In Summary

From the Scriptures we have studied here, an understanding of who will realize a place of honor or greatness in the kingdom of God comes into focus. As Jesus taught in Mark 10, those who desire to be great will, as all believers must do in some measure, drink from the cup and be baptized with the baptism of His sufferings.

Jesus also taught that those who will be great in the kingdom of God will not be numbered among those who are great in this world, but among those who serve. They must do in some measure as He did, which is to say that they must serve by giving of themselves “as a ransom” for the sake of others, so that others may be benefited from their sacrifice.

Jesus again spoke of those who would be the greatest in the kingdom of Heaven as we see recorded in Matthew 18. He taught that those who humble themselves like a little child are among the greatest in the kingdom of Heaven. These believers have been brought to the place where they realize their complete dependence upon Him; they trust in Him for their every need, and they obey Him.

James also gave us insight as to who would be among the greatest in God’s kingdom. James taught that poor believers who find themselves living in “humble circumstances” should take pride in their high position in the kingdom of God.

Our God is sovereign over His creation, and He has ordained all of our days and all of the events and circumstances of our lives (Psalm 139:16). If God has placed us in humble circumstances, perhaps in situations and conditions in life where we find ourselves frequently before Him in prayer asking for His help and sustenance, then as James revealed, we have been given a “high position” in God’s kingdom. And as James also said, we should “take pride” in this high position that God has assigned for us.

When sufferings and hardships of various kinds come into our lives as we are endeavoring to walk in obedience to God’s word, let us understand that these things are for us a portion of the cup or baptism of sufferings that Jesus endured. And let us also understand that God has ordained that such things are necessary for a measure of greatness in His kingdom.

We have been assured through God’s word that everything He allows to touch our lives is working together for our good and for our eternal glory. With this insight from the Scriptures, we can begin to understand why we are exhorted to give thanks to God in all of the circumstances of our lives.

This thanksgiving reflects a trust in Him and all that He has promised in His word. (Romans 8:28, 1 Thessalonians 5:18)

The circumstances of our lives, and the giving of thanks to God in the midst of these circumstances because of the good that He is bringing from them, are both God’s will for us as His people. Drinking from the cup or being baptized with the baptism of Jesus’ sufferings is God’s will for each of us as believers, and these sufferings will be experienced during the course of our lives in the measure that God has determined for each of us. The Bible teaches us that God has ordained it will be through these sufferings that we

will realize a share in Christ’s eternal glory, and a place of honor in the kingdom of God.