Who is the greatest?

Mark 9 : 30 - 37

The Son of man will be....killed...after three days he will rise

It is said that those with real 'greatness' do not need to compare themselves with others. They are secure in who and where they are. Is this stance possible in this world where wealth and power are the modern gods? It seems unlikely, given the many power battles being fought in every arena - from the political to corporate boardrooms, to family units. The appetite for glory and greatness is part of fallen humanity.

But God tells us it is possible. He modeled it in Christ, who humbled himself and accepted death, even death on a cross (Phil 2). What more do we need to convince us that the world's measure of 'littleness' is the wrong one?

The disciples did not 'get it' either. They could not accept their master's choice of losing his life in order to bear lasting fruit. Would we have understood had we been there? Do we understand even today, when the story is complete and we know how it ends? We know the ending of the story (the victory of the cross), and yet in the heat of the battle of life, when we seem to be 'losing' we cling for dear life to status and power. May the Lord forgive us and teach us to receive the 'little' ones, in particular the powerless and marginalized, and in that way, welcome Christ himself.