If Christendom were asked whom it regarded as the greatest man who ever lived on earth, the answer would assuredly be, "Christ Jesus." And it would be based on a knowledge of the Master's lifework—a knowledge of his teaching and its application to the healing of all manner of error, and of the effects of his teaching on the spiritual progress of the human race. Jesus was great after the manner of true greatness; and the fact is being more and more emphasized as century succeeds century.
How did the Prophet of Nazareth himself put it? On a certain occasion, as Luke relates in the twentysecond chapter of his Gospel, some of Jesus' disciples had a disagreement—there was "a strife among them, which of them should be accounted the greatest." A sad commentary that, on their lack of appreciation of the Master's teaching, their spiritual dullness! Jesus reasoned with them after his usual gracious manner, putting on record these simple, humble, yet divinely inspired words: "I am among you as he that serveth." All his wonderful teaching, all his works of healing, all his deeds of kindness were part of that ministry of service. How mean the disputing disciples must have felt as the words fell upon their ears! How keen the gentle rebuke, as they realized that true greatness must be measured by the power to serve spiritually!
Jesus' power to serve was founded on his understanding of spiritual being, on his knowledge of God and of man's relationship to Him. He knew that God, the Father, loves man, the son, with a love beyond human measure; that man lives perpetually under God's law, the law of Love, and that no other law obtains in real being. With this knowledge, he was constrained to love mankind, his love manifesting itself in deeds of helpful service, bringing forth moral cleansing, healing, and peace. Get the Master's spiritual point of view; see him as inspired with the knowledge of God's unlimited love for man and the assurance of God's boundless care for man, and we then appreciate his power, his capacity for service, his greatness.
