From the desk of Pastor Ben

Who Is the Greatest? – Part 1

“At that time the disciples came to Jesus and said, ‘Who then is greatest in the kingdom of heaven?’ And He called a child to Himself and set him before them, and said, ‘Truly I say to you, unless you are converted and become like children, you will not enter the kingdom of heaven.’”         (Matthew 18:1-3)

A selfish question betraying the apostles’ sinful ambitions prompted our Lord’s teaching on greatness and His kingdom. The question here stemmed from an argument they’d had among themselves “as to which of them might be the greatest” (Luke 9:46). When Jesus asked them what they were discussing, the disciples were so ashamed that “they kept silent” (Mark 9:33-34). That silence shows they knew they had been acting inconsistently with Jesus’ teaching on humility and that they were as proud and ambitious as ever.

Even as they had not really accepted what Jesus taught about humility, the apostles had not genuinely embraced what He taught about the kingdom. Much like Isaiah’s audience in Isaiah 6:9, the disciples listened but did not perceive and looked but did not understand. They still anticipated a soon establishment of Christ’s earthly kingdom (Acts 1:6), with each of them having a high ranking and one of them being the highest.

Although the apostles did not fully understand what Jesus told them about His upcoming suffering and death (Matthew 17:22-23), they should have sensed its gravity. But they were so caught up in their own desires for personal prestige and glory that they were unreceptive to most of what the Lord said about His suffering, crucifixion, and resurrection. The apostles thereby showed no concept of humility or compassion, and certainly no willingness to take up their own crosses and follow Him to death as He had taught them (Matthew 10:38-39; 16:24-26).

Ask Yourself:
Why the need among ourselves to outrank and out-perform, to be thought of more highly than others? What freedom would you be able to possess and enjoy if you were relieved of needing to appear more important, more together, more impressive, or more valuable?