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11. Who is the Greatest and Who is the Least? (Matthew 20:24-28)
MATTHEW 20:24-28
24 When the ten heard it, they were indignant with the two brothers. 25 But Jesus summoned them, and said, “You know that the rulers of the nations lord it over them, and their great ones exercise authority over them. 26 It shall not be so among you, but whoever desires to become great among you shall be your servant. 27 Whoever desires to be first among you shall be your bondservant, 28 even as the Son of Man came not to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.” (Mark 10:44-45, Luke 22:24-27, 1 Corinthians 9:19, Philippians 2:7, 1 Peter 1:18-19)
The other disciples were no better than the two brothers and their mother, because this special request raised jealousy and envy in them. They neither understood Christ nor understood His approaching death in the plan of salvation.
Although Christ is seated at the right hand of His heavenly Father, Christ’s design is not to grant us to sit on His right hand or on His left hand. The design is that the Son chose us that we may altogether become His spiritual body. We are not entitled to sit beside Jesus, but as the Son abides in the Father and the Father in Him, so he chooses us to abide in Him and live with Him in spiritual union forever.
This divine union will not only be realized in heaven, it is being realized today. We, therefore, have to follow Him, deny ourselves, and take up our cross mortifying our sins and pride. There is no domination or preference among the children of God, but voluntary submission and constant service. The most notable and most respected in your church and society is the most serviceable and the most humble and self-denying. He that prays, loves, serves, and gives himself thankfully for others is truly the greatest.
Did you know that Jesus called Himself a Servant not a Master? He turned the principles and grounds of worldly cultures upside down, for all aim at haughtiness and wish to be served by others. But Christ humbled Himself to the utmost, rendering His services to the good and to the bad, and became our example. He who follows Him does not become a dominating master or a dictator, but a servant like his Lord. He who does not recognize this mental change cannot continue as a servant of Christ.
Jesus’ death is a ransom for many, because He is the mighty Redeemer. Jesus was born to pay the ransom for men who were enslaved to sin that they would be delivered and qualified to be holy servants in His kingdom. There would be no hope for the world without Jesus’ sacrifice. Now we love Him, because He loved us first. “God so loved the world that He gave his only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life” (John 3:16).
PRAYER: Faithful Redeemer, we glorify You because You made Yourself a servant to all. You died as a ransom for everyone that accepted Your redemption with praise that they might be changed into Your image and train themselves to serve You. Help us not to seek to be masters or chiefs, but to be lowly like You. Reveal to us how to serve you and help us in it. Help us to communicate Your redemption to everyone to whom Your Spirit guides us.
QUESTION:
- What is the meaning of His saying, “the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve?”