Who's the G.O.A.T.?

I Am the Greatest!

I love sports. Always have. For me, there’s a lot to like. The passion. The performances. The stories. The drama.

But if there’s one thing I can’t stand about athletics, it’s the non-stop self-promotion and boasting. Just about every sport has 

more than its fair share of egomaniacs who brag that they’re the G.O.A.T. The Greatest of All Time.

It seems to have started with Muhammad Ali. Back in the sixties and seventies, he constantly made the claim, “I am the greatest!” Chances are, in his sport, he was and still is.

How Ironic

In Mark’s Gospel, there’s the story of a similar argument about who’s the best. Yup, long before Ali, a group of guys try to make the case for which one is the greatest member of Jesus’ team (Mk 9:33-35). And the crazy thing is, they’re the closest followers of the MOST humble yet MOST deserving person to ever walk the planet. Ironic, isn’t it?

We pick up the story with the Lord and the Twelve returning to the home office in Capernaum. They’re fresh back from a trip to the mountains of northern Palestine near Caesarea Philippi and Mount Hermon (Mk 8:27; 9:2).

On the Way Home

On the way back, the Son of God heals a young man of demon possession while filling up the faith tank of his desperate dad (Mk 9:14-29).

During the trip home, Christ tells His team what to expect in the coming weeks (Mk 8:31-33). Get ready, boys. You’re gonna see the radical Rabbi/Carpenter betrayed, tortured, and murdered by the leaders of Judaism.

Pulling back the Curtain

But that’s not all. He’s going to rise from the dead!!! The problem is, the guys clearly don’t get it. Peter pulls Jesus aside and tires to tell Him that real Messiahs don’t die (Mk 8:32).

Then there’s the mountaintop meet-up with Moses and Elijah that Jesus allows Pete, James, and John to witness (Mk 9:2-8). Next thing you know, God pulls back the curtain of heaven to reveal His Son’s spectacular glory.

Some Sort of Blowup

On the return trip, the boys are having some sort of blowup. And they clearly don’t want Christ to know what they’re bickering about. Once they’re home, the disciples haven’t even set down their suitcases when our Savior asks them a question.

“After they arrived Capernaum and settled in a house, Jesus asked His disciples, ‘What were you discussing out on the road?’” (v33). Before we get to the question, let’s set the scene geographically.

A Blue Collar Bump in the Road

Capernaum is a little fishing village on the northern tip of a large freshwater lake called the Sea of Galilee. We’re talking blue collar bump in the road inhabited by the working class poor. It’s also become the headquarters of Jesus’ team.

Pete grew up just down the shore in Bethsaida.  But he’s since gotten married and moved here (Mk 1:29-30). He shares a home with his brother Andy and their extended family.

Jesus’ House

The town may be tiny but it’s big enough to have a synagogue. That’s the equivalent of a Jewish church community. Jesus has the honor of being the guest speaker on a few occasions (Mk 1:21). The ruins of that place of worship are still there today.

There’s an interesting little tidbit that might be easy to miss in the NLT. In the original language, Mark literally describes how the Lord “was in the house” (v33 ESV). The use of “the” tips us off that this is where the Son of God is living at the time. It could be Pete and Andy’s place. Who knows, maybe Jesus knew the joy of home ownership.

Trying to Keep It from Jesus

Whatever the case, Christ has a question for His crew. “What were you discussing out on the road?” (v33). It seems the boys were chatting it up while they were on the way back. And for whatever reason, they didn’t include the Teacher in the conversation.

Clearly whatever they were talking about, they tried to keep it from Christ. Don’t mistake His question for His ignorance. You can be sure He knows EXACTLY what the guys were chewing the fat about.

Coming Clean before Christ

Jesus asks them because He wants them to admit and repent. He knows. He simply wants them to come clean and realize how ridiculous they are. There’s no need to think He doesn’t already know.

He knows.

Jesus Doesn’t Need a Transcript

Christ offers us the same opportunity. He’s fully aware of everything we say, everything we do, and everything we think. He doesn’t need a transcript. There’s no reason to compose an executive summary.

He knows.

Before You Say It

Over in John’s Gospel, we read how our Savior didn’t need anyone to explain others’ motives “for He knew what was in each person’s heart” (Jn 2:25). King David wrote a song about how intimately God knows each one of us. “You know what I am going today even before I say it” (Ps 139:4).

He knows.

The Open Door of Confession

The reason He asks is to give them the opportunity to confess and repent. He’s not putting them on the spot to embarrass them. The Son of God wants them to realize their ego battle is exactly the wrong approach for one of His followers. He’s graciously opening the door of confession for them. He does the same for you and me.

We not only need let God know what He already knows but have the courage to confess to fellow followers of Jesus. The Lord’s little brother James tells us that this is a critical part of life in God’s family. “Confess your sins to one another and pray for each other so that you may be healed” (James 5:16).

That is why it is critical to find a group of believers where you can let our guard down and be the real you. Here’s the deal. If you can’t confess and come clean to the people who love you in the Lord and want His best for you, where can you do it?

Christ Gets Crickets

Back inside the house in Capernaum, it’s quiet. Too quiet. After Jesus asks the question,  the disciples don’t say a word. “But they didn’t answer” (v34). Christ gets nothing but crickets. There’s little doubt they’re too embarrassed to tell Him.

He’s thrown open the door of confession. But the Twelve is standing on the front porch and won’t come in. They’ve got nothing to say. You can see them looking at the floor and shuffling their sandals. The boys are busted.

A Silly Squabble

It’s at this point that Mark let’s us know what the disciples are unwilling to tell their Leader. “They had been arguing about which of them was the greatest” (v34). Seems kinda stupid to have this sort of silly squabble when you’re in the presence of the sinless Son of God, don’t you think?

This is another example of the author of the second Gospel giving us behind-the-scenes info we don’t find anywhere else. What’s his source? Early believers thought Peter is the one feeding Mark these crucial details.

The Guest List for the Transfiguration?

Could this argument have started over who got an invite to the Transfiguration and who didn’t? Did the other nine feel jealous when Jesus asked Pete and the Thunder Brothers to up on the mountain without them?

Any chance the Big Three felt cocky about what they were on the Son of God’s guest list and rubbed the noses of the other nine in it? I’m sure you’ve never been part of a group that didn’t have its fair share of drama. *wink wink*

A Teachable Moment

Instead of chewing His team out, He turns it into a teachable moment. “He sat down, called the twelve disciples over to Him” (v35). Back in the First Century, rabbis sat down to teach. When the Son of God grabs a seat, the disciples know that class is in session. They probably have a good idea He’s about to go deep on God’s view of greatness.

Despite the disciples’ silence, Jesus puts all His cards on the table when it comes to any claim to be the best. “Whoever wants to be first must take last place and be the servant of everyone else” (v35).

Right out of the chute, notice how the Lord doesn’t dismiss the idea of wanting to be great. There’s nothing wrong with ambition. It simply must be focused on godly goals.

Last Is First

Somewhere along the way, many of the followers of Jesus have gotten the idea that greatness has no place in God’s kingdom. Heaven’s definition of success is a complete 180 from how we see it here on earth.

Christ tells His crew that it’s okay when someone wants to be first. So if that’s you, take a deep breath. But instead of fighting for the front of the line, it’s just the opposite. Jesus wants His followers walking to the back of the line. You see, for His disciples, last is first. Least is best.

Success Centered on Self

Society has sold us on a picture of success that puts us at the top of the org chart. The truly people have got it all going on. An corner office in the c suite. Countless employees. A sizable staff. Maybe even servants to respond to their every want and need.

Greatness here on the third rock from the sun is all about power, money, and influence. that use to your advantage. It’s success centered on self. What can I get out of it since I’ve got the leverage?

Don’t Buy a Fast Pass

But true greatness in God’s eyes turns the whole thing on its head. According to Christ, success means being in last place and serving everybody else. So if you see a long line, don’t look to buy a Fast Pass. Simply move to the back. That’s because in God’s view, the back of the line is actually the front.

Our Savior uses this very logic when wrapping an illustration about payday for employees at a vineyard. The workers hired in the morning get their undies in a bundle when ones hired late in the afternoon get the same check.

In the story, the owner of the company steps in and explains his pay structure. “Is it against the law for me to do what I want with my money? Should you be jealous because I am kind to others? So those who are last now will be first then, and those who are first will be last” (Mt 20:15-16).

The Mother of the Thunder Brothers

This idea that last is actually first becomes a HUGE theme in Jesus’ last days. He makes it the point of His teaching not once, not twice, not three times, but a grand total of four times! It sure seems like He doesn’t want us to miss the point!

The first time is when the mother of the Thunder Brothers goes to bat for her boys and asks Jesus to give them positions of power in His kingdom. Helicopter parenting is not a modern invention. The Lord tells her that’s the wrong way to go about it.

“Whoever wants to be a leader among you must be your servant, and whoever wants to be first among you must become your slave. For even the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve others and to give His life as a ransom for many” (Mt 20:26-28).

The Choice Is Yours

The second comes a couple of days later when Christ speaks before a big Passover crowd in Jerusalem. “The greatest among you must be a servant. But those who exactly themselves will be humbled, and those who humble themselves will be exalted” (Mt 23:11-12).

Let me put it another way. Humble yourself or suffer humiliation. The choice is yours.

A Real Leader Waits Tables

Number three is just hours before His betrayal and murder when He settles yet another battle for power among His team. “Those who are the greatest among you should take the lowest rank, and the leader should be like the servant. Who is more important, the one who sits at the table or the one who serves? The one who sits at the table, of course! But not here! For I am among you as one who serves” (Lk 22:26-27).

Washing Filthy Feet

Moments later, the Son of God shows the boys how it’s done when He grabs a bucket and a towel and washes their filthy feet. “I gave given you an example to follow. Do as I have done to you. I tell you the truth, slaves are not greater than their master. 

Nor is the messenger more important than the one who sends the message. Now that you know these things, God will bless you for doing them” (Jn 13:15-17).

Our Savior Serves

A few hours later, Jesus would provide the ultimate example of servant leadership by giving His life for us. Dying a brutal death for our sin so that we could live. By doing for us what we could never dream of doing for ourselves, our Savior serves us and saves us.

The Man from Heaven Humbled Himself

The man God used to spread His message of grace around the Mediterranean Rim writes how we are to model our Savior’s humility. “Don’t be selfish; don’t try to impress others. Be humble, thinking of others as better than yourselves. Don’t look out for your own interests, but take an interest in others, too.

“You must have the same attitude that Christ Jesus had. Though He was God, He did not think of equality with God as something to cling to. Instead, He gave up His divine privileges; He took the humble position of a slave and was born as a human being. When He appeared in human form, He humbled Himself in obedience to God and died a criminal’s death on a cross” (Phil 2:3-8).

Leveraging Your Position

This doesn’t mean to success is evil or that greatness is ungodly. First of all, let God examine your heart. Why do you want it so badly? Is it so the world will be impressed? Or is it so you can leverage your position for others and shine the spotlight on our Savior?

Here are a few subtle symptoms of pride from Fabienne Harford. Do you love to find fault with others? Do you have a snarky spirit that enjoys putting folks down? Are you more worried about your image than your integrity?

Do you go on the defensive when criticized? Are you desperate to be the center of attention? Do you neglect the needs of others? Oops, did these hit a little too close to home? Sorry, not sorry.

The Lamb is the G.O.A.T.

Last is first.

First is last.

Greatness in God’s eyes is serving others.

Follow the Lamb. He just happens to be the G.O.A.T. The Greatest of All Time.

©2018

Jay Jennings