When He sat down, He called the twelve and said to them, “If anyone wants to be first, let him be last of all and servant of all.”
The Lord sits down as Teacher and sets the measure of greatness in the heavenly kingdom. In the world, being first often means ruling, rising above others, and demanding service. But in Christ’s kingdom, greatness is shown in the opposite way, through humility and service. Being “last of all” does not mean false self-abasement, but a conscious refusal of self-glorification. And being “servant of all” is to follow Christ’s own example, who did not come to be served, but to serve and to give Himself as a ransom. Here the foundational law of Christian leadership is heard. Whoever wants to be exalted before God must humble himself before people with a readiness to serve in love.