Introduction: “The CEO with the Mop”
Good morning, everyone. It’s great to see you here today.
We’re continuing in our “Live” series, where we’ve been looking at what it really means to be different — to live in this world, but not be shaped by it.
Each week we’ve seen that following Jesus isn’t about blending in; it’s about standing out — not through pride or perfection, but through love, humility, and grace.
And today, we’re going to talk about one of the clearest ways we can live differently: by serving others. Because when the world says, “Make it about you,” Jesus says, “Give your life away.”
Let’s open our hearts this morning and ask God to help us live that kind of life — a life that reflects Him.
Illustration: A few years ago, there was a story that made its way around social media — not because it was flashy or controversial, but because it showed real humility.
It happened at a Chick-fil-A restaurant in Alabama. There had been a heavy rainstorm, and water started flooding the parking lot and seeping toward the doors. Employees were scrambling, trying to keep the restaurant open while cleaning up the mess.
Then a man in khakis and a polo shirt walked in, grabbed a mop, and started pushing water out the door with everyone else. Nobody paid much attention at first — until someone realized who he was. It wasn’t just another worker. It was Dan Cathy, the CEO of Chick-fil-A — a billionaire businessman who could have been anywhere else that night.
But there he was, mopping floors alongside teenagers and cashiers.
Later, when someone asked why he did it, Cathy said simply:
| “IF YOU’RE TOO BIG TO SERVE, YOU’RE TOO SMALL TO LEAD.”
That’s the image I want you to keep in your mind today — a leader with a mop, a Savior with a towel.
That’s the kind of greatness Jesus talks about.
In Matthew 20, two of Jesus’ disciples — James and John — were after positions of honor. They wanted seats of power beside Jesus. But He stopped them in their tracks and said, “That’s not how it works in My Kingdom.”
Because true greatness isn’t measured by how high you climb, but by how low you’re willing to go to serve.
Today we’re going to look at how Jesus redefines greatness — and why real leadership begins with a towel, not a title.
Read Matthew 20:20-21
1) The Wrong Kind of Ambition (vv. 20–21)
Let’s picture the scene.
Jesus has just finished explaining that He’s about to go to Jerusalem — to be mocked, beaten, and crucified.
And right after that sobering moment… James and John’s mother comes up and says,
“Hey, Jesus, when You take Your throne, can my boys sit on Your right and left?”
Talk about awkward timing! I can picture James and Jon hiding their faces, and saying under their breath…ma! Not now! Leave Jesus alone.
It’s like someone interrupting a funeral planning meeting to ask who gets Grandpa’s truck.
Her request was bold, but also very human. She wanted success for her sons.
And honestly, we can relate. We want our kids to succeed — to be recognized, to do well, to have influence.
But sometimes we chase success according to the wrong definition.
Illustration:
In 2019, a group of wealthy parents were caught in the college admissions scandal — paying money to fake their kids’ achievements to get into top schools. They wanted greatness for their children — but they went about it the wrong way.
The world says: “Do whatever it takes to get ahead.”
Jesus says: “Do whatever it takes to serve.”
Biblical Reflection:
This isn’t a new problem.
Even back in the Old Testament, there was a man named Baruch — Jeremiah’s scribe — who wrestled with the same issue.
He was faithful, hardworking, and determined, but when things got difficult, he started to feel overlooked. In Jeremaih 45, God sends him a message
Read Jeremiah 45:1-5
Baruch was Jeremiah’s scribe — faithful, hardworking, and ambitious. But somewhere along the line, his ambition started to shift from serving God to seeking significance. When the weight of his assignment got heavy, he began to complain: “Haven’t I had enough pain already?”
God responds gently but firmly: “Are you seeking great things for yourself? Don’t do it.”
That’s not because God was against Baruch’s growth — it’s because self-focused ambition can’t coexist with obedience. Baruch wanted to be remembered; God wanted him to be faithful.
So God gives him this promise: “You won’t get everything you hoped for — but I’ll give you your life as a reward.”
In other words, “Baruch, your survival and faithfulness will matter more than your success.”
God’s words to Baruch are clear: “Stop chasing recognition — start trusting Me.” Baruch wanted his name remembered. God wanted his heart aligned. And in the end, God said, “Your faithfulness will be your legacy.”
Generations later, James — one of the brothers of Jesus not one of these brothers— would write these words:
James 3:16–17 (NLT)
“For wherever there is jealousy and selfish ambition, there you will find disorder and evil of every kind. But the wisdom from above is first of all pure. It is also peace loving, gentle at all times, and willing to yield to others.”
It’s as if James is saying, “I’ve lived this. I know what selfish ambition does — it divides, it distracts, and it destroys.”
But wisdom from above brings peace, gentleness, and humility.
Read Matthew 20:22-24
2) Misunderstanding Greatness (vv. 22–24)
Jesus answers James and John’s mom with a question:
“Can you drink from the cup I’m about to drink?”
They quickly say, “Yes, we can!” — not realizing that Jesus’ “cup” meant suffering and sacrifice.
They were thinking about crowns, not crosses.
And the other ten disciples? They’re furious — not because they were humble, but because they didn’t think of asking first!
Their reaction reveals the same problem: everyone wanted the title, but no one wanted the towel.
That’s human nature. We want recognition more than responsibility.
We want a platform more than a posture.
Illustration:
A few years back, an NBA player was asked why he refused to come off the bench. He said, “I’m a starter. I’m too good to be a backup.”
Later that season, his team made it to the Finals — without him.
He missed out on greatness because he couldn’t accept humility.
The truth is, the moment we make ministry about our seat — we’ve missed the heart of Jesus.
Scriptural Reinforcement:
This wasn’t the first time the disciples misunderstood greatness.
In Mark 9:33–35, Jesus caught them arguing over who was the greatest.
“After they arrived at Capernaum, Jesus asked them, ‘What were you discussing out on the road?’
But they didn’t answer, because they had been arguing about which of them was the greatest.
He sat down, called the Twelve, and said, ‘Whoever wants to be first must take last place and be the servant of everyone else.’”
Jesus didn’t scold them for wanting to do something great —
He just redefined what greatness really is.
He told them, “If you want to be first, start by taking last place.”
And then, in John 13, He showed them exactly what that looks like:
“After washing their feet, He said, ‘Do you understand what I was doing?
You call Me Teacher and Lord, and you’re right, because that’s what I am.
And since I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you ought to wash each other’s feet.
I’ve given you an example to follow — do as I have done to you.’”
The One who held all authority picked up a towel.
The One who created heaven and earth got on His knees.
That’s greatness redefined.
Finally, the Apostle Paul summed it up beautifully in Philippians 2:5–8:
“You must have the same attitude that Christ Jesus had.
Though He was God, He did not think of equality with God as something to cling to. Instead, He gave up His divine privileges; He took the humble position of a servant... He humbled Himself in obedience to God and died a criminal’s death on a cross.”
So, what does Jesus say to our ambition?
He doesn’t tell us to dream smaller — He tells us to kneel lower.
Because in His Kingdom, the path to greatness always begins with a towel and a heart willing to serve.
3) The Jesus Way — Greatness Through Service (vv. 25–28)
Here’s where Jesus redefines everything.
Read Matthew 20:25-28
There it is — the upside-down kingdom.
The world says: “Climb the ladder.”
Jesus says: “Hold the ladder for someone else.”
The world says: “Make your mark.”
Jesus says: “Wash their feet.”
Jesus draws a sharp line between worldly leadership and Kingdom leadership. He says:
“You know that the rulers in this world lord it over their people… But among you it will be different.” (Matthew 20:25–26, NLT)
That phrase — “Among you it will be different” — sums up the entire Kingdom ethic.
In the world, power means position.
In God’s Kingdom, power means posture.
Scriptural Reinforcement:
Mark’s Gospel records this same teaching almost word for word:
“But among you it will be different. Whoever wants to be a leader among you must be your servant, and whoever wants to be first among you must be the slave of everyone else. For even the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve others and to give His life as a ransom for many.”
— Mark 10:43–45 (NLT)
In other words, Jesus doesn’t just tell us to lead differently —
He shows us how to lead differently.
And when the disciples still didn’t fully get it, Jesus put the teaching into action.
On the night He was betrayed, He knelt down, took up a towel and a basin, and began washing their feet.
“After washing their feet, He said, ‘Do you understand what I was doing?
You call Me ‘Teacher’ and ‘Lord,’ and you’re right, because that’s what I am.
And since I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you ought to wash each other’s feet.
I have given you an example to follow. Do as I have done to you.’”
— John 13:12–15 (NLT)
That’s the Jesus way — He traded a throne for a towel.
In another moment, Jesus told them again:
“In this world the kings and great men lord it over their people… But among you it will be different.
Those who are the greatest among you should take the lowest rank, and the leader should be like a servant.
Who is more important, the one who sits at the table or the one who serves? The one who sits, of course. But not here! For I am among you as one who serves.”
— Luke 22:25–27 (NLT)
Imagine that — the King of Kings saying, “I am among you as one who serves.”
Illustration:
During the Maui wildfires last year, one pastor stayed behind in the smoke and chaos to help evacuate families who had nowhere to go.
When reporters asked why he stayed, he said,
“Because Jesus didn’t run from suffering — He ran toward it.”
That’s greatness.
Quiet. Selfless. Unseen by most — but seen by heaven.
The Apostle Paul captured that same heart when he wrote:
“Even though I am a free man with no master, I have become a slave to all people to bring many to Christ.”
— 1 Corinthians 9:19 (NLT)
That’s the posture of a servant — using freedom not for self, but for others.
And again, he reminds us:
“You have been called to live in freedom, my brothers and sisters. But don’t use your freedom to satisfy your sinful nature. Instead, use your freedom to serve one another in love.”
— Galatians 5:13 (NLT)
4) The Power of Serving (Application)
Jesus turns everything upside down — or maybe right side up.
The world says greatness is found in being served.
Jesus says greatness is found in serving.
The world says leadership means being in charge.
Jesus says leadership means getting low enough to lift others up.
The greatest title you can hold in God’s Kingdom isn’t “Pastor,” “Leader,” or “Boss.”
It’s “Servant.”
Serving doesn’t make you less. It makes you more like Jesus.
So how do we live that out?
1. Serve in your family.
Greatness starts at home.
Husbands, lead your families not by demanding respect, but by earning it through love and service.
Wives, model the grace of Jesus through encouragement and prayer.
Kids, you can show greatness by helping without being asked — or without arguing!
2. Serve in your church.
Every week, people quietly serve — setting up chairs, teaching kids, running sound, greeting at the door, cleaning, shoveling, cooking, praying.
You may never see their names in lights, but in God’s eyes — they are the greatest in the room.
3. Serve in your community.
Jesus didn’t serve only those inside the temple. He touched lepers, ate with outcasts, and cared for the poor.
When the world sees the church serving with humility, they see Jesus more clearly.
Illustration:
When Chick-fil-A first opened in New York City, people mocked them for closing on Sundays. But their employees became known for outrageous kindness — helping customers to their cars in the rain, remembering names, and treating everyone with dignity.
Greatness isn’t about being open seven days a week — it’s about being open-hearted every day of the week.
5) Redefine Your Pursuit of Greatness
Jesus didn’t say it’s wrong to want to be great.
Jesus didn’t condemn the desire to be great — He redeemed it. And in His Kingdom, greatness isn’t measured by how high you stand, but by how low you’re willing to kneel.
He said, “If you want to be great, here’s how: become a servant.”
Here’s what he says in Matthew 23:11-12
11 The greatest among you must be a servant.12 But those who exalt themselves will be humbled, and those who humble themselves will be exalted.
That means your ambition isn’t the problem — it just needs new direction.
Reflection:
• What if God wants to make you great at loving the unlovable?
• What if your greatest legacy isn’t what you built, but who you lifted?
• What if the greatest title you ever hold is “servant”?
Closing Story: The Janitor Who Changed a Generation
There’s a story of a small Christian college that honored a janitor at graduation. For thirty years, this man quietly unlocked doors, cleaned bathrooms, and prayed over every classroom before students arrived.
One professor said, “He never taught a class, but he taught us all what following Jesus looks like.”
When asked why he did it, the janitor said,
“Because my Savior washed feet. I figured I could mop floors.”
That’s greatness.
Conclusion:
Church, the world measures greatness by how many people serve you.
But Jesus measures greatness by how many people you serve.
James and John eventually learned that lesson.
James became the first apostle martyred for his faith.
John, the disciple who went from being one of the “sons of thunder” — sometimes ambitious and a bit fiery — to the apostle known as the “apostle of love.” And wrote in 1 John 4:19 “We love because He first loved us.”
They drank the cup — and discovered that the path to greatness runs straight through servanthood.
So today, as followers of Jesus, let’s be different.
Let’s lead by serving.
Let’s be great — by going low.
Jesus didn’t call us to chase greatness — He called us to live it out by serving.
And sometimes that means surrendering our own plans, ambitions, or expectations and saying, “Lord, use me however You want.”
Maybe it’s time for some of us to stop striving to be impressive and start striving to be obedient. Has God been stirring your heart — calling you to pick up the towel again.
To stop striving for titles, and start trusting Him with purpose.
Maybe you’ve been climbing ladders, looking for approval, or carrying the weight of trying to prove yourself — and Jesus is saying, “Among you it will be different.”
This altar is open today for anyone ready to say, “God, I surrender my definition of greatness for Yours.”
For those who want to step into the purpose He’s already written for your life — a life that looks like Jesus, loves like Jesus, and serves like Jesus.
Come kneel, come stand, come pray — whatever it takes — but don’t leave holding back what God is asking for.
Lay it down, and let Him redefine your greatness.
Because the towel is still greater than the throne, and true greatness begins at the feet of Jesus.
Song: Build my life
I urge you come to the altar today, I want to invite you to make this next song your prayer.
As we move into this song, don’t rush this moment.
Maybe God’s been speaking to your heart — calling you to trade your striving for surrender, your title for a towel.
This is your time.
Come as you are. Kneel, stand, pray — let God reshape your idea of greatness.
And as we sing “I will build my life upon Your love,” make that your declaration today — “Lord, I’m building my life on You.”
Closing Prayer:
Lord Jesus, thank You for showing us the way of true greatness.
Teach us to serve like You served — with humility, love, and joy.
Help us to see needs around us and respond with compassion.
May our homes, our church, and our community be places where greatness looks like a towel in hand and a heart surrendered to You.
In Your name, Amen.
Benediction
As we leave this place today, may we go with hearts that reflect the heart of Jesus —
not seeking titles, but taking up towels.
May we find greatness not in being served, but in serving.
May our words bring life, our hands bring healing, and our lives point others to the love of Christ.
And now—
May the Lord bless you and keep you.
May the Lord smile on you and be gracious to you.
May the Lord show you His favor and give you His peace.
Amen.
