True Greatness

I believe that God has placed a desire deep within our hearts to do something great with our lives, to make a difference in the world, to live for something that will last.

There is a really interesting conversation that takes place in Matthew 20 between Jesus, two of his disciples (James and John), and their mother, an apparently prototypical “mama bear” named Salome who in mama bear fashion tried to stick her nose into her kids’ business.

Salome’s proposal to Jesus was this, “Grant that these my two sons may sit, the one on thy right hand, and the other on the left, in thy kingdom.” (Matt. 20:21) Jesus’ response in the following verses is not a rejection of ambition nor the desire to do something significant with our lives. Instead, he redefines ambition and what true greatness really means.

When we look out over the missionary movement – both in the first century and in recent centuries – two characteristics rise to the surface. One, these men and women of faith, who ventured to go with the Gospel of Jesus Christ to lands far away and shores beyond the horizon, were men and women of great vision. They had a big view of God, His Word and their commission. Their ambition to see the light of the gospel penetrate the darkest corners of the world was not stymied by any hurdles in their path or the pessimism of those who felt the task was too great.

Two, these men and women of faith understood Jesus call to true greatness. Jesus made it clear that His call was not to men and women who wanted to be big shots in this world. He explained that the path to true greatness is always difficult - “you will drink indeed of my cup” (v.23); that in spite of the fact that everybody else defines greatness as position and notoriety, true greatness is serving - “whosoever will be great among you, let him be your minister;” (v.25-27); and that ultimately, true greatness is giving up your life - “For the Son of man came not to be ministered unto, but to minister, and to give his life…”

In the years that followed Christ’s death, his disciples did “indeed drink of his cup”, including the children of Salome. James was the first of the disciples to be martyred by having his head cut off. John was tortured, then exiled to the prison island of Patmos. Tertullian says that part of this torture included plunging John into a vat of boiling oil. Yet, through these tribulations, and the missionary work that preceded them, the gospel of Christ spread like wildfire. Though not in the manner Salome had ever envisioned, her desire for her sons “greatness” was fulfilled.

Today, the call to mission remains the same. And though I offer the call with quivering voice, I offer it with the boldness that comes from Jesus’ own words. Jesus is calling His disciples to GREATNESS. On the basis of the example that he gave of giving up his life; and on the basis of the disciples who followed him - like James and John - who gave up their lives, and their reputations, and their comfort; He is calling us to give up our lives for a cause that is far greater than anything else that we can imagine.

Some of the greatest people I know – and I mean that with everything that I have –will never have their names in lights. You may never hear of them. They have served and are serving today in some very difficult places. They are serving in some very dangerous places. And I am calling you to join them.

In 2017, there are still 3,500 people groups without any Scripture. Only around 650 languages have a completed Bible – both Old and New Testaments. Why is this? Because the rest of the people groups are hard to reach. They are in hard places. The task of Bible translation is difficult and arduous. And it is expensive. We don’t have enough qualified translators. And we don’t have enough resources. Will you hear the call of our captain, Jesus Christ to join in this effort? Will you hear His call to greatness?

(article first published in April, 2017 edition of Bibles International's Briefings)