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Luke 9:46-48
There is some irony in this passage as we review the events that have just taken place and then see the reaction of Jesus’ disciples. Jesus has returned from the mountain where He was transfigured in the presence of Peter, James, and John (Luke 9:28-36). Jesus finds that in His absence the faith of the people (including His disciples) has weakened as the disciples were unable to heal a child from an unclean spirit (Luke 9:37-40). Jesus heals the child and restores him to his father (Luke 9:41-42) and then tells His disciples that He is about to be betrayed and left at the mercy of men; a teaching that His disciples were prevented from understanding because of the magnitude of its message (Luke 9:43-45).
In Luke 9:46-48 the disciples of Jesus begin arguing about which one of them will be the greatest. They have just failed in their abilities (Luke 9:40), have been somewhat chastised by Jesus for their lack of faith (Luke 9:41), been given instruction from Jesus, which they could not understand (Luke 9:45), and now are in a debate about which of them will be the greatest!?!?. Their focus is not on Jesus. It is no wonder that they could not understand what Jesus was teaching them because their focus is stuck on their own self-centered desires.
Jesus responds to this behavior by placing a young child next to Him, closer to Him than any of His disciples, and tells them that as this little child is the least in the ladder of society, it is in receiving and being compassionate for the least that shows the love that is found in receiving Jesus (Luke 9:47-48).
God sent His Son Jesus to receive humanity (who are helpless, such as that of a little child) and in receiving humanity, He expects humanity to show the same compassion to others. Man must lower his prideful expectations to gain the compassion needed to care for the least of people. But Jesus says that receiving a child in His name is in fact receiving Him, and that whoever receives Him receives His Father in heaven. Whoever wants to be the greatest must lower themselves to servanthood and show compassion for others (Luke 9:48).
This is an example that we should set our focus on Jesus and look not to our own selfish interests but seek His will for our lives.
This is a command to humble ourselves to one another and show the love that Jesus has put in our hearts.
Sometimes we can get so focused on what we want that we forget to seek God’s will for our lives. As we strive to please Jesus, we must keep in mind that being our best is stooping to serve the least. In Matthew 20:28 Jesus says that He did not come to be served, but to serve and give His life for others. Jesus set the example of serving others by giving His life for us on the cross. He died for us so that we may live through Him. The life that we live in Christ is to love God with our all, and to show the love that Jesus has shown to us, to others (Matthew 22:37-40; John 13:34-35).
Dear Lord,
It is not in human nature to lower ourselves to servanthood in seeking to be great. We tend to be self-centered and self-seeking while we use others to get what we want. Please help us to see that as Jesus came to serve, we also should serve one another in following the example that Jesus has set. Jesus is the way, the truth, and the life as He stated in John 14:6. Please help us to follow His way, seek His truth, and accept the life that He gives us by Your unfailing mercy and grace. In Jesus name I pray, amen.