Here's why to strive for last place!

 

What Jesus Taught About True Greatness

By Bart Denny

We live in a world obsessed with greatness.

Turn on your TV or scroll through your feed, and you’ll find no shortage of “top 10” lists, success stories, and headlines about who’s first, fastest, richest, or most followed. From athletes and actors to business moguls and influencers, we elevate the people at the top.

Even in churches, the temptation is real. We celebrate big numbers, fast growth, best-selling books, and booming ministries. “Bigger is better,” or so we’re told.

But in Mark 9:33–37, Jesus offers a radically different view:

“Anyone who wants to be first must be the very last, and the servant of all.”
—Mark 9:35 (NIV)

In other words, if you want to be great in God’s kingdom, strive for last place.

Wait—what?

The Disciples Had the Same Struggle We Do

In this passage, Jesus and His disciples have arrived in Capernaum, and He asks them what they were arguing about on the road.

Cue awkward silence.

They were arguing about who among them was the greatest.

Think about that. These are Jesus’ closest followers—men who had walked with Him, witnessed miracles, and heard His teachings firsthand. And still, they fell into the same trap we do: pride, comparison, ambition.

Jesus doesn’t scold them. He sits down (the ancient posture of serious teaching) and explains: True greatness isn’t about being first. It’s about being last. It’s about serving others.

So What Does It Mean to “Strive for Last Place”?

Let’s be clear: Jesus isn’t calling us to mediocrity. He’s not saying we shouldn’t do our best. But He is challenging how we define success.

Here are three ways we can live this out:

1. Let Go of Pride

Pride is sneaky. Even when we don’t think we’re arrogant, it can show up in subtle ways:

• We get frustrated when we’re not recognized.
• We feel the need to be the smartest voice in the room.
• We measure our worth by achievements or approval.

The disciples struggled with pride, and if they did—those who lived, walked, and ministered with Jesus—then we’re not immune either.

Following Jesus means embracing humility. It means remembering that everything we have is a gift of grace. It means being okay with not being noticed or applauded.

2. Stop Chasing Position—Start Serving

In Jesus’ kingdom, leadership isn’t about status—it’s about service.

He modeled that by washing His disciples’ feet. He lived it by spending time with the poor, the outcast, and the overlooked. And He ultimately proved it by laying down His life for others.

“Servant leadership” might be a buzzword in the corporate world, but Jesus embodied it long before it was trendy.

Want to be great? Look for the person no one sees—and serve them.

3. Choose People Over Prominence

To drive the point home, Jesus picks up a child—someone society saw as insignificant—and says, “Whoever welcomes one of these little children in my name welcomes me.”

In Jesus’ day, children weren’t idolized. They were vulnerable, powerless, and easily overlooked. And yet Jesus says: You want to welcome me? Start with the least of these.

That flips everything. Greatness, in God’s eyes, looks like compassion for the unnoticed. It looks like mentoring a teen, visiting the sick, serving someone who can never pay you back.

It looks like striving for last place.

This Isn’t a Guilt Trip—It’s an Invitation

You don’t have to go viral to matter. You don’t need a title to lead. You don’t need a spotlight to shine.

In fact, some of the most important kingdom work happens in obscurity. Quiet, faithful service. Prayers no one hears. Acts of love no one applauds.

And here’s the beautiful truth: God sees. And He calls it great.

Want to Start Living It Out?

Here’s your challenge:

• Take stock of your heart. Where has pride crept in? What positions or recognition are you craving?
• Ask God to show you someone you can serve this week—especially someone overlooked or hurting.
•  Don’t just pray about serving—step into it. Make the call. Lend the hand. Offer the ride. Write the note.

Because in God’s economy, the path to true greatness runs in the opposite direction of the world’s.

Strive for last place. Because that’s where you’ll find Jesus.

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If this post challenged you or encouraged you, feel free to share it—or comment with one way you’re striving for last place this week.

Bart Denny is the lead pastor of Pathway — A Wesleyan Church in Saranac, Michigan. A former Navy officer turned ministry leader, Bart is passionate about helping people grow in faith, serve others, and experience the transforming power of the Gospel. He holds a Ph.D. in Christian leadership and also teaches courses in the fields of ministry and Christian leadership. Bart and his wife, Jennifer, have three adult children and are committed to seeing people thrive through biblical teaching, Christ-centered community, and Spirit-empowered mission.