Jesus and His disciples now arrived
at Capernaum and had come into the house. We are not told whose house it was.
It could very likely be Peter’s house, the place where the Lord had earlier in
His ministry healed Peter’s mother-in-law. Even before they settled, the Lord
asked, “What were you discussing on the way?” His simple forward question was
met with a long silence. This evidently tells us that they knew the Lord was aware
of what they were discussing on the way here. So they felt embarrassed. Like
them, if only we are conscious that the Lord hears what we talk about daily, it
would help to moderate our daily conversation.
Mark tells us in verse 34 that they
were discussing who was the greatest. This discussion must have been
precipitated by the verbal quarantine made on the three disciples who went up
to the mount of transfiguration with the Lord. They probably adopted a sense of
smugness, feeling more important than the rest. Using a little sanctified
imagination, we can hear the three exaggerating their self-importance, just because
they were with the Lord at the transfiguration. They could be observing the
instruction of the Lord but with a high and mighty attitude and looking down at
the rest. Hence the argument was precipitated.
When the Lord had sat down, He called
the Twelve to Himself and said,” If anyone wants to be first, he shall be last
of all and servant of all.” Evidently He knew what they were talking about. But
notice the Lord did not rebuke them for their desire to be great. He merely
defined what greatness means in His Kingdom. He said that it’s found in the willingness
to be last and not in seeking to be first. It’s not in counting how many people
are serving us, but how many people we have served and are serving. This concept
of greatness is the exact opposite of how the world views it. With what kind of
attitude we come to leadership is telling. We can either live for the praises
and applauds of men or for the approval of God. The choice is clear! In God’s
eye, the mark of greatness is not, “How many people are serving me but how many
am I serving?” This is the very opposite
to what the world thinks and adopts.
Then taking up a child, the Lord gave
them an object lesson. He said, “Whoever receives one child like this in My
name receives Me; and whoever receives Me does not receive Me, but Him who sent
Me.” What was the Lord’s point in using a child? It is because a child is not
one who could give you what you want. They not the people who could lend you
what you need to become great. In fact a child is helpless, they need to be
cared for. The point is this: greatness is clearer when we serve people who are
incapable of returning us a favor or people who cannot help in exerting any
influence to assist us to become great. We have to receive such a one in the
name of the Lord.
What motive and attitude are we
bringing into our service to people? Have we only welcomed those who can do
something to help us gain prestige? How about starting to serve regardless of
who a person is? How about serving not
for what we can gain but for what we can give? What about simply serving because
people matter to the Lord and are children of the Living God or could be
potentially His?
The answer to these questions will tell
us where we are in God’s sight as far as greatness is concerned!
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