The Greatest
Who is the greatest in the kingdom of God? The saviour gathered his disciples about him, and said to them, “If any man desires to be first, the same shall be last of all and servant of all.” There was in these words a solemnity and impressiveness which the disciples were far from comprehending. That which Christ discerned, they could not see. They did not understand the nature of Christ’s kingdom. Even after they had received the fullest knowledge, any question of precedence might have renewed the trouble. So disaster would have been brought to the ecclesia after Christ’s departure. The strife for the highest place was the outworking of that same spirit in the churches and governments. Christ the exalted made himself of no reputation and took upon himself the form of a servant, was made in the likeness of men and was found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross (Philippians 2:7-8).
The world has had its great teachers, men of giant intellect and wonderful research, men whose utterances have stimulated thought, and opened to view vast fields of knowledge, and these men have been honoured as guides and benefactors of their race. But there is one who is higher than they. As many as received him, to them he gave power to become the sons of God. “No man hath seen God at any time, the only begotten son, which is in the bosom of the Father, he hath declared Him.”
We can trace the line of the world’s great teachers as far back as human records extend, but the light was before them. As the moons of the solar system shine by the reflected light of the sun, so as far as their teaching is true, do the world’s great thinkers reflect the rays of the Sun of Righteousness. Every gem of thought, every flash of the intellect, is from the light of the world. In these days we hear much about higher education. The true education is that imparted by Him in whom are hid all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge. “In him was life, and the life was the light of men. ‘He that followeth me’, said Jesus, ‘shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life’” (John 1:12,18; Colossians 2:3; John 1:4).
Among Christ’s hearers, many were drawn to him in faith and to them he said, “If ye continue in my word, then are ye my disciples indeed, and ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.” These words offended the Pharisees. They disregarded the nation’s long subjection to a foreign yoke and angrily exclaimed, “We be Abraham’s seed, and were never in bondage to any man. How sayest thou, ‘Ye shall be made free?’” Jesus looked upon these man, the slaves of malice whose thoughts were bent upon revenge, and sadly answered, “Verily, verily, I say unto you, whosoever committeth sin is the servant of sin.” They were in the worst kind of bondage, ruled by the spirit of evil. Every soul that refuses to give himself to God is under the control of another power. He may talk of freedom, but he is in the most abject slavery.
Bro Melusi Nalovu (Kwekwe, Zimbabwe)
