Who is the Greatest

Who is greatest

“At that time the disciples came to Jesus and asked, “Who is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven?” 
He called a little child and had him stand among them.  
And he said: “I tell you the truth, unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven.  
Therefore, whoever humbles himself like this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven.” 
                                                                                                                                   Matthew 18:1-4.
What makes a person great, Education, being a great orator, Power, being a mighty hero, What?
Most people when they hear the names of great leaders may have heard the name but few know much about the person.
I watched a documentary that asked young people, the twenty or so group who Winston Churchill was. Sadly most didn’t know. Some were able to say he was a British prime minister but little else.
I doubt if most Americans could name more than one of the signatories on the constitution.
Canadians are the same unable to name the fathers of confederation. Most have never heard of Thomas D'Arcy Etienne Hughes McGee.
In the motion picture Patton, General George C. Patton is attributed as saying,
"For over a thousand years Roman conquerors returning from the wars enjoyed the honour of triumph, a tumultuous parade. In the procession came trumpeteers, musicians and strange animals from conquered territories, together with carts laden with treasure and captured armaments. The conquerors rode in a triumphal chariot, the dazed prisoners walking in chains before him. Sometimes his children robed in white stood with him in the chariot or rode the trace horses. A slave stood behind the conqueror holding a golden crown and whispering in his ear a warning: that all glory is fleeting."
Patton, arguably one of the greatest generals in history knew about such things. Being a conquering hero means little. He knew about greatness. Yet today few people know much about Patton.
One man’s name however is known around the earth. Jesus of Nazareth. Two point two billion people still follow him today.
Dr. James Allan Francis in 1926 wrote’

He never wrote a book 

He never held an office 

He never went to college 

He never visited a big city 

He never travelled more than two hundred miles 

From the place where he was born 

He did none of the things 

Usually associated with greatness... 

Nineteen centuries have come and gone 

And today Jesus is the central figure of the human race 

And the leader of mankind's progress 

All the armies that have ever marched 

All the navies that have ever sailed 

All the parliaments that have ever sat 

All the kings that ever reigned put together 

Have not affected the life of mankind on earth 

As powerfully as that one solitary life 

Jesus taught us what it was to be humble. He came to do the work of God. To do the will of his Heavenly Father. In doing so he showed us what it was to be humble.
Jesus humbled himself to the point of washing the feet of his disciples.
Humility is in short supply among most people today. How many politicians have fallen because they refused to humble themselves and admit what they were doing was wrong.
How many wars have started because the leaders of a country have refused to back down because it was a case of honour. And to back down would be a disgrace.
Jesus the Son of God who was there on the day of creation. Who created the world. Humbled himself to become a man and to die for the sins of man. To die for crimes he didn’t commit.
We as individuals need to look at the teachings of Christ. We need to look at his life, learn the lesson of humility he taught and put that lessons into action in our life.
In doing so I believe we will make the world a far better place.
Think About it.