Who is the Greatest?

Daily Devotional – Wednesday, January 12, 2022

Then a dispute arose among them as to which of them would be greatest

Luke 9:46 (NKJV)

The Jews of Jesus’ day were suffering under Roman colonization and oppression. They looked forward to the coming of the Messiah, believing that He could overthrow the Romans and establish a powerful Jewish kingdom.  

The disciples of Jesus were not different from their compatriots. Despite Jesus teaching them that His was a spiritual kingdom focused on freeing human beings from Satan’s shackles, they still harboured hopes of an earthly kingdom with Jesus as the king.

One on Your Right Hand; the Other on the Left

Matthew 20:20–21 illustrates this situation perfectly:

Then the mother of Zebedee’s sons came to Him with her sons, kneeling down and asking something from Him.

And He said to her, “What do you wish?”
She said to Him, “Grant that these two sons of mine may sit, one on Your right hand and the other on the left, in Your kingdom.”

Mrs. Zebedee was taking no chances. Her two sons were competing with the other ten for prestigious positions in the supposed earthly kingdom of Jesus. She wanted one of her sons to be the deputy prime minister and the other to be the deputy president.

Who is the Greatest?

Unsurprisingly, “…when the ten heard it, they were greatly displeased with the two brothers.” (Matthew 20:24). They were ready to challenge the two mama’s boys for the coveted posts. How dismayed might Jesus have been? How long would the disciples take to understand Jesus’ mission?

The disciples harbored jealousy and a competitive spirit amongst themselves. “Then a dispute arose among them as to which of them would be greatest.” (Luke 9:46). The Lord had to intervene. In the process, he taught them the significance of humility and servanthood in His kingdom.

Learning Greatness from Children

And Jesus, perceiving the thought of their heart, took a little child and set him by Him, and said to them, “Whoever receives this little child in My name receives Me; and whoever receives Me receives Him who sent Me. For he who is least among you all will be great.” (Luke 9:47-48). Children are receptive to new information and knowledge. They do not compete. They cooperate. Children stand together and win together. They exemplify teamwork and mutual concern for one another.

Who is the Greatest Today?

Unfortunately, among modern-day Christians, the question of who is the greatest is stil, subtly, alive. Who has the biggest congregation? Who controls the tithes and offerings? Who has the best church choir? Who teaches or preaches better than others?

Who holds a higher leadership position? Who has the best car or house? Who is the most educated? Who has the right connections with the secular world? Who gives more offerings and donations?

Consequences of Blind Ambitious Competition

When we emphasize such considerations, the church gradually disintegrates. Those who lord it over others destroy the spirit of love and togetherness. The ‘weak’ ones leave the congregation or the faith altogether.

Jesus commanded Christians to learn an important lesson from Him: “Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.” (Matthew 11:29).

He Must Increase, But I Must Decrease

The spirit of raw ambition and selfish competition is foreign to God. God banished Satan from heaven because of harbouring and propagating this philosophy. In fact, Lucifer wanted to overthrow God. He wanted to be the greatest in heaven.

The highway to greatness is called service. Instead of asking, “Who is the greatest?” find out who needs your love, attention, and kindness. Like John the Baptist, say this about Jesus: “He must increase, but I must decrease.” (John 3:30).

Jesus, increases as I decrease because only You are the Greatest.