Who Is the Greatest?
Notes
Transcript
Handout
Luke 9:46-50
After the Transfiguration Jesus heals the boy who was possessed by the demon.
He speaks to the disciples about the need for them to pay attention and learn, because He would not always be with them.
Unfortunately they didn’t get it.
This even marks the end of Jesus’ Galilean ministry.
Things will begin to change now.
Here he will begin his journey back to Jerusalem walking day by day closer to His cross.
Right in the midst of all this, immediately after hearing Jesus challenge to keep their eyes on the prize…they immediately have their eyes on themselves.
First we see…
I. A Prideful Comparison
I. A Prideful Comparison
46 Then there arose a reasoning among them, which of them should be greatest.
These disciples are like children.
But so are we if we are honest.
I’m sure they weren’t saying (at least outwardly), “I bet I’m going to be the greatest.”
It probably was more like, “I’m sure Peter will be the greatest, or maybe John.”
But nevertheless it was self focus, immediately after Jesus had just told them that he was going to be killed and raised again.
Mark 9:33-34 is the parallel account of this situation it shows us how casual they were being about it all.
33 And he came to Capernaum: and being in the house he asked them, What was it that ye disputed among yourselves by the way?
34 But they held their peace: for by the way they had disputed among themselves, who should be the greatest.
We see three grave errors they were making:
A. They Were Careless of the Savior
A. They Were Careless of the Savior
No thought as to what turmoil Jesus was going through as He stepped closer to His own death.
3 He is despised and rejected of men; A man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief: And we hid as it were our faces from him; He was despised, and we esteemed him not.
Jesus is a man of sorrows and acquainted with grief…yet his closest friends were ignoring His sorrows.
Here the precious Savior was right here with them.
He obviously is the greatest among them.
But they didn’t just miss the bullseye they missed the entire target.
Their thoughts and priorites were completely wrong.
Charles Spurgeon once said, “It is a dreadful thing when the servant is proud in the presence of his humbled Master.”
This is the second grave error…
B. They Were Consumed with Self
B. They Were Consumed with Self
They were so focused on themselves that they missed the whole idea.
Jesus is greatest.
You just missed what Jesus was trying to teach you, and you knew it…and you didn’t even ask about it…because you were only consumed with yourself.
3 Let nothing be done through strife or vainglory; but in lowliness of mind let each esteem other better than themselves.
4 Look not every man on his own things, but every man also on the things of others.
This was vainglory…they should have been watching Christ and following His Steps!
But we are no better.
We get so consumed with our own thoughts and plans, we often forget that Jesus is right here with us.
We have the ability
to put Him first
to seek His wisdom.
to get understanding
But we are far too often focused on our self.
Why were the disciples doing this?
Same reason we often have our focus wrong…
C. They Were Clamoring for Status
C. They Were Clamoring for Status
Whose going to be the greatest in the kingdom?
Whose going to sit on Jesus’ right hand?
Whose going to do more for Jesus?
I remember when I was in Bible college, it was easy to fall into comparison mode.
There were some bright, charismatic young men who had a deep love for and desire for serving Christ.
Comments were often made like…that guy is really going to do something for Christ.
I’ll tell you, I got some right and I got some wrong!
But the main thing I got wrong was focusing on man, and not enough on Christ.
There were some who were just quietly serving the Lord.
Humbly learning, then once they graduated, they went on to do great things for the Lord.
When we put our priority, or focus where it belongs…Christ enables all of us to magnify Him and glorify Him in our lives in ways we never would have been able to before.
It is never helpful to the cause of Christ to bring in prideful comparisons.
12 For we dare not make ourselves of the number, or compare ourselves with some that commend themselves: but they measuring themselves by themselves, and comparing themselves among themselves, are not wise.
But look at our great Savior!
Look at his love!
See, now…
II. A Patient Christ
II. A Patient Christ
47 And Jesus, perceiving the thought of their heart, took a child, and set him by him,
48 And said unto them, Whosoever shall receive this child in my name receiveth me: and whosoever shall receive me receiveth him that sent me: for he that is least among you all, the same shall be great.
What a wonderful Lord!
Notice three things about what He does…
A. He Sees the Soul
A. He Sees the Soul
He looks right through the actions and sees their heart.
47 And Jesus, perceiving the thought of their heart, took a child, and set him by him,
Literally He sees with perception the thought of their heart.
The best we can do is perceive what we think is their thoughts
or the results of their thoughts.
But Christ saw the thoughts of their hearts…their pride, their comparisons, probably their fake humility, but definitely their wrong priorities.
7 But the Lord said unto Samuel, Look not on his countenance, or on the height of his stature; because I have refused him: for the Lord seeth not as man seeth; for man looketh on the outward appearance, but the Lord looketh on the heart.
Matthew Henry: “Christ takes cognizance, not only of what we say and do, but of what we think; and will call us to account, not only for idle words, but for idle thoughts.”
And what does Jesus do?
Does he speak harshly
Does he yell at them
Does he call them dense and self-centered?
No…
B. He Speaks with Softness
B. He Speaks with Softness
He takes a child and sits him next to him.
I wonder what happened to that child!
Did he ever come to realize who gently grabbed him and pulled him to sit next to him.
I have met some really great men in my lifetime.
Great men of the faith.
Men who have done some truly amazing things for the Lord.
And although I am careful not to lift them out of proper priorities…I remember the feeling of being around someone who had the power of God on their life.
I remember being a child and being near a man who had preached to thousands, had won countless people to Christ, had counselled with literally thousands of people through the years…
I remember looking at my mom and suddenly feeling a hand on my shoulder, when I turned it was this man…and he talked to me and my mom a moment before he left.
I didn’t and still don’t idolize him, but I do remember the feeling I had of seeing and being so near someone I had heard so much about, had seen from a far preach with power.
That moment was a powerful memory for me, but it pales completely in comparison to the tenderness and pressence of Christ—He has all power, but yet stoops to draw in a child.
I wonder if that child felt that awe, or even more.
But the softness of Jesus’ response is attention grabbing.
William and Ellie are playing soccer right now.
At William’s soccer game last Saturday we played against the head coaches team.
It’s funny because he looks like a really nice guy…and I think he is.
My sons coach looks pretty intimidating.
But their coaching styles are very different.
The other coach is like a drill seargant barking orders with harshness.
But my sons coach raises his voice just enough for them to hear him, but encourages, corrects, and explains what to do instead.
Jesus doesn’t yell at His disciples here, though they deserved it — He patiently teaches them.
He takes the child, and he set him beside him, and he didn’t chide them…he didn’t look down at the boy and say…aren’t they ridiculous?
He just simply does this third thing…
C. He Shifts Their Sight
C. He Shifts Their Sight
48 And said unto them, Whosoever shall receive this child in my name receiveth me: and whosoever shall receive me receiveth him that sent me: for he that is least among you all, the same shall be great.
He refocuses their attention to the boy.
He shifts their sight to Others…not self
Warren Wiersbe: “The test of our spirituality is not how much we think of ourselves, but how much we think of others.”
But in shifting their attention to others, He also shifts their sight to Him.
Receive this boy…you receive me.
You shouldn’t be focused on receiving yourself…You should be focused on receiving others like this boy…on receiving me.
But ultimately he draws their attention on the one that sent Him…You receieve this boy…you receive me…you receive me…you receive Him who sent me…My Father.
Then he brings them to the truth.
He that is least among you all, the same shall be great.
It’s not a changing our focus to making ourselves the least.
It’s a shift in heart…all of you can be great, if you focus more on God, Focus more on Jesus, Focus more on others that you need me.
5 Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus:
6 Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God:
7 But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men:
Focusing on yourself will always bring mental distress.
Andrew Murray: “Humility is not thinking less of yourself, but not thinking of yourself at all.”
Focusing on God will always bring peace.
Immediately the conversation changes.
The Bible Says, “And John answered and said…”
To me that means immediately in response to what Jesus was teaching John responds with this next section.
I don’t know … it still seems like they are missing it!
But now we see…
III. A Permitted Co-laborer
III. A Permitted Co-laborer
49 And John answered and said, Master, we saw one casting out devils in thy name; and we forbad him, because he followeth not with us.
50 And Jesus said unto him, Forbid him not: for he that is not against us is for us.
Things haven’t changed much in 2000 years have they?
If they aren’t exactly like us, they can’t really be a true christian!
Now don’t get me wrong…I think we ought to have some ecclesiastical separation.
I don’t think it is healthy to have a combined church service with other faiths.
Now a rally against abortion, or a memorial, or something like that…sure.
But a regularly scheduled service I believe we ought to keep pure, don’t foster confusion.
There is a reason we are not all the same church.
Do we have it all figured out and correct?
If I knew where we had it wrong, I would change it!
But we do our best to let the Word of God determine what we believe.
We are not going to let a hierarchy of leaders, or a pope, or tradition, or any books outside of the canon Word of God determine what we believe.
But that doesn’t mean we need to treat others who love the Lord and are serving the Lord poorly.
But notice John here…he seemed proud of himself and the other disciples.
49 And John answered and said, Master, we saw one casting out devils in thy name; and we forbad him, because he followeth not with us.
But then we see Jesus’ response.
First we see they were…
A. Rebuked for Rejections
A. Rebuked for Rejections
50 And Jesus said unto him, Forbid him not: for he that is not against us is for us.
Don’t forbid others from doing work for God.
Let them serve the Lord in the area that God has put them, and you serve the Lord where God has placed you.
6 I have planted, Apollos watered; but God gave the increase.
7 So then neither is he that planteth any thing, neither he that watereth; but God that giveth the increase.
8 Now he that planteth and he that watereth are one: and every man shall receive his own reward according to his own labour.
9 For we are labourers together with God: ye are God’s husbandry, ye are God’s building.
But we do need to be discerning.
Vance Havner: “The devil is not fighting religion; he is too smart for that. He is producing a counterfeit Christianity so much like the real one that good Christians are afraid to stand up against it.”
We need to discern the truth, and reject falsehood for our church and those under our influence.
Not just blindly accept all who call themselves Christian.
Mormons call themselves Christians, but they are not truly followers of Jesus Christ, if they deny who He is!
But it is not for us to judge another man’s servant.
4 Who art thou that judgest another man’s servant? to his own master he standeth or falleth. Yea, he shall be holden up: for God is able to make him stand.
Just let him be!
He’s not fighting against us, just let him be.
So they were…
B. Redirected to Reception
B. Redirected to Reception
They were redirected to the truth.
Time is too short to fight each other!
There is too much to do to attack each other.
Fundamental Baptists for years have wasted a massive amount of energy and time
Preaching against each other
Writing articles in the Sword of the Lord about each other
Gossiping about each other.
Telling people not to support, or buy their books.
How are people going to know if we are His disciples?
Jesus tells us in…
35 By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another.
We don’t have time for that!
The end is too close!
Look at the next verse, not in our text…
51 And it came to pass, when the time was come that he should be received up, he stedfastly set his face to go to Jerusalem,
Time was ending…it was time to turn toward Jerusalem where he knew he would be crucified.
Imagine as a ship was sinking if two lifeboats were going around pulling people from the water.
All of a sudden one lifeboat sees the other…they are rowing differently than they are.
What is wrong with them? They think! You have to do it this way.
But taking the time to explain would be a foolish use of precious little time.
Others would drown while we try to fix someone else.
There isn’t enough time for petty squabbles.
Just set your eyes on Jesus
Serve Him to the best of your ability
Love people that God brings across your path!
Conclusion
Conclusion
The disciples argued over who would be greatest, while the shadow of the cross already loomed over Jesus.
They made the mistake of A Prideful Comparison — measuring themselves by themselves, instead of looking to the Savior.
They encountered A Patient Christ — who, instead of rebuking them harshly, gently set a child before them and reminded them what true greatness looks like.
And they were taught about A Permitted Co-laborer — that God’s work is bigger than one group, one name, or one ministry, and that time is too short to waste in petty squabbles.
As I stated previously, Paul wrote in 2 Corinthians 10:12,
12 For we dare not make ourselves of the number, or compare ourselves with some that commend themselves: but they measuring themselves by themselves, and comparing themselves among themselves, are not wise.
That is exactly what the disciples did, and it’s exactly what we so often do.
Jesus, however, redirects us. He says in Mark 10:44,
44 And whosoever of you will be the chiefest, shall be servant of all.
True greatness is not found in climbing higher, but in bowing lower.
And think of the timing — Luke 9:51 says, “he stedfastly set his face to go to Jerusalem.”
While the disciples wasted time in comparison and exclusion, Jesus was pressing toward the cross.
Friend, we don’t have time to fight with one another, to compare ourselves, or to clamor for recognition.
Time is too short.
Eternity is too near.
The harvest is too great.
Let us set aside prideful comparisons.
Let us listen to the patient voice of Christ.
Let us welcome every co-laborer who names the name of Jesus.
And above all — let us set our eyes on the Savior who set His face toward Calvary.
