So You want to Become Great? Here's the Way

“Whoever wants to become great among must be your servant…”Matthew 20:26

The story in today’s Gospel reading is a familiar one.  It’s one that has been replayed in various ways in each of our lives.  The mother of James and John is looking out for her two boys and their future.  She wants greatness for them.  Wanting them to get their foot in the doorway before anyone else has a chance, she takes Jesus aside to demand, not ask, a favor.  She said, “Grant that one of these two sons of mine may sit at your right and the other at your left in your kingdom.”

This is no different than a bunch of school kids pushing and shoving to see who get to be first in line.  This is no different than spreading rumors about a friend in order to make yourself look better… This is no different than making your spouse do all the dirty work around the house while you lie on the couch.  This is no different than what I did to a friend in college.  I told him someone wanted to talk to him.  While he was gone, I asked the girl to the dance before he did. That’s the way you end up on top. You push and shove… you lie… you gossip… you stab in the back… you do whatever it takes.

The problem is that kind of greatness carries a price - lost friendships, broken relationships, strife, bitterness and division.   It divided the disciples. When the ten heard about this, they became indignant…   What’s more greatness sought this way is not real greatness.  You are great only until someone stronger or prettier or more popular or more ruthless comes along.  It’s like the girl that moved into our church in the 7^th grade.  She was the popular girl that year. She loved the attention… But the next year someone else moved in and she wasn’t the center of attention anymore. 

Jesus gives us another way.   Jesus called them together and said, “You know that those who are regarded as rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and their high officials exercise authority over them.  Not so with you. Instead, whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant, and whoever wants to be first must be slave of all.   In God’s kingdom greatness is measured not by how high you reach but by how low you stoop… not by how many serve you, but by how many you serve. . 

That’s scares us.  Oh, we talk about being servants.  We sing its praises.  Yet when push comes to shove we are like those disciples in the upper room.  Someone needed to do the dirty job, to wash the feet of the others.  Yet no one moved.  Each was too proud to do such menial labor.  There they sat, silent, afraid to become the foot washer.  They knew that whoever got up would become the doormat, the fool, the loser.  You become slave, not master. How can that be the way to greatness?

Yet this is the road our Lord Jesus traveled.  Jesus says it here, “Whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant and whoever wants to be first must be slave of all. For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.”  When the disciples insisted his work was too important to be bothered with little children, Jesus took the time.  “Suffer the little children to come unto me and forbid them not, for of such is the kingdom of God.”  When people complained he was spending too much time with “tax collectors and sinners” Jesus went and ate with them. When all the disciples were too proud to wash feet, Jesus got on his hands and knees to do the job. Then the next day He stooped even further…  He listened to the false charges against him and said nothing.  He endured the whipping. He wore the crown of thorns. He went to the cross.  He gave His life as a ransom for many, for all, for you and me.

That road led to greatness.  Having humbled himself, therefore “God has highly exalted Him and placed on Him the name that is above every name…”  Having been crucified for the sins of the world, the third day God raised Jesus from the dead and seated Him with Him at His right hand in the heavenly places…” 

Now to all who would follow Him He offers the towel and basin full of water.  He invites you to travel on your knees a road that leads to a glory that does not end.   Don’t get Him wrong.  You don’t earn heaven by becoming a servant.  No this is the road to greatness because this is the road Jesus traveled  ahead of us.  By giving His life Jesus purchased for us a greatness that you and I could never earn -  no matter how far we rise, or how much we own, or how many people must wait on us.  Because He did that we can give up all the power struggles.  There is nothing to fear in getting down your hands and knees to wash the feet of others.  In Christ, ours is the attitude that says, “So what if others take me for granted? So what if others treat me like a doormat.”  We don’t lose anything by serving.   In Christ, we are God’s children.  We have the glory purchased to us on the cross, promised to us at baptism, sealed to us with His body and blood in Holy Communion.  That’s already ours because of Jesus.  We don’t need to push and shove. We can let others go before us. We can say please and thank you.  Maybe, just maybe, by our service they might meet Him who came not to be served but to serve them.  They might meet Jesus who give His life for them.  Now that would really be great!  Amen.