What does it take to be great?

“An argument started among the disciples as to which of them would be the greatest.” (Luke 9:46 NIV)

People seem to have always been competing with each other. Jesus had selected twelve men to receive special training and teaching. You would think that this would be enough, but time after time the twelve would argue over who amongst them was the greatest, in essence Jesus’ right hand man.

We still see the same in the world today, especially it seems amongst our politicians. Some claim to be the best that has ever been: no one has ever or even could ever do it better than they have. Linked with being great is the idea of power over others – after all if they are the greatest then everyone needs to do what they say.

Sadly we even see Christians absorbed with these ideas. A young preacher once told me that he wanted to be the best preacher that ever lived. Isn’t that similar to what the disciples were doing here? Who was the greatest among them? Notice Jesus’ reply.

“Jesus, knowing their thoughts, took a little child and made him stand beside him. 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 it is the one who is least among you all who is the greatest.’” (Luke 9:47-48)

Somehow I don’t think that was the answer they were expecting! Who would look on a little child as ‘the greatest’? This was especially true in most ancient cultures who viewed children as insignificant (this was seen in western culture until fairly recently with the idea that children should be seen and not heard).

Jesus then explained that even children were important – if they welcomed a child in his name it was the same as welcoming Jesus himself. That must have been a shock to these men! So, who is the greatest? It is the one who is least.

What is it about children that shows true greatness? It would seem that Jesus was at least including their humility and willingness to help (I realise in our society many have not instilled these values in their children, but this is what children used to be like). When I look at our ‘leaders’ in the world I don’t see people wanting to serve but wanting to tell everyone else what to do. Sadly, this has been adopted by too many Christians who view leadership as getting to tell others what to do.

This lesson took quite a while for the disciples to grasp. Even in the upper room they were still arguing over who was the greatest (see Luke 22:24). In the verses immediately following our text, just after Jesus gave them this example with a child, they were still thinking about privilege and power. The apostle John saw someone driving out demons who was not one of them so he tried to stop him. What was the problem? John saw the twelve as being greater. Then, while they were travelling through Samaria, John and his brother James wanted to call down fire from heaven to destroy a village because they were not welcomed. The problem again was power.

May we learn the necessity of becoming like children if we want to do and be something great for Jesus. It isn’t becoming the one who gives the orders but the one who looks for ways to serve. In others words, we need to take on the character of Jesus.

“For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.” (Mark 10:45)

Image by Ivan Samkov from pixels.com. Free for use.

Readings for next week: Luke 7-11