24 Also a dispute arose among them as to which of them was considered to be greatest.
All vying for the greatest position, an argument arose amongst the disciples. What inconsistency is this! In the verse just prior they were enquiring as to which would be the traitor and now only one verse later they are desirous to know which would be the prince! Isn’t that so human nature to crave “the greatest” slot – jockeying for the number one position? The flesh seems to have a driving desire to be the held high – grand, imposing and important. Jesus has a word for us who are striving to adjust our crowns:
11 The greatest among you will be your servant. 12 For whoever exalts himself will be humbled, and whoever humbles himself will be exalted. Matt 23:11-12 (NIV)
It is humility which precedes exaltation by God. Jesus fleshed that our for us – being in very nature God, He made Himself nothing, taking the nature of a servant and being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself and died on a cross for our sins. God then exalted Him to the highest place and gave Him the name above all names. Much preference, therefore, is to be given to God’s exaltation rather than man’s exaltation – of what account is he anyway?
Instead, whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant, 27 and whoever wants to be first must be your slave-- 28 just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many." Matt 20:26-28 (NIV)
I suppose this mindset prompted Paul to write the following to the church at Philippi:
17 But even if I am being poured out like a drink offering on the sacrifice and service coming from your faith, I am glad and rejoice with all of you. 18 So you too should be glad and rejoice with me. Phil 2:17-18 (NIV)
We are called to servant hearted leadership. We may not think that we are leaders yet all it takes for us to lead is to have someone follow. Who follows your lead – a child, a spouse, a family member, a friend, a company, a state, a country? We are often leading whether we choose to acknowledge it or not. Christ’s example of leadership was service prompted by love. I am reminded of the following where He demonstrated to His disciples the full extent of His love:
2 The evening meal was being served, and the devil had already prompted Judas Iscariot, son of Simon, to betray Jesus. 3 Jesus knew that the Father had put all things under his power, and that he had come from God and was returning to God; 4 so he got up from the meal, took off his outer clothing, and wrapped a towel around his waist. 5 After that, he poured water into a basin and began to wash his disciples' feet, drying them with the towel that was wrapped around him. John 13:2-5 (NIV)
12 When he had finished washing their feet, he put on his clothes and returned to his place. "Do you understand what I have done for you?" he asked them. 13 "You call me 'Teacher' and 'Lord,' and rightly so, for that is what I am. 14 Now that I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also should wash one another's feet. 15 I have set you an example that you should do as I have done for you. 16 I tell you the truth, no servant is greater than his master, nor is a messenger greater than the one who sent him. 17 Now that you know these things, you will be blessed if you do them. John 13:12-17 (NIV)
The mercies and love of our God for us both quicken and sharpen our senses towards obedience and service and attracts us like a magnet to demonstrate this same love and mercy that has been shown to us.
“Among the Romans, when one had redeemed another, he was afterwards to serve him. A soul encompassed with mercy is zealously active in God’s service. The mercies of God work compassion to others. A Christian is a temporal savior. He feeds the hungry, clothes the naked, and visits the widow and orphan in their distress; among them he sows the golden seed of charity.” Thomas Watson
24 I tell you the truth, unless a kernel of wheat falls to the ground and dies, it remains only a single seed. But if it dies, it produces many seeds. 25 The man who loves his life will lose it, while the man who hates his life in this world will keep it for eternal life. 26 Whoever serves me must follow me; and where I am, my servant also will be. My Father will honor the one who serves me. John 12:24-26 (NIV)
As death is the way to life, humility and servanthood is the way to exaltation.