The Greatest of All Time

Who Do You Serve - The Greatest of All Time

Bill Parcells won two Super Bowls as the head coach of the New York Giants. These victories came in Super Bowl XXI in 1987 and Super Bowl XXV in 1990 Bill Belichick has won. Six of these were as the head coach of the New England Patriots, and he also won two as the defensive coordinator of the New York Giants under Bill Parcells. Nick Saban has an impressive record in bowl games, winning 16 out of 23 during his time at Alabama. He also holds the record for the most national championships in FBS history, with a total of 7

The disciples had a running argument that kept coming up and Jesus decided to finally settle with clarity. As you may know Jesus would speak in parables and sometimes break it down for them to understand. Jesus gave them answers before they didn't get, so in today's message Jesus will settle the issue.

1st Attempt - Matthew 18:1-10 (AMP)

Rank in the Kingdom

1 At that time the disciples came to Jesus and asked, "Who is greatest in the kingdom of heaven?" 2 He called a little child and set him before them, 3 and said, "I assure you and most solemnly say to you, unless you repent[that is, change your inner self—your old way of thinking, live changed lives] and become like children [trusting, humble, and forgiving], you will never enter the kingdom of heaven.

SERVICE. The rendering of several Heb. and Gk. words: Heb. ˓ābad, to "serve, work"; shārat, to "attend"; Gk. diakonia, "attendance"; leitourgia, "public function," as of a priest; douleuō, to "be a slave"; latreuō, to "minister."

• A. Repent

• B. Become like a child

4 Therefore, whoever [a]humbles himself like this child is greatest in the kingdom of heaven.

• Humble yourself

5 Whoever receives and welcomes one [b]child like this in My name receives Me;

• How we welcome people

6 but whoever causes one of these little ones who believe in Me to stumble and sin [by leading him away from My teaching], it would be better for him to have a heavy millstone [as large as one turned by a donkey] hung around his neck and to be drowned in the depth of the sea.

2nd Attempt - Matthew 20:20-28 (MSG)

20 It was about that time that the mother of the Zebedee brothers came with her two sons(James and John) and knelt before Jesus with a request.

21 "What do you want?" Jesus asked. She said, "Give your word that these two sons of mine will be awarded the highest places of honor in your kingdom, one at your right hand, one at your left hand."

22 Jesus responded, "You have no idea what you're asking." And he said to James and John, "Are you capable of drinking the cup that I'm about to drink?" They said, "Sure, why not?"

23 Jesus said, "Come to think of it, you are going to drink my cup. But as to awarding places of honor, that's not my business. My Father is taking care of that."

24-28 When the ten others heard about this, they lost their tempers, thoroughly disgusted with the two brothers. So Jesus got them together to settle things down. He said, "You've observed how godless rulers throw their weight around, how quickly a little power goes to their heads. It's not going to be that way with you. Whoever wants to be great must become a servant. Whoever wants to be first among you must be your slave. That is what the Son of Man has done: He came to serve, not be served—and then to give away his life in exchange for the many who are held hostage."

3rd and Final Attempt | John 13:1-17 (AMP)

The Lord's Supper

1 Now before the Passover Feast, Jesus knew that His hour had come [and it was time] for Him to leave this world and return to the Father. Having [greatly] loved His own who were in the world, He loved them [and continuously loves them with His perfect love] to the end (eternally).

• Furthest extent, referring not so much to a period of time, but to readiness to do the most humble service in their behalf

2 It was during supper, when the devil had already put [the thought of] betraying Jesus into the heart of Judas Iscariot, Simon's son, 3 that Jesus, knowing that the Father had put everything into His hands, and that He had come from God and was [now] returning to God,

• Note this statement of His divinity, authority, and coming glory, made just before He humbled Himself to take the place of a slave to wash feet

4 got up from supper, took off His [outer] robe, and taking a [servant's] towel, He tied it around His waist.

• He arose from the supper table when the preparation had been completed and began to wash their feet.

• Years had gone by now and they had not learned their lesson this point

• He was seeking to get rid of this passion for worldly honor and dignity, which would have wrecked the foundation of the church after his death if he had not succeeded

• The outer robe was removed for eating or sleeping

Jesus Washes the Disciples' Feet

5 Then He poured water into the basin and began washing the disciples' feet and wiping them with the towel which was tied around His waist.

• This was the duty of the lowest slave

• Some think he began with Judas, so as to melt him with kindness and show how to act toward enemies

6 When He came to Simon Peter, he said to Him, "Lord, are You going to wash my feet?" 7 Jesus replied to him, "You do not realize now what I am doing, but you will [fully] understand it later." 8 Peter said to Him, "You will never wash my feet!" Jesus answered, "Unless I wash you, you have no part with Me [we can have nothing to do with each other]." 9 Simon Peter said to Him, "Lord, [in that case, wash] not only my feet, but also my hands and my head!" 10 Jesus said to him, "Anyone who has bathed needs only to wash his feet, and is completely clean. And you [My disciples] are clean, but not all of you." 11 For He knew who was going to betray Him; for that reason He said, "Not all of you are clean."

12 So when He had washed their feet and put on His [outer] robe and reclined at the table again, He said to them, "Do you understand what I have done for you? 13 You call Me Teacher and Lord, and you are right in doing so, for that is who I am. 14 So if I, the Lord and the Teacher, washed your feet, you ought to wash one another's feet as well. 15 For I gave you [this as] an example, so that you should do [in turn] as I did to you. 16 I assure you and most solemnly say to you, a slave is not greater than his master, nor is one who is sent greater than the one who sent him. 17 If you know these things, you are blessed [happy and favored by God] if you put them into practice [and faithfully do them].

Philippians 2:1-7 (AMP)

Be Like Christ

1 Therefore if there is any encouragement and comfort in Christ [as there certainly is in abundance], if there is any consolation of love, if there is any fellowship [that we share] in the Spirit, if [there is] any [great depth of] affection and compassion, 2 make my joy complete by being of the same mind, having the same love [toward one another], knit together in spirit, intent on one purpose [and living a life that reflects your faith and spreads the gospel—the good news regarding salvation through faith in Christ]. 3 Do nothing from selfishness or empty conceit [through factional motives, or strife], but with [an attitude of] humility [being neither arrogant nor self-righteous], regard others as more important than yourselves. 4 Do not merely look out for your own personal interests, but also for the interests of others. 5 Have this same attitude in yourselves which was in Christ Jesus [look to Him as your example in selfless humility], 6 who, although He existed in the form and unchanging essence of God [as One with Him, possessing the fullness of all the divine attributes—the entire nature of deity], did not regard equality with God a thing to be grasped or asserted [as if He did not already possess it, or was afraid of losing it]; 7 but emptied Himself [without renouncing or diminishing His deity, but only temporarily giving up the outward expression of divine equality and His rightful dignity] by assuming the form of a bond-servant, and being made in the likeness of men [He became completely human but was without sin, being fully God and fully man].

Discussion Questions

1. Jesus had to address the disciples' question about greatness three times before finally demonstrating it through foot washing. Why do you think the disciples struggled so much with understanding servant leadership?
2. In the first attempt (Matthew 18), Jesus said we must "become like children" to enter the kingdom of heaven. What specific childlike qualities (trusting, humble, forgiving) do you find most challenging to maintain as an adult?
3. James and John's mother asked Jesus to give her sons the highest positions in His kingdom. How does the pursuit of position and recognition still affect the church today? How can we guard against this?
4. Jesus said, "Whoever wants to be great must become a servant. Whoever wants to be first among you must be your slave." How does this definition of greatness directly contradict the world's values?
5. The notes mention that washing feet "was the duty of the lowest slave." What made Jesus' act of foot washing so shocking and countercultural? What would be a modern equivalent of this act?
6. Peter initially refused to let Jesus wash his feet, then asked for a full bath. What does Peter's response reveal about his understanding of Jesus' actions? How do we sometimes resist humble service from others?
7. Jesus said, "If you know these things, you are blessed if you put them into practice." Why is there often a gap between knowing what we should do and actually doing it? How can we close that gap?
8. Philippians 2:3 says to "regard others as more important than yourselves." How is this possible without developing an unhealthy view of yourself? What's the balance?
9. Philippians 2:5-7 describes how Jesus "emptied Himself" and took on the form of a servant. What did Jesus empty Himself of, and what does this teach us about humility?
10. The notes state that Jesus was trying to eliminate "this passion for worldly honor and dignity, which would have wrecked the foundation of the church." How does the desire for honor and recognition still threaten the unity and mission of the church to

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