Mark 9:30-37
The Example of Christ
If you ever want to compare two things, you need a standard of measurement. Standards are necessary because we don’t get far comparing apples and oranges, as the common saying goes. When two things are unlike, then we need to find some way in which to liken them in which to compare. This is what gave us our measurement systems, feet, yards, miles, ounces, pounds, and so on. Ancient societies recognized it was difficult to build without workers using similar measurements. This is why if I asked you how tall you are, you’d be able to give me a number that I could compare with everyone else. Yet not everything is able to be compared so easily. For if I asked you to tell me who the greatest president is, I would likely get a dozen or so different answers. Likewise, this often comes up in sports the most, if I were to ask you who the greatest quarterback is, some might say Aaron Rodgers, or Brett Farve, or Bart Starr, or any other number of quarterbacks in the league. The answer isn’t as clear. But let’s take it a step further. What about the greatest musician? The greatest friend? The greatest person? Now, we’re at the point of pure relativity. The answer all depends on the person giving it. Our means of comparing one human to another is flawed. We may be able to come up with some standard, but we all recognize it falls far short of seeing the entire picture. No matter how true this is, though, we all have a natural habit of comparing ourselves to one another. We try to come up with our own self-devised standards to claim greatness in the workplace, at home, among friends, and just about everywhere else.
For in our Gospel reading this week, the disciples are caught in this very act of making their own comparisons. They wanted to compare themselves to see who is better. Yet maybe before we go there, it would be best to take a step back… as we learn today:
BEFORE WE DISCUSS GREATNESS, LET US LOOK TO THE LORD!
I.
A comparison without a standard is ultimately useless. It’d almost be like building without a measuring tape. It would be down to pure speculation whether the walls and everything else were the correct size. It’s the same way with all of our ways of comparing ourselves with others. We try to put ourselves side by side with others, but the only comparisons we make are pure speculation, subjective, and useless. Yet, how much we count on these to determine our own self worth is ridiculous. We all know it too. Just as happened with the disciples, as we read, “And when he was in the house [Jesus] 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. Yes, our silence often condemns us before Jesus. We compare not just to make ourselves feel better, but to tear others down. It’s our view of greatness that destroys. We try to make little of others and their achievements just to say we’re greater. We try to dismantle others just to build ourselves up. We compare so that we can claim our own greatness, even when it’s based on nothing.
What shall our standard be then? To what or whom shall we compare ourselves? Well, isn’t it obvious? Jesus is our standard. He’s the perfect man. The one who shows us objectively how good or bad we are. And well… we don’t match up. It’s the comparison we all actively try to avoid because we know there’s no way we can come out ahead. Jesus is our law, our standard of human greatness. This is why we prefer to compare ourselves to anyone else. We’d rather use our human view of greatness than God’s. For God shows us how we’ve sinned and fallen short. God shows us that we’re not great. He shows us how evil we’ve been by trying to tear others down. For what is true human greatness apart from Jesus? Is it having the most friends? Being the most powerful? Having the most money? It’s all subjective and all worthless as well. This is why we need to take a step back and look at Jesus if we’re going to define greatness.
II.
This is what Jesus begins with. It goes completely against all of our human sensibilities. It’s the opposite of how we view greatness. But this is what it means, as we read, “for [Jesus] was teaching his disciples, saying to them, ‘The Son of Man is going to be delivered into the hands of men, and they will kill him. And when he is killed, after three days he will rise,” Mark 9:31. This is the second time that Jesus has predicted his death, teaching his disciples about his suffering and passion. This is what makes the disciples’ conversation even worse. Their conversation is in light of this teaching of Jesus. Jesus is teaching about his suffering and death, while the disciples are trying to win the argument about which one of them should take over the mantle of Jesus. Their pride and arrogance stand in stark contrast to Jesus’ life. For this is the very issue which James addresses in our Epistle. “For where jealousy and selfish ambition exist, there will be disorder and every vile practice,” James 3:16. Isn’t this our very reasoning for comparisons. We’re jealous of others so we try to find some comparison to make them look bad? Or our ambition gets the better of us trying to say no one else is worthy of our promotion? Thus, James also says, “Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will exalt you,” James 4:10. Jesus’ greatness is his humility.
Jesus is great, not because he’s God, not because he has all the power and might in the world, not because he’s the pinnacle of mankind, but because with all of that, he’s willing to set it aside to serve you! Jesus’ greatness doesn’t come from his miracles or teachings, though these are certainly good. His greatness comes from the cross. It’s in the cross that Jesus is shown to be the greatest. For it’s what displays his perfect humility and perfect service to all of mankind. Jesus willingly takes upon our sins, our suffering, our death so that he may serve you with forgiveness, life and salvation! Though Jesus is king of all, he doesn’t take anything for himself, but rather gives of himself, even in his Holy Supper that we may eat and drink of his own body and blood. It’s this service, giving of himself upon the cross, that is the very definition of greatness. Greatness is found in serving, in humility, and in loving one another. This greatness builds up. It encourages and even saves. This is why Jesus even says at the end, “If anyone would be first, he must be last of all and servant of all,” Mark 9:35.
Now, let us compare ourselves to Jesus and see… by Jesus’ death, he has made himself like us. He has lowered himself so that he may lift us up, exalting us to salvation and eternity! For by Jesus’ death, you have become like Christ in every way. In Jesus’ name! Amen!