I remember, what was it about 13 years ago, that Princess Diana was killed in a car accident? I remember when it happened, it was all over the media. Any television channel that you turned on had some kind of coverage of the latest developments of this tragedy. Then I remember, I think it was two days later, Mother Teresa died. The media was still saturated in covering the death of Princess Diana, now all of a sudden there was the death of another international figure to cover.

But, for some reason, Mother Teresa’s death never did receive nearly the same level of coverage that Princess Diana’s did. Now the media pundits defended this by saying that Princess Di’s death was somehow more tragic and shocking because, at 37 years old, she was so much younger than Mother Teresa who was 87 years old when she died. They would say that Mother Teresa would definitely be missed, but that she lived a full life. But I think that there was something else going on there.

I think this is a typical example of the difference between the world’s definition of greatness and Jesus’ definition of greatness. I’m not trying to trample on the memory of Princess Diana. The truth is, she was very devoted to helping people. She was involved in charity work right up until her death. Her charity work involved providing help for the homeless, children, people suffering from AIDS, as well as her campaign to ban land mines. But, at the time of her death, the overwhelming majority of the coverage that was given to remembering her life was not given to her charity work but to less servant-oriented aspects of her life.

I remember several times, I heard her courtship with Prince Charles referred to as a “fairy-tale” like romance. And, granted it was the first time in 300 years that someone from non-royal lineage married into the royal family. But let’s be honest, it’s still a big stretch to call their courtship a fairy-tale. It wasn’t like she was a peasent-girl who caught his eye one day while he was milling about the marketplace and they instantly fell in love. She came from one of the richest families in all of Europe. It wasn’t a story of a young woman going from rags to riches. It was more a story of a young woman going from one level of riches to slightly higher level of riches.

Mother Teresa, on the other hand, lead a life that could hardly be considered “fairy-tale.” She began her service as a nun at the age of 19. For her first twenty years as a sister, she served as a teacher in Calcutta. On September 10, 1946 she heard what she referred to as a “call within a call.” She believed that God was calling her to renounce everything so she could follow Christ to serve in the slums, to serve the poorest of the poor. She said that in a quiet prayer she heard a clear and distinct message that she was to “leave the convent and help the poor while living among them.” She felt it wasn’t a request but an order.

When she left the comfort of her teaching job at the convent she ended up on Creek Lane in Calcutta with no shelter, no company, no helper, no money, no employment, no promise, no guarantee and no security. But she held tight to her faith. She prayed “God, You only, only You. I trust in Your call, Your inspiration. You will not let me down.”

Before long, she had found a place to stay at the home of Michael Gomes. Plus, former students of hers began to join in her work. By 1953, 28 women had joined in her work. In 1952, she opened “Pure Heart,” the first of many homes for sick and dying street people. Here she is said to have, along with her helpers, cleaned maggots off the faces of leprosy victims, washed the emaciated bodies of the malnourished and held the hands of the dying. She continued the work of serving the poorest people of Calcutta that began in these humble beginnings the rest of her life. And the work that she began, continues today.

Now, I don’t want you to think that I am trying to over-exalt or detract away from either of these women’s memories. The point that I’m trying to make is that often there is a huge difference in what the world sees as greatness and what God clearly lays out as greatness in His Word.

We see this same confusion in today’s Gospel message. James and John are curious about what their position will be in God’s kingdom. They ask Jesus to allow them to sit at his right and left-hand side in this kingdom. James and John had somehow gotten the mistaken notion that true greatness was measured by how many people served you. But Jesus told them it was just the opposite.

Jesus contrasts the Roman and Greek view of greatness with God’s view of greatness. In speaking about the Roman and Greek rulers, Jesus says, “…those whom they recognize as their rulers lord it over them, and their great ones are tyrants over them.” So, in Greek and Roman culture, greatness was measured by how much power somebody could wield over people.

But, Jesus says that the opposite is true. He presents them with a totally different world view. He says, “But it is not so among you; But whoever wishes to become great among you must be your servant.” The reason why James and John thought that they should receive exalted positions was because they were a part of Jesus’ inner circle. This inner circle consisted of James, John and Peter. Jesus had a closer and more intimate relationship with his inner circle than He did with the rest of His disciples. He, of course loved all of His disciples equally, but his relationship with his inner circle was a little more personal and intimate. They were the first three disciples called, and Jesus’ ministry began with them. That’s why those three disciples were always able to make a connection with Jesus that the other disciples weren’t. So, in a way, it’s kind of understandable that they might think that they should have somewhat exalted positions, since they were still thinking on earthly terms.

Then Jesus kind of wraps this all up by saying that He didn’t come to be served, but to serve and that He also came to “…give His life a ransom for many.” Now when we hear the word, ransom, more likely than not we will think of kidnapping or something like that. But, Jesus uses it here because, back then a ransom is what was paid to release someone from slavery.

Jesus’ death on the cross saved us from our slavery to sin. When Jesus spoke of being the messiah and savior, the disciples, particularly those in His inner circle, thought that His life and power would save them from bondage to Rome. But, what Jesus actually meant was that His suffering and death would free them from their bondage to sin, which is of course a much more significant freedom. This is the confusion that James and John struggled with, and it’s believed that none of the disciples truly began to comprehend what Jesus meant by greatness through servanthood until Jesus’ death and resurrection.

James and John definitely, eventually did get it. James went on to become the first disciple to be martyred for his belief in and teaching of the Gospel and John went on to be a leader in the Jerusalem church and write the Gospel of John and three Epistle letters. He was eventually imprisoned on the island of Patmos for believing and teaching the Gospel of Christ. During his imprisonment on Patmos he wrote the book of Revelation.

What James and John learned was how to be good servant leaders. Servant leadership is when a leader humbles him or herself to be on the same level as those who serve.Mother Teresa definitely understood this. And, I would say that even Princess Diana understood this. But, she didn’t show her greatness through the “fairy-tale” like romance that she had with prince Charles or the lavish extravagant lifestyle that being a member of the royal family allowed her to lead. She showed her greatness through the humility and servanthood that she showed through her work toward helping others.

James and John, eventually understood this. Consequently, they are remembered not for the way they exalted themselves, but through the humility and servanthood that they showed through their ministries.

As Christians, we are called to be servant leaders to the world. We are called to show greatness not by exalting ourselves over others but by humbling ourselves and by serving others. It’s only through humility and servanthood that we are able to continue the work of Christ. It’s only through humility and servanthood that we are able to display the righteousness that Christ imparted upon us through His death on the cross, and it’s only though humility and servanthood that we are able to display true greatness.

Hope this brings some thought to your brains... Feel free to comment below. Also if you would like to email me, feel free to do so at andrewthetford89@gmail.com