In the Bible, Jesus teaches that true greatness is achieved through humble service to others. As recorded in Mark, He instructs His disciples that those who desire to be first must be willing to be last and serve all, citing His own example of coming to give His life as a ransom. The apostle Peter echoes this theme, urging church leaders to serve willingly and not out of a desire for power. Jesus' own actions, as seen in John, where He washes His disciples' feet, demonstrate the heart of a servant leader, and His words in Acts, where He reminds them that it is more blessed to give than to receive, reinforce this principle.
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So Jesus called them together and said, “You know that those regarded as rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and their superiors exercise authority over them. But it shall not be this way among you. Instead, whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant, and whoever wants to be first must be the 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.”
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.”
When Jesus had washed their feet and put on His outer garments, He reclined with them again and asked, “Do you know what I have done for you? You call Me Teacher and Lord, and rightly so, because I am. So if I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also should wash one another’s feet. I have set you an example so that you should do as I have done for you.
In everything, I showed you that by this kind of hard work we must help the weak, remembering the words of the Lord Jesus Himself: ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive.’”
Remember your leaders who spoke the word of God to you. Consider the outcome of their way of life and imitate their faith.
Do nothing out of selfish ambition or empty pride, but in humility consider others more important than yourselves. Each of you should look not only to your own interests, but also to the interests of others. Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus: Who, existing in the form of God, did not consider equality with God something to be grasped, but emptied Himself, taking the form of a servant, being made in human likeness. And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself and became obedient to death— even death on a cross.
But you shall not be like them. Instead, the greatest among you should be like the youngest, and the one who leads like the one who serves.
It shall not be this way among you. Instead, whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant,
Keep watch over yourselves and the entire flock of which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers. Be shepherds of the church of God, which He purchased with His own blood.
just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life as a ransom for many.”
When Jesus had washed their feet and put on His outer garments, He reclined with them again and asked, “Do you know what I have done for you? You call Me Teacher and Lord, and rightly so, because I am. So if I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also should wash one another’s feet. I have set you an example so that you should do as I have done for you. Truly, truly, I tell you, no servant is greater than his master, nor is a messenger greater than the one who sent him. If you know these things, you will be blessed if you do them.