Humble hearts don’t fight “turf wars”
Daily Scripture
Luke 9:46-50
46 An argument arose among the disciples about which of them was the greatest. 47 Aware of their deepest thoughts, Jesus took a little child and had the child stand beside him. 48 Jesus said to his disciples, “Whoever welcomes this child in my name welcomes me. Whoever welcomes me, welcomes the one who sent me. Whoever is least among you all is the greatest.”
49 John replied, “Master, we saw someone throwing demons out in your name, and we tried to stop him because he isn’t in our group of followers.”
50 But Jesus replied, “Don’t stop him, because whoever isn’t against you is for you.”
Daily Reflection & Prayer
Jesus’ disciples argued about “which of them was the greatest.” Jesus took a little child. Scholar Craig Keener noted that the culture in which Jesus lived was highly dismissive of children: “Status was a preeminent concern in ancient society; children had none.” * Imagine the disciples’ faces as Jesus equated greatness, not with any of them, but with that child. Saying “whoever is least among you all is the greatest,” Jesus said arguing about personal “greatness” just didn’t fit in his kingdom.
- “It seems incredible that a band of grown men, still more of Christian disciples, could argue openly over their own relative importance…. It is quite clear that they have scarcely begun to learn what it means to follow either the Servant on the path of self-denial or the King in his concern for the welfare of others.” ** Does “grown men” (or women) arguing about their relative importance sound “incredible” to you (particularly in an election year)? How can you grow beyond that sort of arguing?
- Scholar William Barclay quoted Methodism’s founder John Wesley: “The thing I resolved to use every possible method of preventing was a narrowness of spirit, a party zeal… which makes many so unready to believe that there is any work of God but among themselves.” He added “The conviction that our beliefs and our methods alone are correct has been the cause of more tragedy and distress in the church than almost any other thing.” *** How should Jesus’ words (verse 50) lead to greater harmony among his followers?
Prayer
Lord Jesus, give me a heart that welcomes others in your family, not because of what they can do for me, but because of what we can do for you when we work together. Amen.
GPS Insights
Ginny Howell
Ginny Howell serves as the Worship Experience Director for Resurrection, leading the church’s efforts to provide radical hospitality and an excellent worship experience across all of our locations. She’s a mom to three, g-momma to one sweet little boy, and shares much of her time with her closest companion, a rescued Pit Bull named Lola.
A few things about our Scripture passage today give me pause. Let’s dig into those for just a minute.
First off, didn’t these disciples have something better to do than argue about who was the greatest? Doesn’t seem like real disciple-like behavior to me.
Second, news flash–you can’t hide from God, and neither could the disciples. Even when they were off task, driven by ego (or possibly a desire to burst the ego of others), Jesus was aware of their deepest thoughts.
Third, and I think most valuable to recognize, Jesus didn’t join the argument. Before addressing the group, he took a very deliberate action, which made his words far more impactful. The act of placing the child next to him spoke louder than the words that were to come, and likely quieted down the group because it was counter cultural to place such importance on a child in Jesus’ day.
This is the Jesus I love, the one who sees us in our full humanity, self-centered and off course, and loves us enough to set us straight. Not with a sharp tongue or stern spirit, but with intentional and thoughtful actions, always demonstrating what the love of God is really about. Even when we talk back, as James does later in the passage, Jesus breaks down the us vs. them mindset and reminds us that everyone has a seat at the table. ‘Whoever isn’t against you is for you.’ Not being in the group was of no consequence to Jesus.
At a time in our history when we are bombarded with polarizing words and actions, I am grateful for this reminder of how Jesus prioritized people and valued welcoming the stranger, helping the hurt, feeding the hungry, caring for the widow and orphan…’Whoever is the least among you all is the greatest.’
May we reflect this image of God’s love as we live out our lives today.
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Scripture quotations are taken from The Common English Bible ©2011. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
References
* Craig S. Keener, comment on Luke 9:46-48 in The IVP Bible Background Commentary: New Testament. Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press, 1993.
** Michael Wilcock, The Message of Luke. Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press,1979, p. 112.
*** William Barclay, The Gospel of Luke (Revised Edition). Louisville: Westminster John Knox Press, 1975, p. 130.
