Greatness – and how to achieve it

Greatness has eluded me. So how on earth can I give you advice along the lines “Greatness - and how to achieve it”?

A few hours immediately before the AD 30 incident in bold above, a dispute arose among the disciples of Jesus as to which of them was to be regarded as the greatest. Apparently (according to Luke, Jesus’ first century researcher-biographer) this dispute reared its head during the late evening meal on what we now call Maundy Thursday. 

 

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If you had been there what would you have put forward to substantiate your claim to be regarded (by your peers) as the greatest? Financial success? Inherited wealth? The respect of the scientific, medical, or engineering community? The achievements of your family? How many Facebook friends? Your looks?

Maybe two things which Jesus then said – and one thing which he did – may help us to achieve greatness.

First, he said this: “The kings of the Gentiles lord it over them [the Gentiles] and those who rule over them [the Gentiles] are called benefactors [good workers]. But not so with you.” Do you get the picture? It’s rather radical. He’s saying that, in our world, the national leaders and rulers are extolled and praised and celebrated as worthy and good. They are great. This is not to be the case in Jesus’ kingdom.

During the past 2,000 years this conflict has arisen time and time again. It has been seen in particular in the conflict between “church” and “state”. The “state” leaders have been deeply concerned about the possible allegiance of “their” people to a higher authority than themselves.

Second, he went on to say this: “This Scripture must be fulfilled in me. ‘He was numbered with the transgressors’. Because indeed what is written about me now has its fulfilment.” Jesus was referring to a Scripture (a Book written by Isaiah around BC 600) in which Isaiah wrote of the future Messiah, “He poured out his soul to death and was numbered with the transgressors; yet he bore the sin of many, and made intercession for the transgressors.”

Yes, this man’s greatness was, in part, the fact that he fulfilled what had been clearly stated in the Jewish Bible Their Messiah would be counted as one of the transgressors – the law-breakers – those not worthy to live any more. Jesus would achieve that greatness. For transgressors he carried their sin and took their punishment.....even the punishment due to the murderer Barabbas.

 

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Third, Jesus did this thing: He went under. He capitulated to all the evil in other human beings. He turned away from financial success and wealth. He did not seek to obtain praise for academic or practical ability. He relinquished reputation. He had no earthly children to bring him praise. All his followers and Facebook friends ran away from him. He relinquished looks (his face, according to Isaiah, was marred more than any other man’s). He became a convicted - a criminal - transgressor.

He achieved greatness. He went under. For others.

So special was that greatness in the sight of his Father above that his Father raised him from the dead. Easter Sunday’s resurrection will, yet again, be celebrated globally next week. But his greatness is in his cross.