The real GOAT
Grace and peace to you from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. What comes to mind when you hear the word, “greatness”? In sport, the title “Greatest of All Time” or “GOAT” gets thrown around a lot. In politics, we look back at certain leaders and reflect on their great contribution to how the world is today. We think about great inventors and explorers, people who made a mark that we still remember decades or centuries later. In all these examples, greatness is all about what these people achieved in life, and it’s measured by how widely their name is known.
Today, Jesus challenges this idea of greatness. He shows us that true greatness is not about achievement or accolades but sacrifice and service. Our level of greatness is not measured by how much recognition we get, but how much we give and serve without any recognition at all.
We all desire greatness
Even the most selfless people in this world appreciate a bit of recognition for their service.
When I was growing up and going through primary school, one student from each year level got the Student of the Week award. Sometimes, I used to cringe at the reasons for some of those awards, especially if I knew I’d done better than them.
This award goes to Jimmy for completing his homework. This award goes to Jane for turning up to school on time every day this week. I would feel absolutely robbed when I know I’d done my homework in class because I was so far ahead, and I’d turned up early every day that week, not just on time. Looking back, I really should’ve won that award most weeks. The system was rigged.
It was similar with junior cricket—every single kid got a medal simply for being a part of the team. At least there were still special awards like Best Bowler and Best Batsman. Although, the Most Improved award is a questionable one too…
As you can tell, my primary school years were my great quest for greatness. I did often get recognition for my achievements in school and in sport, which became a motivator for me. The flipside was that when I got into high school and the recognition dried up, I stopped trying. So, in the end, I thought I’d just give up and study to be a pastor instead.
All of us seek recognition for our achievements. We all look for approval from people around us. We all want to be well-regarded and we want people to like us.
This is kind of what James and John were getting at with Jesus. They wanted Jesus to acknowledge them as the best of the Twelve, the elite disciples. When we read the gospels, it does seem like these two, along with Peter, were closer to Jesus than the others. They probably quite enjoyed being in the inner circle. They might’ve even let the other disciples know at times.
So, as they’re walking along the road, James and John are looking for confirmation that they really are the greatest disciples, even in eternity. They ask,
“Teacher, we want you to do for us whatever we ask of you.”
36 And he said to them, “What do you want me to do for you?”
37 And they said to him, “Grant us to sit, one at your right hand and one at your left, in your glory.”
Mark 10:35b–37 (ESV)
I think Jesus is a bit cheeky here. When they come out with this bold request, he leads them on a bit. They’ll find out that glory (or greatness) has a cost.
Greatness has a cost
38 Jesus said to them, “You do not know what you are asking. Are you able to drink the cup that I drink, or to be baptised with the baptism with which I am baptised?”
39 And they said to him, “We are able.”
And Jesus said to them, “The cup that I drink you will drink, and with the baptism with which I am baptised, you will be baptised, 40 but to sit at my right hand or at my left is not mine to grant, but it is for those for whom it has been prepared.”
Mark 10:38–40 (ESV)
We think about greatness in a way that is focused on what we get from others, when true greatness, Jesus says, is all about giving. Greatness is in giving, not getting.
Jesus goes a step further, clearly defining where Jesus gets his greatness from: the cup he drinks (His suffering), and the baptism he is baptised with. Greatness is in suffering and baptism.
The cup Jesus drank, the suffering He suffered, required more endurance and more sacrifice than any of us can imagine. However, all of us do know something about both of those things. All of us have to endure things in life. For some of us, every day takes a level of endurance.
Life in this fallen world involves pain of all kinds—physical, emotional, and spiritual. For those of you who have lost someone close to you, that pain is there every day. Pain can only be avoided temporarily, usually making it worse. It can only be endured.
Likewise, this life involves all kinds of sacrifice. We all have to give with a cost to ourselves. Take parenting as an example. Parents give all kinds of things for their children: hours of sleep, food out of the pantry, money… I’ll stop there. You all sacrifice something to be a part of this church community—time, money, maybe even reputation in some cases.
And then there are the incidental things as well—someone comes into your life that is helpless and has nowhere else to go. Someone needs an urgent lift to the hospital. Someone calls you in the middle of the night just because they’re lonely. In those moments, we might have good reasons why we can’t help and no one would hold it against us. If we do help, no one will appreciate what it cost us. The only thing you gain from stepping up is knowing that you helped someone in need. Sometimes, that’s not much of a reward for what it cost us. But we do it because it’s not about the reward—it’s about how much more Jesus has done for us.
For Jesus, coming into this world was high risk and no reward. He gave up his comfy chair at the Father’s side to enter the mess of this world, only to be tortured and killed in the most humiliating and painful way possible. Sure, He got a bit of reward along the way when people thanked or praised Him, but that wasn’t much compared to what He suffered.
The reward that He did gain by His sacrifice, He didn’t even keep for Himself. He had no sin to atone for, but He gave His life to give us freedom from our guilt. Like the suffering servant in Isaiah 53, who “justifies many” by bearing their burdens, Jesus’ greatness is revealed through His self-sacrifice.
Greatness comes at a cost. The greater the cost, the greater the greatness. Since Jesus gave more than anyone else could possibly give, His rightful place alongside the Creator of the Universe, no one can match His greatness.
Greatness is found in service
In asking for a spot alongside Jesus in glory, James and John are completely out of line. The other ten know it, too. They have no right to request that kind of greatness from the greatest person to have ever walked the earth. Yet, Jesus has the grace to help them understand how it is possible to be great in God’s eyes.
41 And when the ten heard it, they began to be indignant at James and John. 42 And Jesus called them to him and said to them, “You know that those who are considered rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and their great ones exercise authority over them. 43 But it shall not be so among you. But whoever would be great among you must be your servant, 44 and whoever would be first among you must be slave of all. 45 For even the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.”
Mark 10:41–45 (ESV)
We all desire greatness. We want people to remember us long after we’re gone. We know we won’t be remembered alongside the greats like Churchill, Bradman, or Luther, but we at least want to be recognised by our family and community for what we contributed. The world attributes greatness to those who made significant changes in the world, usually with great authority and power, or to those that had higher numbers than anyone else.
“But it shall not be so among you,” Jesus says. “Whoever would be great among you must be your servant.” He changes the direction of James and John’s question. Don’t think about how you can be great—think about the great people around you. Think about the people who have been your servant. “Above all,” Jesus says, “think about how I serve you.”
Even the Son of Man Himself, who is entitled and worthy of all praise, didn’t come into the world to be served. He came into the world to serve us with everything He has and everything He is. He continues to serve us by being here when we gather in His name, by speaking to us, by listening to us when we speak to Him, and by giving us His own body and blood for forgiveness and life.
So, next time you find yourself a bit cheesed off that you’re not getting the recognition you deserve, remember how much Jesus has given for you, not because you deserve it, but because you are loved by Him. We can endure our pain and bear suffering knowing that Christ has borne even more for us and will therefore deliver on His promise to free us from sin and death forever.
May the peace which surpasses all understanding keep your hearts and minds safe in Christ Jesus. Amen.
