Who Is the Greatest?
Not to be served, but to serve
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- A verse number shows the Bible’s exact words.
- An underlined word shows what it means.
Story
What happened?
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The whole story, in shortWhat happens, start to finish. Open it if you want the ending first.
After Jesus told his disciples again that he would be killed and rise, they argued on the road about who was the greatest. Jesus said whoever wants to be first must be the servant of all, and he took a little child in his arms. Later James and John asked for the best seats in his glory, and Jesus said, "Even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life as a ransom for many."
Where it is in the Bible: Mark 9:30-37 and 10:35-45
Who’s who and what came beforePeople, places, and the story so far. Open it anytime.
Scene Card
Cast
- Jesus: The one the Gospels present as the promised Messiah and the Son of God. He is on his way to Jerusalem to die.
- The twelve disciples: Jesus's closest followers. They keep arguing about who is most important.
- James and John: Two brothers among the twelve, sons of Zebedee.
- A little child: A child Jesus takes in his arms.
Setting
- Galilee and Capernaum, then the road toward Jerusalem.
When
- About 2,000 years ago, in the weeks before Jesus died.
Before the Story
Jesus had told his disciples that he would die. He said he would suffer, be killed, and rise again (8:31).
Peter, James, and John saw Jesus shine on a mountain. God's voice said, "This is My beloved Son. Listen to Him!" (9:7).
Here's what you know that the disciples keep missing: Jesus is going to Jerusalem to give his life. They are thinking about who will be most important when he is king.
Map of the Story
| Scene | Verses | What happens |
|---|---|---|
| 1. A second warning | 9:30-32 | Jesus again says he will die and rise |
| 2. An argument on the road | 9:33-35 | The disciples argue about who is greatest |
| 3. A child in his arms | 9:36-37 | Jesus takes a child and teaches them |
| 4. A big request | 10:35-40 | James and John ask for the best seats |
| 5. The servant of all | 10:41-45 | Jesus says the greatest is the one who serves |
Plain Retelling
Scene 1 of 5A Second Warning
Jesus and his disciples traveled through Galilee. Jesus didn't want anyone to know, because he was teaching his disciples.
He told them, "The Son of Man will be delivered into the hands of men. They will kill Him, and after three days He will rise" (9:31). "Son of Man" is a name Jesus used for himself.
They didn't understand. And they were afraid to ask him.
Scene 2 of 5An Argument on the Road
They came to Capernaum. In the house, Jesus asked them, "What were you discussing on the way?" (9:33).
They were silent. On the road, they had been arguing about which of them was the greatest.
Jesus sat down and called the twelve. "If anyone wants to be first, he must be the last of all and the servant of all" (9:35).
Scene 3 of 5A Child in His Arms
Jesus had a little child stand among them. He took the child in his arms.
"Whoever welcomes one of these little children in My name welcomes Me, and whoever welcomes Me welcomes not only Me, but the One who sent Me" (9:37).
Back then, children had no power or importance. Jesus said welcoming a child is welcoming him.
Scene 4 of 5A Big Request
Later, on the road to Jerusalem, Jesus told them a third time that he would be killed and rise again (10:33-34).
Then James and John came to him. "Teacher, we want You to do for us whatever we ask" (10:35).
"What do you want Me to do for you?" Jesus asked (10:36).
They asked to sit at his right and left in his glory, the two most important seats.
"You do not know what you are asking," Jesus said (10:38). He asked if they could drink the cup he would drink. The cup meant the suffering ahead of him.
"We can," they said (10:39). Jesus said they would share in his suffering. But the seats at his right and left were not his to give.
Scene 5 of 5The Servant of All
When the other ten heard about this, they were angry with James and John.
So Jesus called them all together. He said that rulers in the world like to boss people around.
"But it shall not be this way among you. Instead, whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant" (10:43).
"And whoever wants to be first must be the slave of all" (10:44).
"For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life as a ransom for many" (10:45).
A ransom is a price paid to set someone free.
Meaning
What does it mean?
Read It
What Does This Mean?
| The text says | It means |
|---|---|
| "They were silent" (9:34) | They knew their argument didn't fit with what Jesus had just said. |
| "The servant of all" (9:35) | In God's kingdom, greatness looks like serving. |
| "Whoever welcomes one of these little children" (9:37) | People the world overlooks matter to Jesus. |
| "You do not know what you are asking" (10:38) | James and John wanted glory without understanding the cross. |
| "It shall not be this way among you" (10:43) | Jesus's followers don't use power to boss people around. |
| "Not... to be served, but to serve" (10:45) | Jesus is the greatest, and he became the servant of all. |
| "A ransom for many" (10:45) | Jesus gave his life to set us free. |
Back Then
Seats at a king's right and left were the places of honor. The people closest to the king were the most powerful.
Children had little status. They could not own property or make decisions. They were not seen as important.
Jesus's question about the "cup" came true. James was killed for following Jesus (Acts 12:2). John lived long and suffered too.
Literal Reader Alert
Is it wrong to want to be good at something? No. Jesus isn't against doing your best. He's against wanting to be over others. In his kingdom, the best gifts are used to serve.
Does serving mean letting people treat you badly? No. Serving is a choice to help out of love. It doesn't mean staying where someone hurts you. If someone is hurting you, please tell a trusted adult.
Who sat at Jesus's right and left? When Jesus was crucified, two criminals were crucified with him, one on his right and one on his left (15:27). That was where Jesus's "glory" began.
How People Feel
| Who | Feeling | Why |
|---|---|---|
| The disciples | Afraid | They didn't understand and were afraid to ask (9:32) |
| The disciples | Embarrassed | They had been arguing about who was greatest (9:34) |
| James and John | Ambitious | They wanted the best seats (10:37) |
| The other ten | Angry | James and John asked first (10:41) |
For you
What does it mean for me?
Your Turn
When do you feel like you need to be the most important? Tap one.
At school
Jesus says the greatest is the one who serves. Who could you help today?
At home
Serving at home counts too. Jesus washed feet.
With friends
It's normal to want to matter. You already matter to Jesus.
I feel unimportant
Jesus took a little child in his arms. He welcomes people the world overlooks.
You Might Have Heard
"Important people deserve to be served."
What's true: God gives some people leadership, and it is right to respect them.
What the story is mainly about: Jesus is the most important person who ever lived, and he came to serve. "Did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life as a ransom for many" (10:45). In his kingdom, greatness is measured by serving.
Where Jesus is: With a child in his arms. And on the road to Jerusalem, where he would give his life as a ransom.
Good News
The disciples were arguing about who was greatest. Jesus was on his way to die for them.
"For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life as a ransom for many" (10:45).
Jesus didn't wait until his friends stopped being selfish. He served them anyway, all the way to the cross.
Jesus is the greatest, and he became the servant of all. He gave his life as a ransom to set us free.
Big Idea
In Jesus's kingdom, the greatest is the servant of all. Jesus came not to be served, but to serve, and to give his life for us.
If this story brings up big feelings, talk with someone you trust, like a parent, pastor, or counselor.
For leaders and parentsLuther, church readings, and notes for teaching.
From Luther
Luther taught that a Christian is free, because Christ has saved us. And that very freedom makes us glad to serve our neighbor, the way Christ served us.
In Church
Many churches follow the Revised Common Lectionary. In Year B, it reads Mark 9:30-37 in September (Lectionary 25), and Mark 10:35-45 in October (Lectionary 29).
We quote Luther for what he got right about grace. He also wrote terrible things about Jewish people. Read our note on that.
Memorize
How do I keep it?
One line from this story to learn by heart. Practice a little now. It will come back later so it sticks.
For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life as a ransom for many.
How did that feel?
You finished Who Is the Greatest?.
Using this at church
Read in church on
For a newsletter or sermon notes
Who Is the Greatest?, explained in plain words. The disciples argue about who's most important. Jesus takes a child in his arms. About 9 minutes. https://freescripture.org/stories/who-is-the-greatest/
Lines for the next eight Sundays, on Digital Lutheran Church