being last

Great message from Pastor Jack Brown at our church gathering on Sunday on what true greatness is. Being last as opposed to being first. The passage was Mark 10:35-45 which I promptly used at the nursing home in giving essentially the same message.

As usual Jesus turns on its head what the world values, this time in reference to true greatness. True greatness to the world means to be first, to win and rule over others, to be first in line to get the best of this life. But Jesus says that if one wants to be first, then they must be last of all, and servant of all. Jesus, of course is the epitome of that in coming to earth in becoming one of us, living as a servant here, and then giving his life for the world in a dreaded and despised death at that time, the death of the cross. Jesus paved and opened the way for us in this by his sacrifice for our salvation, his life given as a ransom for many. So that we can follow him in his steps by the Spirit, together, for the world.

When we receive Jesus by faith we begin a process in which we must participate. The process of no longer being conformed to this world, but rather, being transformed by the renewing of our minds. This means that we take on a new life completely contrary to the life and way of this world. This is a work of the Spirit in which we must participate. As we do we can find ourselves closer to Jesus. As Paul tells us, he wanted to know Christ better, and participate in Christ's sufferings, becoming like Jesus in his death. This suggests that to follow Jesus in this life, and remain close to him, involves being last and servant of all.

In Jesus this becomes a part of what we are becoming. This doesn't mean that we don't think we can't do anything. We seek to fulfill our calling from God, but we do so as those following Jesus in not seeking to be first, but last. And in so doing we will find that in God's kingdom we are where Jesus is. No better place to be, or to help others to find.

What would you like to add to this?