The Recipe For Greatness

Opening Scripture:

Please make your way to Luke 9:46-50 in your copy of God’s word. If you are using one of our church Bibles that is found on page number 815. This is the Word of the Lord, let’s read it together.

Luke 9:46–50 ESV

46 An argument arose among them as to which of them was the greatest. 47 But Jesus, knowing the reasoning of their hearts, took a child and put him by his side 48 and said to them, “Whoever receives this child in my name receives me, and whoever receives me receives him who sent me. For he who is least among you all is the one who is great.” 49 John answered, “Master, we saw someone casting out demons in your name, and we tried to stop him, because he does not follow with us.” 50 But Jesus said to him, “Do not stop him, for the one who is not against you is for you.”

Introduction:

The incident we have just read together, though placed by Luke immediately after the transfiguration and the events following actually takes place sometime later (Matthew 18 and Mark 9:33). The discussion didn't happen at the base of a mountain but along the road to and inside of a home in Capernaum. (Likely the home of Peter or Jesus mother).

The apostles while traveling to Capernaum had gotten into a discussion regarding who among them would hold the greatest positions in the Lord’s kingdom. The language here implies that they knew that all 12 of them were going to hold positions of prominence in Jesus coming kingdom, but the question remained that which among them would be greater than others. It is possible this discussion has arisen because Jesus has twice now separated three of his apostles (Peter, James, and John) out from the rest. (8:51, 9:19). Not only that, but Peter had often been selected as the spokesmen for the group and in Matthew 17:24-27 was sent by Jesus on a special assignment. So, no doubt they were wondering if these things meant that Jesus viewed them in higher regard than others. And, since they were so focused on Jesus earthly kingdom, they the idea of who would be most prominent was heavily on their minds.

Don’t fault them for this, they lived in a society where consciousness about ones status was just a part of life.

At all points, in worship, in the administration of justice, at meals, in all dealings, there constantly arose the question of who was the greater, and estimating the honour due to each was a task which had to be constantly fulfilled and which was felt to be very important.

A. Schlatter in TDNT, 4:532.

Dale Ralph Davis, Luke: The Year of the Lord’s Favor, Focus on the Bible Commentary (Ross-shire, Scotland: Christian Focus, 2021).

Jesus knew what the apostles were thinking but waited to comment until they arrived at their destination in Capernaum before commenting.

He comments by sitting them down and teaching them by beckoning over a small child and using that child to form an object lesson.

Children held little status in the ancient world. In Jesus day children were rarely seen and never heard. Judaism did hold children in higher regard than other cultures did but they still viewed to be a waste of time to teach a child if they were under 12.

The Mishna, which was a collection of Jewish oral laws and culture even says in ‘Abot 3:10 “Morning sleep, mid-day wine, chattering with children and tarrying in places where men of common people assemble, destroy a man.”

Jesus however, did not view children in this light, instead he places a child and social status side by side. By taking the child (probably one of Peter’s children) into his arms and saying:

Luke 9:48 ESV

and said to them, “Whoever receives this child in my name receives me, and whoever receives me receives him who sent me. For he who is least among you all is the one who is great.”

Society said that greatness meant not wasting your time with children, but Jesus says caring for a child was the path to greatness. That when you take in a child (the least in society) and serve to meet their needs it is as if you are doing so directly to Jesus and to serve Jesus is to serve the Father. That the path to greatness was found in humility.

All of this leads John then to speak up regarding something he and his partner had done while they were on their short term missions trip earlier in ch.9. This at first seems disjointed but is actually directly connected to the point Jesus was making.

John and his partner came across someone preforming exorcisms in Jesus name and tried to get him to stop doing so. Their soul reason for this is that this person was

Luke 9:49 ESV

49 John answered, “Master, we saw someone casting out demons in your name, and we tried to stop him, because he does not follow with us.”

He was not a part of the Lord’s select group. He shouldn't be doing this becuase he was less important than the 12 who had been directly commissioned by Jesus to do this.

Jesus simple instruction is found in vs.48

Luke 9:50 ESV

50 But Jesus said to him, “Do not stop him, for the one who is not against you is for you.”

From this argument among the Lord’s Apostles and Jesus subsequent rebuke of their worldly thinking we see a recipe for greatness in the Lord’s kingdom and it flys in the face of all the world tells us we need to do in order to be considered great.

The ingredients for greatness include:

Self-effacing Service.

Unhindered Cooperation.

1.) Self-effacing Service. (v.48)

Receive- We need to understand this word according to the near east custom of hospitality in this day. It means to welcome as family and to care for ones needs.

In this culture, that was easy to do if someone was an important dignitary or perhaps even a celebrity. Someone who could help enlarge your social standing. Not so easy to do to a child who brought you nothing but burden.

Imagine with me that it is the middle of the night and you get a panicked knock on your door. You open it to find someone on the other side pleading with you to come inside because they had just ben robbed at gunpoint of all their money and have no way to get help on their own.

Now, be honest with yourself, How would you respond if you noticed this man to be say Elon Musk or Jeff Bezos? How would you respond if this person was a homeless individual with clear mental health issues?

If we are honest with ourselves, we are far more likely to help one than the other. We are far more reticent to help the homeless man than we are the powerful one.

F all, Elon Musk or Jess Bezos might actually reward me for helping them. It could really improve my status in life. But, the homeless and mentally deranged person, not so much.

“In my name”- Refers to receiving this child into your home on the basis of what Jesus has taught them. That they would treat the child the way Jesus has told them to with special care, paying attention to the child's physical and spiritual needs. To treat them the way in which Jesus himself would treat them. As if we are acting on His very behalf.

Caring for (physically and spiritually) those who can offer us nothing in return is our duty as citizens of Christ’s kingdom. We do this not because it affords us some benefit, but because that is what our king would do and what he requires of us his followers.

The path to greatness in the kingdom of Christ is the exact opposite of what this world requires. In this life, the way to positions of power and prominence are found in “scratching the right backs” and “rubbing shoulders” with the right people. We rise to power by helping those who have power.

But, in the Kingdom of God, the way up is down. It is only when we serve the weakest and least deserving for no other reason than it’s just the right thing to do that we are then exalted.

This is the example given to us by our Lord.

John 3:16–17 ESV

16 “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. 17 For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him.

There is nothing worthy in all of humanity for the creator of the universe to step down from glory, debase himself by taking on the form of a man and to die the death of a criminal, be buried in the grave for three days and three nights and rise again. Thereby paying our sin debt and providing the path to God. He did this purely out of love not any merit of our own.

Titus 3:3–7 ESV

3 For we ourselves were once foolish, disobedient, led astray, slaves to various passions and pleasures, passing our days in malice and envy, hated by others and hating one another. 4 But when the goodness and loving kindness of God our Savior appeared, 5 he saved us, not because of works done by us in righteousness, but according to his own mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewal of the Holy Spirit, 6 whom he poured out on us richly through Jesus Christ our Savior, 7 so that being justified by his grace we might become heirs according to the hope of eternal life.

As citizens in Christ kingdom we must respond to others the same way in which He responded to our need. We don’t reach out on the basis of someone’s power, rank or ability because helping them helps us.

No, we serve in a self-effacing way that only benefits the recipient.

True leaders are servants. The King of Kings took upon himself the form of a servant, and so must we.

The way to greatness in the Kingdom of God is through the humble service of others as though they were the Kings not to be served as if we are the kings.

2. Unhindered Cooperation. (v.50)

Jesus admonition about greatness only coming through humble service seems to have recalled a moment in John’s mind when he did not behave this way. But instead acted exclusionary. A time when he was less than a humble servant. When he was in fact a prideful proventialist.

Apparently while they were out on their short term assignment earlier in chapter 9, John and his mission partner had come across a man casting out demons in the name of Jesus. Notice, v.49 doesn't say he was attempting to cast out demons, it says he was casting out demons.

This bothered John and his partner because this man wasn't a part of their team. Jesus hadn't sent him out to do this work directly s he had his apostles. How dare this man go about doing the Lord’s work in a different manner than his apostles. If he wasn't doing it their way, then he must have been doing it the wrong way.

Instead of “receiving” this man as a part of team Jesus, they had instead tried to forbid this man from doing the Lord’s work because it wasn't done in the exact way he was “supposed to do it.” After all, they were doing it the right way, how dare this man do something any differently.

John’s implied question to Jesus here is “Did we act rightly in trying to stop this man?”

At the time, they thought they had done right, but hearing Jesus say in v.48 that doing a good act in his name pleased Jesus and his Father, now he’s realizing perhaps he should not have tried to stop this man who was “acting in Jesus name.”

Jesus response to John speaks volumes

Luke 9:50 ESV

50 But Jesus said to him, “Do not stop him, for the one who is not against you is for you.”

They should not have excluded this man, but instead saw him as a partner in the Kingdom work they had been sent out to do. Instead of trying to hinder this man, they should have instead acted in unhindered cooperation with him.

Pridefully acting as if our group of believers is the only one who has everything right and therefore we are the only ones Jesus can use to advance his kingdom is never a good thing.

If they preach the truth of Christ, then we are on the same team. We are not reject them but instead humbly embrace all those who name Christ and preach his truth whatever organization they may belong too.

The apostle Paul echoed this teaching of Jesus when he declared

Philippians 1:15–18 ESV

15 Some indeed preach Christ from envy and rivalry, but others from good will. 16 The latter do it out of love, knowing that I am put here for the defense of the gospel. 17 The former proclaim Christ out of selfish ambition, not sincerely but thinking to afflict me in my imprisonment. 18 What then? Only that in every way, whether in pretense or in truth, Christ is proclaimed, and in that I rejoice. Yes, and I will rejoice,

If they preach the Gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ, then they are not against us, they are for us.

Now, there can be no middle ground between truth and heresy. A person is either for Christ or against him. Only those who preach Christ according to the scriptures are to be embraced.

Prideful exclusion of other believers solely on the basis of differing methods and not sound doctrine is not a virtue to celebrate But sinful arrogance to repent from.

Proverbs 16:5 ESV

5 Everyone who is arrogant in heart is an abomination to the Lord; be assured, he will not go unpunished.

Proverbs 21:4 ESV

4 Haughty eyes and a proud heart, the lamp of the wicked, are sin.

James 4:6 ESV

6 But he gives more grace. Therefore it says, “God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.”

This kind of behavior is all to present in the Lord’s church. Narrow sectarianism is something we must always be on guard against. If they are accomplishing the work of Jesus in the name of Jesus, then we must not hinder their efforts, in fact, the dictum of Jesus is that we are to aide and cooperate in their efforts. Just as he has told us to do.

Conclusion:

The recipe for greatness in the Kingdom of Christ flys in the face of all that the world teaches us.

The world praises hierarchy. Where the only way to gain prominence is to serve others with prominence. But in the kingdom of Christ we must

James 4:10 ESV

10 Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will exalt you.

We do this by reaching out to those who can not benefit us at all in an effort to bring them to Christ..

The world says, the path to greatness is found in excluding everyone who does things differently than you.

But the kingdom of Christ says, if they preach Jesus, we’re on the same team. Find common ground and cooperate in an unhindered way.

Ephesians 5:21 ESV

21 submitting to one another out of reverence for Christ.

1 Peter 5:5 (ESV)

5 … Clothe yourselves, all of you, with humility toward one another, for “God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.”

In our lives are we operating in the values of Christ’s kingdom? or do we more mirror the values of the kingdom of this world?

Are we grasping for prominence, or humbly serving those who cant in turn raise us up just because we want to be like Christ. (Give Gospel)

Are we fanning the flame of others who are serving Christ, or do we try to squash their efforts in order to make ourselves look better. After all, they’re not on my team.

May the words of our Lord call us to repentance this morning.