Jesus taught that greatness in God’s sight means humbly serving others as Jesus did.

Matthew 20:20-28

20 Then the mother of James and John brought her two sons to Jesus. She bowed down before Jesus and asked him to do her a favor. 21 Jesus said to her, “What do you want me to do for you?” She said to him, “Permit these two sons of mine to sit next to you (OR, Permit these two sons of mine to sit next to you at your right side and at your left side) and rule with you [MTY] when you become king.” 22 Jesus said to her and her sons, “You do not understand what you are asking for. Can you suffer like I am about to suffer [IDM]?” James and John answered him, “Yes, we are able to do that.” 23 Then Jesus said to them, “Yes, you will suffer as I will suffer [IDM]. But I am not the one who chooses the ones who will sit next to me and rule with me. God, my Father, will give those places [MTY] to the ones whom he appoints.”

24 When we ten other disciples heard what James and John had requested, we became angry with them because we also wanted to rule with Jesus in the highest positions. 25 So Jesus called all of us together and said to us, “You know that those who rule the non-Jews enjoy showing them that they are powerful. Their chief rulers enjoy commanding the people under them. 26 You should not be like them. On the contrary, everyone among you who wants God to consider him great must become like a servant for the rest of you. 27 And everyone among you who wants God to consider him to be the most important must become like a slave for the rest of you. 28 You should imitate me. Even though I am the one who came from heaven, I did not come to be served {in order that people would serve me}. On the contrary, I came in order to serve others and to [IDM] allow myself to be killed {other people to kill me}, so that my dying would be like a payment to rescue many people from being punished for their sins.” [MTY]