Principal's Ponderings

Who Is the Greatest?

Recently I was reading from Luke chapter 22 (verses 24-27). There is something deeply human about the question and discussion the disciples asked Jesus, “Who is the greatest?” 

They really wanted to know, ‘Jesus do you have a ‘favourite’ here? Am I your favourite?’ 

It is not just a question asked long ago. I have always steered away from this question in our home, until recently, now with growing adults the little comment gets thrown in to persuade me to support one’s wishes, ‘Come on Dad? I am your favourite right?’   

If we are honest, even if you’re like me and don’t really like the question, it still whispers quietly today in other forms too. 

Who has the influence?

Who gets listened to?

Who is noticed?

Who gets the front seat?

Who is thanked, valued or seen?

And right in the middle of that very human conversation, Jesus gently and powerfully redefines greatness. He does not say leadership is wrong. He does not say authority is wrong. He does not say influence is wrong. But He turns the whole idea upside down. I love that about Jesus. Turning everything we think to be right, upside down!

Jesus says, “Who is greater, the one who is at the table or the one who serves?” The obvious answer, in His day and often in ours, is the one at the table. The honoured guest, the one reclining at the table. The one being served who is usually the one with status.

But then Jesus says words that should quietly reshape every proud part of our hearts:

“But I am among you, as one who serves.”

Jesus, the greatest in the room, takes the lowest posture in the room. The King becomes the servant. The Lord of all takes the towel. The One worthy of all honour chooses humility.

This matters deeply for us as a school community, and it matters deeply in our homes. We long for our children to grow in gratitude, compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. We want them to say thank you. We want them to notice others. We want them to listen well, care deeply and serve joyfully. And Jesus’ words invite us to ask a deeper question too. Are we modelling the kind of greatness we hope to see formed in our children? How do we respond when we are overlooked? What rises in us when our work is unnoticed? Can we keep serving with grace, when gratitude is not given back? Can we lead, parent, teach and care without needing constant recognition in return? That is not easy. In fact, it is deeply forming.

Jesus here, does not call us to act humble only when humility feels noble. He calls us to become humble, even when humility costs us something.

Paul understood this. In Philippians 3, he lists all the reasons he could have stood tall in his own strength. Heritage, education, discipline, confidence and status. Yet when Paul met Jesus, he did not become more impressed with himself. He became more captivated by Christ. Wow! Paul stopped being the greatest in his mind, someone else was, Jesus! That is the beautiful work of grace.

I have the privilege of serving beside some of my favourite kind of people in the whole world. Student leaders, teacher leaders, administration leaders, assistant and wellbeing leaders, finance leaders, parent leaders, community leaders, all wonderful people leading others. I see how they serve and bless others. And I have noticed the pure heart of true human service. The closer we come to Jesus, the less we need to prove ourselves. The more secure we are in Him, the less desperate we become for position, recognition or control. True Christian leadership, and true Christian parenting, true Christian friendship, is not weakness. It is strength surrendered.

It is using influence for the good of others.

It is speaking truth with gentleness.

It is carrying responsibility with humility.

It is choosing the lower place because Jesus is already the greatest in the room.

Our children may not remember every instruction we give. They may not remember every plan, rule or reminder. But they will feel the culture we carried. They will remember whether our love made room for grace. They will remember whether our authority felt safe. They will remember whether we used our influence to serve.

So perhaps the question is not only, “Who is the greatest?” Because Jesus has already answered that.

The greatest is Jesus.

The better question is, “What posture should we take because Jesus is the greatest?”

We take the lower place. We pick up the towel. We serve the table. We lead with courage, but without ego. We love with patience, even when it costs us.

May our homes and our school be places where children see greatness not as being above others, but as serving others with the heart of Christ. Because He is the greatest. And He is among us as One who serves.

Shalom,

Chad