The Greatest is the Least

May 6

(Luke 9:46-48 NIV) ““An argument started among the disciples as to which of them would be the greatest. {47} Jesus, knowing their thoughts, took a little child and had him stand beside him. {48} Then he said to them, "Whoever welcomes this little child in my name welcomes me; and whoever welcomes me welcomes the one who sent me. For he who is least among you all--he is the greatest.””

(Mark 9:33-34 NIV) ““They came to Capernaum. When he was in the house, he asked them, "What were you arguing about on the road?" {34} But they kept quiet because on the way they had argued about who was the greatest.””

(John 13:12-17 NIV) “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.”

The ordinary men that Jesus chose as disciples developed an ego problem. It takes chutzpah to argue about who’s the greatest when you’re walking with the Creator of the universe. They knew it was wrong, because they tried to hide it from Jesus. We are much the same. Pride and ego are at the root of just about every church dispute. We might say they are about some important theological issue, but most of the time, it boils down to who’s going to be in charge -- in other words, who’s the greatest. Pride has destroyed more churches than the devil ever could. This will never change until we learn that being great involves becoming the least. Like a child, we must consider others above us. We must become like servants and wash the feet of those we are tempted to place below us. This is the Jesus way, for whoever is the least among you… he is the greatest! -- Friar Tuck’s Word of the Day