MARK 9:30-37
GREATNESS DOES NOT SEEK PRAISE, BUT TO SERVE.
In the name + of Jesus.
Jesus' disciples were arguing with one another about who was the greatest. No doubt they each trotted out their resumes, boasting about what they had remembered from Jesus' teachings, what they had done in Jesus' name, and what accolades they had garnered from the people. There may have been a practical side to this debate. Jesus had just told them that he was going to be put to death, so they may also have been considering which of them was the front runner to be the replacement Rabbi over his fellow disciples. They all made their case, each passionately stating why he should deserve the top spot and should have authority over the others.
And they came to Capernaum. And when (Jesus) was in the house he asked them, “What were you discussing on the way?” But they kept silent, for on the way they had argued with one another about who was the greatest. (Mark 9:33-34) Although the disciples were boastful about their importance amongst themselves, they were too ashamed to admit it when Jesus asked them about it. I doubt that any of them actually stopped believing he was greater than his fellow disciples. But it is like we are. We harbor thoughts that we would hope no one ever learns about. It is too shameful to say them out loud. But even if we manage to keep such things to ourselves, it doesn't mean they don't count against us. We can hide a lot from other people, but our hearts are open before the Lord. The Lord knows everything lurks in our hearts and minds. No one's shame has ever gone away by pretending it isn't there. The solution is not to hide our sin and shame, but to confess and repent of them. And as we do, we hold God to his promise: “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” (1 John 1:9)
Like the disciples, we all long for recognition for what we do. We want to be praised for a job well done. We appreciate awards, because they are an acknowledgment that we have excelled and other people know it too. We measure ourselves against others to figure out if we are better. And sometimes, like the disciples, we will argue about who does more, whose work really matters, and who is the greatest. This is not just true in the school, on the athletic field, or at the workplace. It is even true in our homes. A husband or a wife will often convince themselves that each is doing more than his or her fair share around the house. Sometimes they will even argue about it, each insisting that he or she is carrying the load in marriage. But we usually exaggerate our efforts and dismiss what others do for one simple reason: We all want to believe that we are the greatest, that we do the most, and we do it better than others. Repent.
Jesus pokes a hole into our inflated egos and bursts our pride. Greatness does not seek praise. God does not measure greatness the way we do—by how impressive our works are or by how well known we are for them. In fact, it is just the opposite. Jesus said to them, “If anyone would be first, he must be last of all and servant of all.” And he took a child and put him in the midst of them, and taking him in his arms, he said to them, “Whoever receives one such child in my name receives me, and whoever receives me, receives not me but him who sent me.” (Mark 9:35-37)
The reason Jesus illustrated his point by putting a child in front of his disciples is not because children are cute. They are, but that's not the reason. The point is that children, especially the younger they are, cannot do anything for themselves. With infants and toddlers, everything must be done for them. You have to prepare their meals for them and feed them. You have to choose their clothing for them and dress them. You have to clean them up when they fill their pants and change them. And the children can do nothing in return for you. I can't imagine a scene where a toddler would say, “Thanks for doing all this for me. Now, let me do the dishes. You go and relax.” The parent does the work for the child without a paycheck, without fanfare, without gratitude, without recognition, and quite often without any sympathy.
And while this work is as close as we get to what Jesus says is great in the kingdom of God, we do it with reluctance or resignation. Ask any exhausted parent how he or she feels when he or she is finally getting a break, only to hear an appeal from the other room: “I'm thirsty!” It is not merely passing along information. It isn't even a request. It is a demand. And when you hear it, you pull yourself up from your quiet chair and deliver a glass of water to the child. It is rarely done with cheer. We get bitter because it is all done without us getting any praise for it. But greatness does not seek praise.
We are not good at being the servant of all. But thanks be to God—Jesus is! Jesus' words about being the least of all and servant of all were not mere words. Jesus did what he spoke of. Greatness does not seek praise, but to serve. Jesus had taught his disciples that the reason he came to earth was to be rejected by men, but then to suffer and die for them. Jesus has come for you—not because you are cute or worthy, but because you are a sinner who needs God's mercy and forgiveness. Whether you think you should be praised because you are so good or damned because you are so bad, Jesus came to save you from all sin and guilt. He comes for sinners whose sins are well known and for sinners who try to hide their shameful thoughts and deeds. Jesus did everything for you to save you because greatness does not seek praise, but to serve. And he serves you.
Jesus has taken from you all sin and shame, not because you are worthy, but because you need it. He suffered the slander of hateful men, the injustice of a corrupt trial, the blows of crass soldiers, and the scoffing of priests and teachers. He served you by hanging naked in shame from a cross, condemned by men who could not find him guilty and condemned by God for our guilt upon him. He made himself least of all because he bore the sins of all. And he did it all for you. By Jesus' innocent death, you are pardoned for works you have done begrudgingly, for works which you regretted because you thought they deserved more praise, and for works you refused to do because you did not think it was worth it. Jesus has cleansed you of all of it through his innocent blood.
Greatness does not seek praise, but to serve. And Jesus still serves you. Even when you come back to confess that you did not serve your fellow man or when you acknowledge that your service depended upon the reward or recognition you should have gotten for it, Jesus serves you with his mercy and forgiveness. It is still not because you are cute or worthy, but because he loves you, and because you need it. Jesus serves you tirelessly, constantly, and willingly. He does not regret going to the cross for people who will not repent, because his desire is always that all people would be saved by faith in him. If they will not believe, Jesus will not make them go to heaven; but he will not let his lack of mercy be the reason.
Greatness does not seek praise, but to serve. And now he calls you his disciples—people who follow his word and follow in his steps. He calls us to conform our lives to his, which includes serving our fellow man. We devote our good works to our family, our friends, our coworkers, our acquaintances, and even to strangers and enemies. We don't do good works looking for recognition or reward; for we are not in this for ourselves. We seek the honor of our God, and we honor him by loving the people he puts in our lives. We love and serve them because we can and because they need it.
While we find joy in serving others, our great joy remains that our Lord Jesus is so eager to serve us. He bestows blessing, mercy, forgiveness, encouragement, consolation, and peace. He has done for us what we are helpless to do—win a place in God's kingdom and deliver us from sin, death, and the devil. He is pleased to make us his own and he continues to serve us in order to preserve us as his own. And while the Lord does not need our praise to make him glorious, we freely give him praise. For, he is worthy, and it is good and right that we should at all times give him thanks and praise for his goodness to us.
In the name of the Father and of the Son + and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.
No comments:
Post a Comment
Due to recurring spam, all comments will now be moderated. Please be patient.