Greatness Is Service
We often think of greatness as winning, being the best, or having people admire us. From childhood, many of us have chased titles, awards, and recognition—like that “Most Likely to Become a Pastor” award on a paper plate I once received in college. At the time, it felt special, as if it marked a path toward influence and respect. But looking back, I realize that what I thought was greatness then was very different from what Jesus calls greatness.
In Luke 22, during the Last Supper, Jesus and His disciples share a moment full of tension and uncertainty. They know the end is near. But even as they face this, the disciples start arguing about who among them is the greatest. It’s a startling scene because these are the men who have walked with Jesus, witnessed His miracles, heard His teachings firsthand. Yet, their minds are still caught in the world’s way of thinking—competing for status and honor.
Jesus challenges their thinking with a truth that flips our assumptions upside down. He says that worldly rulers “lord it over” others, but among His followers, true greatness looks different. The greatest must be like the youngest, and the leader like the one who serves. This is a radical idea. It means that greatness is not about climbing ladders or commanding attention but about humility and service.
The world’s definition of greatness—power, prestige, climbing ranks—is ultimately empty and leads to frustration, anxiety, and division. But Jesus points to a different path: greatness as love, expressed through serving others with humility.
This idea connects deeply to the Wesleyan understanding of sanctifying grace—the ongoing work of God that not only forgives but transforms us. Sanctifying grace is what enables us to grow in perfect love, moving beyond selfish ambition toward a life marked by faithfulness and self-sacrifice. It’s this love that Jesus reveals as the true measure of greatness.
Jesus Himself models this perfectly. Though He is the Teacher and Lord, He takes on the role of a servant. Later that night, He will wash the disciples’ feet—a task reserved for the lowest servant—showing us that leadership in His kingdom means humbly caring for others. His greatest act of love is yet to come: laying down His life on the cross.
Even knowing the disciples’ weaknesses—their fear, denial, and failure—Jesus honors their faithfulness. He promises them a place in His kingdom, showing that greatness is not about being perfect but about persevering in love and commitment.
This teaching asks us to look at our own hearts. What kind of greatness are we chasing? Are we measuring our worth by success, popularity, or control? Or are we willing to follow Jesus by serving others, embracing humility, and living faithfully in love?
True greatness doesn’t demand applause or spotlight. It shows up in quiet, everyday acts of kindness, patience, and sacrifice. It’s choosing faithfulness over perfection, love over ambition.
When we lay down our own agendas and pick up the way of Jesus—who loved and served even when it was costly—we discover a greatness rooted in love that lasts beyond this life. This is the greatness God honors and rewards.
So today, let’s take up our own “plate”—our hopes, our dreams, our identity—and lay it before Jesus. Let’s choose to live as He calls us: not by worldly standards but by the perfect love that is the heart of His kingdom.
