True Greatness
Like many of you, I’ve been watching some of the Olympics this week. I’ve seen wonderful athletes achieve amazing physical accomplishments. More than once I’ve heard commentators enthusiastically say, “That may have been the greatest performance of all time!”
It got me thinking about greatness—about great people and great things.
On the night of the Passover, the last one that Jesus celebrated with his closest friends, those friends got into a dispute among themselves “as to which of them was to be regarded as the greatest” (Luke 22:24).
I’ve often wondered what was going through Jesus’s mind just then. Even after all they’d seen and heard over the preceding three years, even though he’d told them what was about to happen within the next few hours, these disciples still didn’t “get it.” I don’t know what Jesus was thinking. I do know what Jesus did.
John recorded that Jesus “rose from supper, laid aside his outer garments, and taking a towel, tied it around his waist. Then he poured water into a basin and began to wash the disciples’ feet and to wipe them with the towel” (John 13: 4-5). That’s what Jesus did when his friends started disputing about who was the greatest.
And while I don’t know what Jesus was thinking, I do know what he said.
“Do you understand what I have done to you? You call me Teacher and Lord, and you are right, for so I am. If I then, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another’s feet. For I have given you an example, that you also should do just as I have done to you” (John 13:12-15).
“And he said to them, ‘The kings of the Gentiles exercise lordship over them, and those in authority over them are called benefactors. But not so with you. Rather, let the greatest among you become as the youngest, and the leader as one who serves. For who is the greater, one who reclines at table or one who serves? Is it not the one who reclines at table? But I am among you as the one who serves” (Luke 22:25-27).
“A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another: just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another. By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another” (John 13:34-35).
In no way do I want to diminish the Olympic athletes’ accomplishments. It has been a joy to watch. But I do want to remember that in God’s economy greatness is not only found on podiums receiving medals. Sometimes greatness is found not by rising up, but by going down, it is found serving those who can’t repay, in spending your life for the sake of others, in washing dirty feet.
That also got me thinking about great things.
I had a conversation this week with my friend Tim Owens. Due to some health issues, Tim is stepping down after eight years as a volunteer with Metanoia Prison Ministries.
Tim is 70 years old, and he told me there isn’t much in ministry he hasn’t done. He’s preached and taught Sunday school and led small groups and he’s counseled people. I asked him how mentoring prisoners compared to other things he’s done.
Without hesitation he said, “Oh, mentoring prisoners is the greatest thing I’ve ever done.”
“Nothing has given me more joy than sitting with a man in the prison and studying the Scriptures with him. Plenty of times I’ve gone to the prison feeling bad and thought about staying home. But every time, no matter how I felt going in, I left the prison rejoicing.”
Many think of greatness as doing big things—preaching before large crowds or building huge mega-churches. But I think Tim is on to something. Sometimes great things are found in small and insignificant places, doing what most in society and in the church think has little value, like sitting one on one with a prisoner and an open Bible, week after week, month after month for years.
Tim, and other volunteers, who spend their lives faithfully serving “the least of these” points me to Jesus who came not to be served but to serve, and that is a great thing.
Much love, Barry
PS-I’d love to know your thoughts.