a Jewish King.
When Paul wrote to the believers in Rome, which was a combination of Jewish and Gentile converts, he also said they needed to change their thinking about God’s kingdom (Romans 12:1-2).
“Unless you change and become as little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven.”
Unless we become children and start over and learn what greatness is in the kingdom of heaven rather than what greatness is by the world’s standards, we’ll never understand the kingdom of heaven.
Greatness is a transformed mind; God’s kingdom isn’t the world’s kingdom.
Jesus finishes his discussion on greatness in Matthew 18:4 by saying whoever humbles themselves is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven.
What was the position of a child in the first century?
- Children were unimportant in society; Embrace being unimportant like a child.
- Children were subject to others; Embrace submission to others.
- The needs of children came after others; Embrace the needs of others before your own needs.
Jesus used the first-century child to exemplify humility. In Philippians 2:3-9 Paul says Jesus was the ultimate example of service and humility and the ultimate example of greatness. Greatness is humility;
So, what did Jesus teach the disciples about and us Greatness in the kingdom of God?
He taught that greatness is Putting service over status.
Real greatness is Receiving everyone in the name of Jesus, just as if they were Jesus, for the sake of the Father. Jesus came to serve, not to be served. Jesus receives all who want to be saved. He doesn’t pick and choose. He receives everyone that comes to him for salvation.
True greatness is a transformed mind. Jesus told the Pharisees, who put themselves above everyone else that God knows what’s in their hearts. God knows what they think is important. But Jesus told them that what they think is important is disgusting to God. Disgusting. Can you imagine God being disgusted with what humanity thinks makes us great? It’s disgusting to God because it’s a waste of our lives to seek greatness in the eyes of the world.
The greatness that pleases God is Overcoming our worldly teaching of what’s important with spiritual insight.
What you can get for yourself vs. what you can give to others. Money isn’t wealth. Real wealth is joy. Owning things doesn’t make you happy or secure. Peace brings security, and money doesn’t bring peace. Trust in Power isn’t forever. Faith in Christ is forever.
We’re taught by the world to be competitive, ambitious, proud, and self-sufficient. But we’re taught by the Spirit of God to be kind, patient, gentle, and self-controlled. We’re taught by the world to love those who love us. But we’re taught by Jesus to love those who hate us. We’re taught by the world that greatness is measured by our fame and recognition. But we’re taught by our Father that true greatness is Humility.
Jesus showed us that greatness is *Humility toward Others;
But we can only have this kind of humility by Embracing humility toward all. (Ephesians 4:2) “Be completely (ownership) humble.”
How does humility produce greatness?
When others are with someone who has humility, they know they are seen, heard, and accepted for who they are. Humility makes others feel safe. Being in the presence of someone who makes you feel safe is a gift. Everyone who was in the presence of Christ felt safe with him because of his humility.
The ability to help others feel safe and unjudged is a key element in expressing heartfelt compassion for the needs, concerns, cares, and desperations of those around us.
Humility is all about how we think about ourselves and others. What is truly valuable in this life? Is it money, fame, possessions, intelligence, position, or power? Or is it acceptance, kindness, love, service, generosity, gratitude, hope, and faith?
Today I encourage you to embrace humility in your life. Own it. Seek to possess it with all your heart.
Accept everyone that you come across in your day as if they were Jesus Christ himself.
Set your mind on the things above, like kindness, love, hope, generosity, and thankfulness.
Own complete service to all by faith as Jesus himself showed us, who though he was God, he laid aside his advantage and became a servant for our advantage.
Jesus showed us that greatness is lifting the hearts, minds, and souls of others so they can see the love of the Father and receive his forgiveness and salvation by faith.
In the next episode, we’ll discuss compassion, and we’ll dig into what compassion does and what stops us from expressing compassion for others.
So until the next episode of Sonday Life, I’m available by email or text if you have questions or comments. I pray that you will grow in Christ continually and discover the great depth of his love and grace. God bless!
