Who Is the Greatest?

If somebody asked you “Who is the greatest person in your church?” I’m guessing the answers would revolve around a handful of types of people. People who regularly volunteer and serve would be mentioned. Leaders would be mentioned. Successful people would be mentioned. Really nice people would be mentioned.

In Matthew 18, the disciples ask Jesus a similar question: Who is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven?

I don’t know what the disciples were expecting. Perhaps they wanted to hear stories about leaders like Abraham, Moses, Deborah, and Elijah. Perhaps they wanted to hear stories about servants such as angels and archangels and all the company of heaven.

Jesus’ answer is unexpected. He beckons a child to come over, puts the child in the midst of the disciples, and holds that child up as the example they should follow. Indeed, Jesus tells His followers that unless they become like this child, they won’t even enter into the kingdom of heaven, much less attain any sort of greatness in it.

And then Jesus says, “Whoever receives one such child in my name receives me.”

What Jesus considers great is not what we consider great. In God’s kingdom, greatness is not measured by capacity, skill, or performance. Greatness is measured by humble reception, even by dependence.

Jesus calls on us not only to receive children, but to look up to them as examples of great faithfulness. Children are the great disciples in God’s kingdom.

If you are looking for a paradigm of what a disciple should look like in your congregation, don’t overlook children.

I’m curious. What do you think we can we learn from children about following Jesus?

Let me know what you think.

Andy