and said to them, “Whoever receives this child in my name receives me, and whoever receives me receives the one who sent me. For the one who is least among all of you is the one who is the greatest.” Luke 9:48 NABRE
Jesus overhears His disciples arguing among themselves about who is the greatest. Jesus teaches an overturning of norms, the best are not those with the most, leaders, richest, most intelligent, the greatest are those who the world sees as insignificant. Jesus places a child in the discussion, it is the child He desires they receive and see as most worthy. Because when they receive a child, someone the world sees as completely insignificant, valueless, they receive Jesus and not only Jesus but the One who sent Jesus. Jesus’ turns the hierarchical system on its head, the least are the greatest and the “greatest” should honor and lift up the least. It is interesting that the disciples are arguing about this because in the eyes of the world most of them are insignificant; uneducated, mostly fishermen, laborers essentially. No matter who we are, we think we are greater than someone else; there is always someone beneath us who we can look down upon or believe we are better than. Of course this also means there are those who can look down upon us, those who believe they are greater than us.
We live during a time when there is an inordinate amount of division and offense taken. We look at others as if they are wrong and we are right. Wear a mask, don’t wear a mask, get a vaccine, don’t get a vaccine, left, right, liberal, conservative and on and on, always pointing our finger at someone else. In fact we are all being used to lift of those who desire worldly power. Jesus is wise to have us focus on children, they can truly lead us.
Who are you greater than? Who is greater than you?
No matter who we are, we think we are greater than someone else; there is always someone beneath us who we can look down upon or believe we are better than and there are those who believe they are greater than us. Click To Tweet#bible #godisgreat #jesus #christianity #dailybibleverse @youversion #BeAnEncourager #greatest #least #Luke #everybodyalways #god #jesuschrist #jesussaves #godisgood #dailydevotion #biblestudy #scripture #bibleverse #verseoftheday #cross #last #gospels #loveeachother #godisgreat #thisVineyard #youversion #everythingalways