Do you want to be GREAT?
And they came to Capernaum. And when he was in the house he 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
And he said to them, “What do you want me to do for you?” And they said to him, “Grant us to sit, one at your right hand and one at your left, in your glory.” Mark 10:36 – 37
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. But it shall not be so among you.”
Mark 10:42-43a
How does God view GREATNESS?
SUBMISSION
“...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 10:40
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 baptized with the baptism with which I am baptized?” Mark 10:38
And calling the crowd to him with his disciples, he said to them, “If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me. For whoever would save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake and the gospel’s will save it. For what does it profit a man to gain the whole world and forfeit his soul? For what can a man give in return for his soul?” Mark 8:34 – 37
SERVICE
“But whoever would be great among you must be your servant, and whoever would be first among you must be slave of all.” Mark 10:43b – 44
Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus, who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied himself, by taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men. And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross. Therefore God has highly exalted him and bestowed on him the name that is above every name... Philippians 2:5 – 9
SACRIFICE
“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 10:45
For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though he was rich, yet for your sake he became poor, so that you by his poverty might become rich. 2 Corinthians 8:9
SUBMIT to His authority
SERVE others
SACRIFICE no matter the cost
Greatness = Submission + Service + Sacrifice