A New Definition of Greatness

I recently came across Martin Luther King's "The Drum Major Instinct" speech. The above video is a short excerpt taken from this speech that he delivered on February 4, 1968 at Ebenezer Baptist Church in Atlanta, Georgia. Here is a link to the entire message.

The "drum major instinct" is the urge we all have to promote ourselves, to seek greatness, to promote our own agenda, or to edge God out. It's the common state of all mankind.

But Jesus says to His followers, "It shall not be so among you!" Jesus has given us a new heart, a new nature, and a new model of leadership. Jesus has given us a new definition of greatness.

You only need a heart full of grace, a soul generated by love. You can be that servant!

Mark 10:35-45

Then James and John, the sons of Zebedee, came to him. “Teacher,” they said, “we want you to do for us whatever we ask.” 

“What do you want me to do for you?” he asked.

They replied, “Let one of us sit at your right and the other at your left in your glory.”  

“You don’t know what you are asking,” Jesus said. “Can you drink the cup I drink or be baptized with the baptism I am baptized with?”  

“We can,” they answered. 

Jesus said to them, “You will drink the cup I drink and be baptized with the baptism I am baptized with, but to sit at my right or left is not for me to grant. These places belong to those for whom they have been prepared.”  

When the ten heard about this, they became indignant with James and John.  

Jesus called them together and said, “You know that those who are regarded as rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and their high officials exercise authority over them. Not so with you. Instead, whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant,  and whoever wants to be first must be slave of all.  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.”