What used to be an insult is now a title of honorific respect.  Caught up by the jargonization of the English language from words with a history to acronyms which fit more neatly into texts and tweets, the word GOAT no longer describes grizzled old men, occult iconography or biblical reprobates.  Used now only with the definite article, “the,” GOAT refers to the Greatest Of All Time.  And voila! Fighting words have evolved into coveted title.

The GOAT is, of course, a title bestowed without any vetting process other than the opinions of sportscasters and social media influencers.  And so, there is endless debate in the blogosphere over which GOAT is The GOAT.  And there is even a primetime show on which reality TV GOATs vie to see who is The GOAT. Is there no end to the quest for Capra Magna?

While we might chalk this up as modern folly, it is nothing new.  Even (way back) in my youth, Muhammed Ali boasted, “I’m the Greatest.”  And we all declared Gretsky to be “The Great One.”  Men have always wanted to distinguish themselves in the pecking order as The Greatest of All Time.  Shockingly we even see this among Jesus’ closest disciples, the “Twelve.”

Repeatedly, at the most inappropriate times, arguments broke out among the Twelve over which of them was the greatest.  After stunning failure to exorcise an epileptic boy’s demon they debated their comparative greatness.   And at the Last Supper their grief that one of them would betray Jesus quickly gave way to heated discussion over who would be the greatest in the Kingdom! James and John even enlisted their mother to plead with Jesus for recognition.

Time and time again we read “an argument arose among them as to which of them was the greatest.”  They had visions of grandeur. They were thinking of regal thrones, not the enthronement of the awful tree or the baptism of Jesus’ suffering and death.  They could not comprehend Jesus’ teaching about the suffering and death which would proceed His entry into glory.   Mark 9 records the sorry juxtaposition.

[H]e 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.” But they did not understand the saying, and were afraid to ask him. 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 9:30-34

There is nothing wrong with desiring kingdom greatness, but there is everything wrong with confusing kingdom and worldly greatness.  Earlier Jesus had given his disciples a glimpse of true greatness in speaking of John the Baptist.

Jesus began to speak to the crowds concerning John: “What did you go out into the wilderness to see? A reed shaken by the wind? What then did you go out to see? A man dressed in soft clothing? …A prophet? Yes, I tell you, and more than a prophet.  Truly, I say to you, among those born of women there has arisen no one greater than John the Baptist. Yet the one who is least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he. -Matthew 11:7-11

Jesus repeatedly reminded his disciples and us, what kingdom greatness looks like.  In Mark 9 and 10 Jesus instructs the Twelve in true greatness and turns our expectations on their heads.

 [H]e said to them, “If anyone would be first, he must be last of all and servant of all…. 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. But whoever would be great among you must be your servant, and whoever would be first among you must be slave of all. 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 9:35, 10:43-45

Desire greatness? Yes! But do you understand what it is? Are you willing to be the slave of all? To serve rather than be served?  To give your life in service to others? Or as Paul wrote, to “[d]o nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves. [looking] not only to [your] own interests, but also to the interests of others.”

Join us as we examine Mark 9:30-37 and consider what true greatness looks like.  We meet Sundays at 10:30 am on the square in Pottsville, Arkansas right next to historic Potts’ Inn for worship.  Get directions here or contact us for more info.  Or join our livestream on YouTube.