Jesus’ Definition of Greatness
It’s not about self-esteem. It’s not about looking to others for validation. In fact, Jesus told his disciples in Mark 9:30-37 that they needed a wake-up call. Peter, James and John had just been on the Mount of Transfiguration with Jesus and now were debating who would be greatest in the kingdom. Jesus called them in to discuss their heart motivation. And He calls us in to have that same discussion. Do we perceive ourselves as better than others? What verdict do we give to others? How do we think we fare by comparison? Pastor Mark identifies the root of all self-validation as pride: the declaration that we can do life without God. Yet, if we identify ourselves as little children, in need of a caretaker, we can begin to shed pride and put on true humility, where we embrace failure as the mercy of God and as an act of God’s love toward us. In embracing Jesus we live out the gospel and find that it is not greatness we desire or receive, but freedom.