Sitting down, Jesus called the Twelve and said,
“If anyone wants to be first, he must be the very last, and the servant of all.”
Mark 9:35
In the 1987 romantic comedy film The Princess Bride, the fictional character Vizzini repeatedly used the word “inconceivable” to comment on unfolding events. Finally, the character Inigo Montoya responds, “You keep using that word, I do not think it means what you think it means.”
And I think Jesus Is essentially saying the same thing to the twelve disciples here in verse 35. They had been arguing over who was the greatest, but He says to them, “I don’t think you understand what real greatness is – in fact, you don’t have a clue!”
And He uses this opportunity to teach them the difference between an earthly kingdom and a spiritual kingdom. It’s a spiritual principle I like to call it the upside-down-logic of scripture:
“If anyone wants to be first, he must be the very last, and the servant of all.”
The way up is down. It’s in direct opposition to what an earthly kingdom principle would be. If you want to be first, you have to choose to be last and in fact you must be the servant of all. That is real greatness.
The challenge from Jesus is to choose servanthood. In an earthly kingdom, this is a sign of weakness. But in God’s kingdom –in his spiritual kingdom– being a servant is the means to real greatness.
How is God calling you and me to step and do something great today?
Just be sure you remember what that word really means!
What a “great” challenge! Thank you.