The Greatest Father of ALL

Who is the Greatest Dad of All? even as the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.” (Mt 20:28).

God the creator

God the redeemer

God the provider

God the sustainer

Its clear to me that Jesus was on to something when he said that the rulers of the Gentiles lord over them. This literally recognizes the world loves power and a little power can quickly go to your head.

This statement comes in response to the indignation the 10 disciples felt when they heard the request of James and John. One to sit on Jesus right had and the other to sit on his left. Jesus had to explain to them that position brings problems. Can you handle the cup that Jesus has to drink of. Before their mother made the request had reminded them that he was going to Jerusalem to be killed. 18 “See, we are going up to Jerusalem. And the Son of Man will be delivered over to the chief priests and scribes, and they will condemn him to death 19 and deliver him over to the Gentiles to be mocked and flogged and crucified, and he will be raised on the third day.” (Mt 20:18–19).

So we get a lesson in greatness! There is always debate on who is the greatest. I seem T-shirts the The Greatest Dad. We go back and forth on who is the greatest athlete.

The the concept of Greatest is something many desire to be called not understanding the cost of greatness. Jesus said, 26 It shall not be so among you. But whoever would be great among you must be your servant, 27 and whoever would be first among you must be your slave, 28 even as the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.” (Mt 20:26–28).

So lets look at this

First if you want to be great you must avoid the worlds standard of greatness

The world will mess you up. We must not look to the worlds standards for greatness. Cash, Cars, Cribs, and Careers don’t or wont make you great. These things are temporal. They fade away.

Secondly We must be a servant

We must be a servant in the true sense of the word.

It shall not be so among you. But whoever would be great among you must be your servant, 27 and whoever would be first among you must be your slave, (Mt 20:26–27). Jesus uses two words servant we get the words minister, deacon, from. Secondly he uses the slave which takes the word servant to a level that many push back on. When you are a slave you are required to do what the master says. Slave to Christ. We must never forget Christ maintains ownership of our lives. At no time should we be rouge. We have a responsibility to do has Christ tells us. We can change the play book, make our own rules, pick and choose what we wan to do!

Jesus made it clear how servitude looks. In Luke 9

Who Is the Greatest?

46 An argument arose among them as to which of them was the greatest. 47 But Jesus, knowing the reasoning of their hearts, took a child and put him by his side 48 and said to them, “Whoever receives this child in my name receives me, and whoever receives me receives him who sent me. For he who is least among you all is the one who is great.” (Lk 9:46–48).

as children we are Children of God 16 The Spirit himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God, 17 and if children, then heirs—heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ, provided we suffer with him in order that we may also be glorified with him . (Ro 8:16–17).

In Luke 24 when a dispute again broke out who is the greatest Jesus said it this way: 25 And he said to them, “The kings of the Gentiles exercise lordship over them, and those in authority over them are called benefactors. 26 But not so with you. Rather, let the greatest among you become as the youngest, and the leader as one who serves. 27 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. (Lk 22:25–27).

Jesus said not everyone can receive this saying.

We must look to Jesus as our example. 9 For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though he was rich, yet for your sake he became poor, so that you by his poverty might become rich . (2 Co 8:9).

Paul said 7 but emptied himself, by taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men. 8 And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross. (Php 2:7–8).

9 Therefore God has highly exalted him and bestowed on him the name that is above every name, 10 so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, 11 and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

The Holy Bible: English Standard Version. (2016). (Php 2:9–11). Wheaton, IL: Crossway Bibles.