Who's the Greatest?

The Bible gives various accounts of Jesus's disciples misunderstanding Him or reacting to His teachings.  But six times the gospel writers record that the disciples were concerned about which one of them was the greatest.  

Besides arguing greatness, two of the disciples asked Jesus if they could be seated next to Him in His kingdom. 

And even at the Last Supper, when Jesus talked about someone betraying Him, the topic turned to"Who's the greatest?"



Every time I read those passages, I'm perplexed that the disciples could so unabashedly discuss their own worth.  

What were they thinking?  Why were they concerned about it? 

As the mother of three sons, I think part of the disciples' question was, "Jesus, who's your favorite?  Which one of us do you love best?"

And that question hits home for all of us, for me - I want to matter, to be loved, needed, and important.   

But Jesus - He turns the question around.  Instead of answering who matters the most to Him, Jesus's response is to tell His disciples who should matter the most to them.   

This passage always comes to mind:

“When you give a dinner or a banquet, do not invite your friends or your brothers or your relatives or rich neighbors, lest they also invite you in return and you be repaid.  But when you give a feast, invite the poor, the crippled, the lame, the blind, and you will be blessed, because they cannot repay you…”. Luke 14:12-14 

And Jesus lived that out.  He didn't try to curry favor or impress the Jewish leaders.  And they noticed and didn't like it.

And the Pharisees and the scribes grumbled, saying, “This man receives sinners and eats with them.” Luke 15:2 

And the truth is, we're all needy and weak, and sometimes it's a fellow Christian or a best friend who needs to be encouraged, loved, and reminded of the gospel.

But loving and showing favor to my friends and family is fairly easy.

Loving the lowly and needy, loving someone who can't pay me back, loving when it's inconvenient and it costs...not so easy.

But Jesus did that, and He calls Christians to do likewise.

The greatest among you shall be your servant.  Whoever exalts himself will be humbled, and whoever humbles himself will be exalted. Matthew 23:11-12

The answer to "Who's the greatest?" is - Jesus.  My salvation is because of Jesus, not because of my works.  I can't even begin to boast about my own worth, or to jockey for a position of greatness.

…for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and are justified by his grace as a gift, through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus…Then what becomes of our boasting? It is excluded. By what kind of law? By a law of works? No, but by the law of faith.  Romans 3:23-24, 27

Because of Jesus, I'm forgiven, valuable, and loved.  I don't have to be concerned about greatness.  I'm free to serve others and to show favor to someone who needs to know the love of God.