The Greatest

Setting The Scene

Peter James and John went up on the mountain of transfiguration

The other 9 could not cast out a demon

they were frustrated

the scribes were arguing with them

in another account we find Jesus paying Peters temple tax

Jesus has told them 2ce that He was going to die on the cross

Some of the disciples are feeling privileged

others are not doing so well

this where we find our men this morning

Jesus is going to teach them some more lessons

on humility and peer groups

read Luke 9 43-50.

I’m The Greatest

V 46

the pride these men had, especially the 3

this shows the fact they still do not comprehend the mission of Jesus

the lamb of God that takes away the sin of the world

they still think that Jesus has come to rule the world

and they are fighting for positions in this Kingdom

they are thinking that they have arrived.

their pride was thinking they were better than others

V 47

But Jesus, who is God knows what they are thinking

took a child

the children are the lowest in this society

they are totally dependent, they are weak

they trust unconditionally

they have no authority, no position

they need guidance and protection

V 48

the greatest is the least

the Kingdom is up side down to the world

they/ we need to be childlike

in our dependency

in our faith

in our inner strength

self esteem

in our belief in ourselves

the message of Jesus is what is to be lifted up

our reliance of His sufficiency is to be strengthened

our faith is to be made larger

want to be great? be child like , not childish

consider yourself helpless

consider yourself unimportant

instead of seeking status- minister to the ones who have no status

and when you do. you are ministering to Jesus. ministering to the Father

you want to be great in God’s estimation?

minister to the no status people

Job was considered a great man because ...

Job 29 7 17

THEN there is a group the disciples are trying to stop

The Others

there are many Baptists

fundamental, Calvinistic, Free Will

Southern, Landmark,

the different shades of Methodist, Pentecostals, non denominational, inter- denominational

V 49

how many times do we mentally call someone a heretic for not believing the same way we do?

after all if they don’t look at this or that theology the same way we do...

the book of Galatians is because they tried to change the gospel

to add works to the gospel

there are heresies that satan brings into the church that have to be combated

but the person and work of Jesus on the cross should unite us

V 50

this is what Jesus is telling the men

don’t be a exclusivist

Joke-- man goes to heaven...

what was this man doing?

exactly what the disciples did

but this man was not apart of the group

their Exclusive group

so we must stop him.

but Jesus said

your on the same side

the most important thing is

The message of Jesus

just because someone uses a different method to evangelize does not make them wrong

V 51

Jesus’ time is getting short.

there is a lot the disciples need to learn

some things they wont grasp until the Holy Spirit sanctifies them

but they are being taught by the Master

the attitudes of these men now cannot help the progression of the cause of Christ

they are prideful arguing who would be the greatest

these attitudes are the same that we have today

when we put Christ first when we minister to the ones with no status we are ministering to Jesus

Matthew 25:34–40 (LSB)

“Then the King will say to those on His right, ‘Come, you who are blessed of My Father, inherit the kingdom, which has been prepared for you from the foundation of the world. ‘For I was hungry, and you gave Me something to eat; I was thirsty, and you gave Me something to drink; I was a stranger, and you invited Me in; naked, and you clothed Me; I was sick, and you visited Me; I was in prison, and you came to Me.’

“Then the righteous will answer Him, saying, ‘Lord, when did we see You hungry, and feed You, or thirsty, and give You something to drink? ‘And when did we see You a stranger, and invite You in, or naked, and clothe You? ‘And when did we see You sick, or in prison, and come to You?’ “And the King will answer and say to them, ‘Truly I say to you, to the extent that you did it to one of these brothers of Mine, even the least of them, you did it to Me.’

or we are looking down our noses at a group that doesn't

believe the same way about baptism

it should always be Jesus is our focus