WHO IS THE GREATEST

Who Is the Greatest? (9:46)

"An argument started among the disciples as to which of them would be the greatest." (9:46)

The disciples have been arguing. The Greek word is used here is dialogismos, "doubt, dispute, argument."[1] Three times, and maybe more, the disciples argue about which of them would be the greatest -- here in 9:46-48, just before Jesus' final ministry in Jerusalem (Matthew 20:20-28), and, amazingly, at the Last Supper (Luke 22:24) which probably prompted Jesus to wash the disciples' feet and so teach them true humility (John 13:4-17). This was an ongoing problem, one that wasn't learned the first time Jesus taught his disciples.

The question the disciples are arguing about is not who IS the greatest, but who WILL BE the greatest.[2] The Greek word is meizon, the comparative form of megas, "large, great."[3] They were seeking greatness of rank and dignity, of importance and status. This is not the pursuit of excellence as a disciple or as a minister of Christ -- a good thing. Some, at least, of what we saw in the recent Summer Olympics, was the pursuit of the goal of doing the best you can do. Unfortunately, some athletes, along with Jesus' disciples, were caught up in the pursuit of status, the acclaim of others, always with the idea of comparison with others -- greater than, better than, more recognized than, better known than. Fortunately, I guess, this sort of pride isn't very subtle, and can be easily recognized -- especially by others.