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2010 Luke’s Gospel

The Greatest in the Kingdom of God

Luke 9:46-62

Key Verse: 9:48 "Then he said to them, 'Whoever welcomes this little child in my name welcomes me; and whoever welcomes me welcomes the one who sent me. For he who is least among you all--he is the greatest.'"

Last week, Jesus rebuked our attitude and heart condition saying, “O unbelieving and perverse generation,” Jesus urged us to repent of our deeply rooted unbelief and perverse thoughts and listen to Jesus instead. Jesus told them about what he will go through, about his suffering, death, and resurrection again and again. Jesus now was getting ready to make his departure from the earth by dying on the cross for our sins. In today’s passage, we get to think about "Who would be the greatest?" This question was initially brought up by the disciples when they argued among themselves. Jesus did not dismiss them for their childishness, but taught them the truth of the greatness. It is undeniable fact that we all want to be great. A person, made in God's image, must be great, as God is great. God told Abraham, "I will make your name great." God wants to make his children great. We should not be petty; we should be great! But how can we be great? We must find out the ways to be truly great. Those who try to make themselves great often end up destroying themselves and others. However, there is a way. We can learn from Jesus how to be truly great. Then we can please God and we can be truly happy. Jesus teaches us how to be truly great in four ways.

First, welcome a little child in Jesus' name (46-48). Look at verse 46. "An argument started among the disciples as to which of them would be the greatest." Although we are not sure how this argument started, we could imagine how it went. When Jesus was transfigured in glory, he took only Peter, John and James with him. These three must have felt privileged, trusted, and affirmed as leaders. But the nine disciples who were left behind felt that they were becoming minor leaguers. What is worse, when they failed to drive out the demon in last week’s passage, they felt despaired and discouraged. Now Jesus was telling them about his departure, they felt desperate to prove something to show Jesus that they are the top disciples. It was very urgent. Under this pressure, their inner hearts and desire were revealed. They began to make their cases one by one. They each explained why they had to be the greatest. Matthew thought he was greatest because he was the one who changed the most from evil to good. Andrew thought he was the greatest because he was the only one who participate in the work of God when Jesus fed 5000 people. And Peter believed that he was the top disciple since Jesus paid extra time and attention to him. Backed by their reasons, their argument was on going, and was getting heated up. We can certainly understand them. Sometimes we want to write the best testimony or receive the best grade in school. However, this sense of competition can make us hard-hearted, people with plastic smiles.

This situation is not the one that Jesus envisioned with his disciples. Jesus wanted them to learn from him, become more like him, and grow their inner hearts in Jesus’ image. Jesus could have despaired and disappointed in his disciples, and blame them for their childishness and mistakes. But Jesus used this situation as an opportunity to let them know something. He took a little child and had him stand beside him. This must have made the disciples stop and think. In that society, children were usually disregarded. So this little child must have suddenly felt very special. All of the disciples were looking at him. The child must have smiled from ear to ear. This unusual scene drew the disciples’ full attention. Then they began to listen.

Jesus said to them, "Whoever welcomes this little child in my name welcomes me; and whoever welcomes me welcomes the one who sent me. For he who is least among you all--he is the greatest" (48). Jesus turned their concept of greatness upside down, challenging them to welcome a little child in his name. That would be great in Jesus' sight. Let's consider what is involved in this. Little children need to be cared for in many ways. They need love; they need affirmation; they need to be fed; they need to be trained in basic humanity, and so on. Their needs cannot be put on hold until it is convenient to care for them. They need immediate care. One who welcomes a little child accepts a great responsibility, requiring sacrifice. What is more, investing in little children does not yield immediate results. It takes years for a child to grow and become productive. There is no human glory in caring for little children. It looks like a very ordinary job and a one-sided investment. Those driven by selfish ambition cannot do it; they usually try to avoid little children. To welcome a little child, the disciples needed to lose their selfish ambition. They needed to stop thinking about their own greatness and learn compassion for a helpless young child. This would not be accomplished through mere education; it required a new spiritual birth.

When we are ready to welcome little ones in Jesus, we can welcome Jesus himself into the relationship. Jesus takes care of his little ones as their good shepherd. Jesus fills their hearts with love, listens to their prayers, provides for their needs, and gives them divine wisdom to live by. So those who welcome little ones in Jesus' name are greatly blessed. They learn Jesus' mind and heart deeply and grow to maturity. Those who mature in Christ are not necessarily the ones who fill their heads with Biblical knowledge. Rather, they are those who care for Jesus' little ones from their hearts. To grow in Christ we should care for one person with the word of God and prayer.

Here we need to examine ourselves; how caring and how loving we are in our daily lives. Are we really humble enough to welcome a little child with no selfishness, with wanting nothing back from him? Are we able to open our arms wide to embrace their weaknesses and shortcomings, and endure until the end? Well, that is what Jesus is looking for in us in order for us to be truly great. As for me, the little children I pray to welcome and embrace are YOU GUYS. When I first began to serve the message for JBF, I was very much burdened and despaired. I was already doing many things in NJ UBF, and I was saying inside, “Why me?” But I finally said Yes, and began to serve as a messenger. However the reality was cruel. First I expected JBF to be excited to listen to my message whenever I did. However, they didn’t seem too excited. Even though I spent many hours in preparation for the message on the top of the duties of blessing that God has given me, nobody seemed to appreciate my hard work. What’s more; when many of JBF members sometimes decided not to pay attention to the message, which I was delivering with all my heart, I could not stand them. At those times, I regretted becoming a messenger for JBF. I could not possibly love them. I could not welcome them when I saw their weaknesses.

And I found myself so selfish, proud, and self-righteous before God. I used to rebuke JBF, but never truly prayed enough for them. I knew how to order them, but didn’t try to make fellowship or relationship with them. When I realized that it was not their behavior that caused the problems but it was the way I viewed them without love or care for them. Since then, my heart felt renewed. Even though they talk during the service, I now can embrace them by thinking, “she is talking because it’s got to be such an urgent message. Although someone is dozing off, I could accept believing that he must have worked so hard for God that he didn’t get enough sleep. My attitude is slowly changing as a humble servant instead of big-brother-ish, bossy, and authoritative. I could not quietly pray for them with my sincere heart for them to grow in the image of Jesus. JBF are not random middle and high school students I know. You guys are my precious brothers and sisters, and my coworkers in serving God together. So I could love and care for you in Jesus without wanting anything back. (However, do not take an advantage of this.) Please pray for me to be truly great in Jesus, humbly serving as your brother messenger for a long time. I pray for you, and let us pray for ourselves to remember to be greatest is to be able to welcome the people around us with love and care. God makes people or nations great. So the secret to true greatness is to have God with us. To have God with us, one thing is essential. It is to be humble. The Bible says, "God opposes the proud, but gives grace to the humble" (1 Pe 5:5). When Jesus said "the least among you all is the greatest," he meant the most humble person is the greatest.

Second, welcome those who are working in Jesus' name (49-50). Once, when John opened his mouth, he revealed a tendency toward exclusiveness. He thought that only he and the chosen disciples had the right to work in Jesus' name; those who had not been called and trained like them, and who did not follow Jesus in their group, had no right to work in Jesus' name. So they tried to stop a man who was driving out demons in Jesus' name. But Jesus said, "Do not stop him, for whoever is not against you is for you" (50). Jesus taught them to accept and recognize those who worked in his name. The disciples should see the big picture, the advance of the kingdom of God, not just the success of their own group. Since the Protestant Reformation, many Christian denominations and organizations have risen. Important theological issues differentiate them, and it is prudent for us to be aware of these. Do you know how many denominations there are in Christianity? There are over thirty thousand denominations. However, arguments over these have often led to unhealthy divisions. This does not please Jesus and discredits Christ's name to the world. We should welcome those who work in Jesus' name, as he is taught in the Bible, even though they are not part of our group. This is great in Jesus' sight.

Third, overcome prejudice through the cross (51-56). Verse 51 marks a turning point in Jesus' ministry. It says, "As the time approached for him to be taken up to heaven, Jesus resolutely set out for Jerusalem." The word "resolutely" tells us that Jesus was firmly decided, and had made an absolute commitment to suffer, die and rise again to fulfill God's will. In this way Jesus would purchase our redemption from sin, triumph over death for all people, and then go back to the Father in heaven. Usually, when sinful men face such a pain-filled task, they postpone dealing with it. But Jesus settled the matter in advance of the event, through a clear and firm decision. From this time on, a new and threatening sense of destiny marks Jesus' words and actions.

As Jesus set out for Jerusalem, he took the most direct way, which was through Samaria. However, people in the village did not welcome Jesus. Luke says, "because he was heading for Jerusalem." The Samaritans were prejudiced toward the Jews and vice-versa. So they missed the chance to welcome the Messiah. Prejudice makes us spiritually blind and causes us to reject others due to nationality, culture, economy, gender, religious beliefs, skin color, hair color, clothing style, or musical taste. Seeing Jesus' rejection, James and John burned with anger. They wanted to call fire down from heaven to destroy them. But Jesus rebuked them and went on to another village. Ultimately, Jesus responded to prejudice through the cross. Jesus laid down his life for all people. After his resurrection, he sent gospel workers back to Samaria. Jesus' cross solves prejudice from the root. At the cross of Jesus, all men are found guilty of sin. However the universal love of God that embraces peoples of every tribe and language and nation is given to whoever believes, without regard to human conditions. A truly great person resolves human prejudices in the cross of Jesus Christ. Then he can welcome those who are different, in the love of Christ.

Fourth, put the kingdom of God first (57-62). In verses 57-62, Luke puts together three responses to Jesus' call to discipleship. These teach us that there is a cost to following Jesus and that we must decide to pay this cost by giving a clear priority to the kingdom of God. In the first event, a man volunteered to follow Jesus wherever he went. Jesus replied, "Foxes have holes and birds of the air have nests, but the Son of Man has no place to lay his head." Jesus had just been rejected in a Samaritan village. It was part of Jesus' lifestyle. Jesus had been born in a stable and laid in a manger, because there was no room for him in the inn. Jesus had been cast out of his hometown, and cast out of the synagogues. Following Jesus would mean being like a homeless person from time to time. However, Jesus' eternal destination was the kingdom of God. Those who follow Jesus are going to the kingdom of God, eternal glory in our everlasting home. In the hope of this kingdom, we endure inconveniences and hardships with joy.

In the second event, Jesus called a man to follow him. But the man replied, "Lord, first let me go and bury my father." This man put family responsibility before following Jesus. Jesus said to him, "Let the dead bury their own dead...." It meant that spiritually dead people could bury physically dead people. Jesus also said, "...but you go and proclaim the kingdom of God." Those who are alive in Christ must proclaim the kingdom of God at every opportunity. This alone gives life to a dying world.

In the third event, a man volunteered to follow Jesus after saying "goodbye" to his family. Jesus replied, "No one who puts his hand to the plow and looks back is fit for service in the kingdom of God." Serving the kingdom of God is the greatest privilege that God can give a person. This privilege should be received with a deep sense of gratitude and a clear decision of commitment. Once this decision is made, there should be no turning back; no longing for the former things, or regrets about leaving one's past life. Sometimes temptation can come, even to those who have served God for a long time. We can think: "What if I spent my life to build up my career instead of devoting so much time to God's ministry?" Or "What if I had lived family driven life instead of a mission driven life?" This kind of speculation makes us weak and useless. We must believe Jesus' final victory and put our hand to the plow and keep on going. Those who persevere to the end, overcoming temptations, are truly great in the sight of God.

True greatness in God's kingdom is rooted in the humility of Christ. It is expressed in welcoming others and sharing the kingdom of God with them as of first importance. Who is the greatest? Jesus is the greatest. We can share his greatness when he rules our hearts.