22 September 2024 | Liz Caughey
Throughout the gospels, Jesus always seemed to know everything about his disciples – their whanau, their life circumstances, where they were on their faith journey, their doubts, and – now – that they didn’t understand he was going to die and be resurrected. They were such a mixed bag of – ordinary people – who had stepped off their own life path to follow Jesus on his.
I think it is one of the most reassuring aspects of Jesus’ ministry that the disciples he chose were ordinary people with flaws, who struggled to understand Him a lot of the time. Basically, Jesus chose people like us. People living their everyday lives, minding their own business and not seeking the limelight, never having it cross their mind that they might be chosen by the Son of God – until they were.
As we can see from this reading, Jesus’ disciples could be slow on the uptake – this was the second time He had predicted his death and resurrection. And we’re told they didn’t understand – well, I don’t find that surprising. This was the Messiah, the Son of God – surely he could save himself and rule His Kingdom on earth ever after? And as for the resurrection, they’re not the only ones who’ve found that difficult to grasp.
It’s odd, though, how they managed to shift from the topic of Jesus’ death and resurrection – which must have been pretty shocking to hear – to arguing about who was the greatest amongst them. There is a real disconnect there.
But Jesus knew their minds. They were just human and, like many people, wanted to be great according to the ways of the world. And their debate provided him with one of his most important teaching moments – that greatness isn’t about being important and powerful at all, but about choosing to be ‘the very last, and the servant of all’. And that those who respond to this call to servanthood must seek out and welcome those without power and status who are in need.
In the Kingdom of God, so much is upside-down. In the Kingdom of God, ‘greatness’ doesn’t come from status and power but from loving, accepting and walking alongside those without status and power. As Jesus tells his disciples, the way to greatness is the way of service and humility.
Now, I’d like us to just pause for a couple of moments. I want to ask you to think about the best person you’ve known in your life – not the greatest, but the best.
I suspect many of you knew immediately who that person was – you probably carry them in your heart, as I do. What are they like, that you chose them? In Western society, greatness is judged by wealth and beauty and status and power. But I’m picking that your best person probably wasn’t like that.
I’m picking they were kind, that they listened to you, and understood you in a way that others didn’t. That they treated you with respect, that they saw the real ‘you’ and believed in you. And maybe they spoke truth to you even when it was painful – because they wanted what was best for you. I suspect they inspired you, expanded your view of the world, and of yourself and what you were capable of.
That’s what my best person was like for me. I think that people like this call us into ‘being’ as our best selves. They do it selflessly, putting others first. They give constantly – love, respect, acceptance, truth.
And I am sure that they, described by Jesus as ‘the very last, the servants of all’, will be remembered far longer than those who think they are the greatest – as judged by the world. Because the stories we tell about the best people in our lives and how they touched hearts and minds and changed lives for the better, will be passed down as taonga – treasure – through the generations. By serving others, these ones are ‘first’ not last. Because these are the stories that really matter, these are the stories that will endure as personal anecdotes and important touchstones amongst family and friends for generations.
I have seen the impact of a relationship like that on people serving time in prison. I have been told by people in prison that having someone believe they were a good person changed their lives. In one case, it was literally one comment from a guard, “you are a good man”, that changed that person’s life. I have seen young people struggling with their identity as they grew up, and then begin to flourish as they found relationship with someone who put them first and believed in their best self. In all the situations like this that I’ve seen, that best person wasn’t a close family member, but someone independent. That is such a wonderful opportunity for us all.
Jesus was the ultimate servant seeking what was best for others, and His is the ultimate story that endures. Being a servant doesn’t mean being weak, or sitting back and not participating. It means knowing who you are and where you stand, and giving from that grounded place. It means looking after yourself and knowing when to say ‘no’ for your own good reasons. It means going towards those in need and seeking out the ones whom society has forgotten, or the ones who have lost their way. Jesus is the perfect example of this. He served with humility, courage, and a desire not only to heal and restore, but to bring out the best in people.
Returning to the gospel story – to show what He meant by servanthood, Jesus then brought a child amongst them, and told a short parable. By way of context, in those times, a child had no value until it was grown enough to contribute to society. So a child had no status or rights – it was totally powerless, dependent and vulnerable. A child was the opposite of ‘greatness’ – and that was Jesus’ point. The child here symbolises all people who are the most powerless and ignored in society. Today, this would include the homeless, people in poverty, the mentally unwell, the lonely, the rejected – in fact, anyone whose life is a constant battle for survival.
Greatness is not found in what we have gained for ourselves in life, but in what we have done for and given to others in need.
What’s more, when we do share with others who appear to have very little, we so often receive so much more from them in intangible ways, and learn valuable lessons from them. So, rather than striving for a place of greatness in the world that brings us worldly rewards, we will discover our true place and receive immeasurable treasure when we create a space for others. By moving over and welcoming others to stand alongside us, we surround ourselves with God’s beloved children – and we are enriched.
i would love our politicians to do this. To move over in their seats of privilege and power, and make space for others who have need on a level they just can’t understand or even imagine. Because once we have that ‘other’ beside us and know their name and their children’s names, we can’t turn away from their reality. They are no longer ‘other’ and ‘unknown’.
By knowing them, we learn to see God’s image in those who aren’t like us, we learn to recognise that there are worldviews other than our own, that are as valid as ours. We find our place as we make place for our neighbours.
There’s a challenge to us all about servanthood in the gospel today. We’ve thought about who is the best person in our life. During the week ahead, I encourage us all to think about whether we are being or could be that best person in someone else’s life. What would we want them to say about us, what servant qualities would we want them to see in us? And how can we make sure that those qualities are strong enough in us to offer to others?
It doesn’t matter how young or old we are, how smart we are, or how many times we’ve been foolish or caused harm, we each have – just as we are now – all the skills and aroha that are needed to be someone else’s best person.
We have a choice – between pursuing the world’s greatness, or greatness in the eyes of God. Our opportunities to make that choice are found every day – at home, at work or school, and in our daily interactions with people. So, with that in mind, let us go out from this place to love and serve and be the best person for others, in the name of Christ.
Amen.