How To Be Great

February 26th, 2025

Have you ever heard the term "GOAT" before? No, I’m not talking about the animal that chews grass and bleats, “Baa!” I mean the G.O.A.T.—the Greatest of All Time. It’s a title reserved for those who dominate their field in a way no one else has.

Think about sports. If I asked you who the greatest of all time in football is, many would say Tom Brady—seven-time Super Bowl champion, five-time Super Bowl MVP, and the all-time leader in passing yards and touchdowns. In baseball? Babe Ruth—714 home runs, a .342 batting average, and seven World Series championships. And in basketball? Don’t you dare say LeBron James! (Kidding—sort of.) But for most, the GOAT is Michael Jordan. Six NBA championships, five MVP awards, ten scoring titles—a legend.

But let me ask you a deeper question: What does it take to be the GOAT in following Jesus? What does it mean to be truly great in the kingdom of God?

That’s exactly what the disciples were debating in Mark 9.

Mark 9:33-37 – “And he came to Capernaum: and being in the house he asked them, What was it that ye disputed among yourselves by the way? 34 But they held their peace: for by the way they had disputed among themselves, who should be the greatest. 35 And he sat down, and called the twelve, and saith unto them, If any man desire to be first, the same shall be last of all, and servant of all. 36 And he took a child, and set him in the midst of them: and when he had taken him in his arms, he said unto them, 37 Whosoever shall receive one of such children in my name, receiveth me: and whosoever shall receive me, receiveth not me, but him that sent me.”

As they walked with Jesus to Capernaum, the disciples began arguing about who among them was the greatest. When they arrived, Jesus asked, “What was it that ye disputed among yourselves by the way?” (v. 34). Silence filled the room. They knew exactly what they had been arguing about, and they knew it wasn’t right.

Jesus, seeing their hearts, sat them down and redefined greatness. “If any man desire to be first, the same shall be last of all, and servant of all.” (v. 35). Then, to drive the point home, He took a child in His arms and said, “Whosoever shall receive one of such children in my name, receiveth me.” (v. 37).

This was a radical shift. Like us, the disciples thought of greatness in terms of power, position, and prestige. But Jesus flipped the script. He wasn’t against greatness—He was against the world’s version of it. He wanted His followers to pursue greatness the right way. And in these verses, He gives us three keys to true greatness.

1. Choose to Serve Others

Ask the world, “What does it take to be great?” and you’ll hear answers like, “Be the best,” “Climb to the top,” or “Get others to serve you.” But Jesus turns that thinking upside down: “If any man desire to be first, the same shall be last of all, and servant of all.”

Think about the disciples. They had front-row seats to Jesus’ miracles. They were personally chosen by Christ. That kind of privilege could have made them feel pretty important. But Jesus made it clear: being chosen wasn’t about elevating their status—it was about deepening their service. True greatness isn’t about status—it’s about service. It’s not measured by how many people serve you but by how many people you serve.

Jesus Himself said in Matthew 20:26, “Whosoever will be great among you, let him be your minister.” The Son of Man came not to be served, but to serve. He proved it by washing His disciples’ feet—the King of Kings performing the lowliest task.

So, do you want to be great? Find ways to serve. Serve at home—be a servant to your spouse, your kids, your family. Serve at work—help your coworkers rather than just trying to get ahead. Serve in church—don’t wait to be asked; jump in wherever there’s a need.

2. Embrace Humility

The world says greatness is about getting ahead, climbing the ladder, and making a name for yourself. Jesus says the opposite: “If any man desire to be first, the same shall be last of all.”

Maybe you’ve heard the saying, “If you’re not first, you’re last.” Well, according to God, if you’re last, you’re actually first. In His kingdom, the way up is down. The way to be first is to be last. The way to true greatness is through humility.

We live in a culture of self-promotion. Social media encourages us to curate a highlight reel of our lives, always looking for likes, shares, and recognition. But Jesus calls us to a different path—the path of humility.

Philippians 2:5-8 gives us the ultimate example: "Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus: 6 Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God: 7 But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men: 8 And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross.”

Think about that. Jesus, the greatest being in the universe, chose to be the lowest for our sake. The King of Kings became a servant. And He calls us to do the same.

The disciples had to learn this the hard way. Even after witnessing Jesus’ miracles, they were more concerned about their rank than about serving others. Time and time again, Jesus had to correct their thinking. But slowly, as they walked with Him, their hearts changed. They went from arguing about their own greatness to giving their lives for the Gospel.

This same transformation is possible for us when we surrender our pride and embrace humility like Jesus.

3. Value the Least and Overlooked

The final mark of true greatness is found in how we treat those the world ignores. Jesus illustrated this by taking a child in His arms and saying, “Whosoever shall receive one of such children in my name, receiveth me.”

In that culture, children were seen as insignificant—no power, no influence, no status. Yet Jesus used a child to show that true greatness isn’t found in seeking recognition but in serving those who can give nothing in return.

The measure of our greatness in God’s kingdom is not how we treat the powerful but how we care for the weak. Jesus spent His time with the outcasts—the sick, the poor, the sinners. He touched lepers, dined with tax collectors, and welcomed the broken.

Who are the overlooked people in your life? The coworker no one talks to? The neighbor everyone ignores? The church member who feels invisible? Jesus calls us to love and serve them.

True greatness is found in how we treat those who can never repay us.

The Greatest Example

Jesus doesn’t just teach about greatness—He is greatness. He didn’t just tell us to serve—He served. He didn’t just tell us to be humble—He humbled Himself to the point of death on a cross. And because of that, "God also has highly exalted Him and given Him the name which is above every name" (Philippians 2:9).

So, do you want to be great? Serve. Be humble. Follow Jesus. That’s the way to true greatness in the kingdom of God.