Becoming a Christian/Disciple

Introduction

Knowing the father’s heart is important as the children of God. After Jesus predicted of his own death for the second time, among the disciples they were arguing which of them would be the greatest. We often too concern of our status or comparing with others.

Mark 9:33–37 NIV

33 They came to Capernaum. When he was in the house, he asked them, “What were you arguing about on the road?” 34 But they kept quiet because on the way they had argued about who was the greatest. 35 Sitting down, Jesus called the Twelve and said, “Anyone who wants to be first must be the very last, and the servant of all.” 36 He took a little child whom he placed among them. Taking the child in his arms, he said to them, 37 “Whoever welcomes one of these little children in my name welcomes me; and whoever welcomes me does not welcome me but the one who sent me.”

Luke 9:46–48 NIV

46 An argument started among the disciples as to which of them would be the greatest. 47 Jesus, knowing their thoughts, took a little child and had him stand beside him. 48 Then he said to them, “Whoever welcomes this little child in my name welcomes me; and whoever welcomes me welcomes the one who sent me. For it is the one who is least among you all who is the greatest.”

After the transfiguration, and healing of the demon-possessed boy Jesus predict is own death for the second.

What led the disciples in dispute / arguments was because of Jesus prediction of His second death. They did not understand what it means, because it was hidden from them, so they did not grasp it and were afraid to ask Jesus about it.

But as argument started among themselves about which of them would be the greatest.

Greatness in God’s eyes looks very different than greatness in the eyes of the world.

Humility

Matthew 18:1–6 NIV

1 At that time the disciples came to Jesus and asked, “Who, then, is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven?” 2 He called a little child to him, and placed the child among them. 3 And he said: “Truly I tell you, unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven. 4 Therefore, whoever takes the lowly position of this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven. 5 And whoever welcomes one such child in my name welcomes me. 6 “If anyone causes one of these little ones—those who believe in me—to stumble, it would be better for them to have a large millstone hung around their neck and to be drowned in the depths of the sea.

Avoid from being childish but of childlike, change and become like little children (come to believe)

does not focus about the innocence, purity or faith, but focus on humility and unconcern about social status

Jesus advocates humility of mind not childishness of thought.

Causes the little one to stumble

Lexham Theological Wordbook σκανδαλίζω

σκανδαλίζω (skandalizō).

Refuse becoming a Stumbling block

Matthew 18:7–9 NIV

7 Woe to the world because of the things that cause people to stumble! Such things must come, but woe to the person through whom they come! 8 If your hand or your foot causes you to stumble, cut it off and throw it away. It is better for you to enter life maimed or crippled than to have two hands or two feet and be thrown into eternal fire. 9 And if your eye causes you to stumble, gouge it out and throw it away. It is better for you to enter life with one eye than to have two eyes and be thrown into the fire of hell.

Stumble

Dictionary of Biblical Languages with Semantic Domains: Greek (New Testament) 4998 σκάνδαλον

σκάνδαλον (skandalon), ου (ou), τό (to): n.neu.; ≡ Str 4625; TDNT 7.339—1. LN 6.25 trap (

large millstone hung around their neck

Romans sometimes execute heavy crimes by drowning them, tied down with a heavy weight

what causes us to stumble? the things of the world (woe to the world)

two hands and two feet, eye, thrown into eternal fire / fire of hell (eternal judgement)

life maimed or crippled, enter life with one eye

The Father’s Heart

Matthew 18:10–14 NIV

10 “See that you do not despise one of these little ones. For I tell you that their angels in heaven always see the face of my Father in heaven. 11 [For the son of man has come to save that which was lost - Luke 19:10] 12 “What do you think? If a man owns a hundred sheep, and one of them wanders away, will he not leave the ninety-nine on the hills and go to look for the one that wandered off? 13 And if he finds it, truly I tell you, he is happier about that one sheep than about the ninety-nine that did not wander off. 14 In the same way your Father in heaven is not willing that any of these little ones should perish.