In Matthew 18, Jesus’ disciples ask a similar question: “Who is the greatest in the kingdom of God?” In other words, Jesus, what does it take for us to be successful in your kingdom? How can we rise to the top? What do you expect from us?

Instead of giving them a list of results to achieve, Jesus points them to humility. Then he tells a parable about a shepherd who pursues a lost sheep. The shepherd’s relentless care for his sheep reveals what true greatness looks like in God’s kingdom.