Whos the G.O.A.T?

Who’s the G.O.A.T? That’s what we always want to know. 

Who is the Greatest of All Time?

Debates go on forever in sports, in music, in film. Who is the greatest player? What’s the greatest band? The greatest movie or actor? If we’re going to figure it out, we must look at the data, right? Who has the most wins? Who won the most awards? Who sold the most tickets? That’s what greatness means, right?

Well, not so fast. Not for Jesus. Jesus’ idea of greatness is self-sacrificial service on behalf of the least  and the last. Not only does Jesus tell us this, He shows us this as well. In Mark 9:30-37 Jesus first clues us in on his ultimate purpose. His ministry is all about the cross. It’s all about his sacrifice on behalf of humanity. That is what greatness looks like.

But then Jesus also calls on his disciples to be great as well. To serve and receive the least and the last like we would our own children or grandchildren. To be sure, we will push back against Jesus’ teaching and his call. Me? I have to serve the one who is addicted? The one who is homeless? The one who I would never ever choose to interact with? I must serve the one who, for all intents and purposes, simply doesn’t deserve my acts of kindness and love? 

The short answer? Yes. That is greatness. That is what Jesus has done for us in his death and resurrection and that is where Jesus calls us to follow him. It will take us to places we never imagined and introduce us to wonderful people. Places and people we, in the end, could never imagine living without.