Matthew 18:1-5 At that time the disciples came to Jesus and asked, “Who, then, is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven?” He called a little child to him, and placed the child among them. And he said: “Truly I tell you, unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven. Therefore, whoever takes the lowly position of this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven. And whoever welcomes one such child in my name welcomes me.
In today’s verses we see a world turned upside down with the greatest on earth as the least and the least on earth as the greatest in the kingdom of heaven. This condition is unimaginable in our world where we measure almost everyone by who is a winner and who is a loser. We fight or compete for positions of honor or to be well-known by others. We want to be popular, respected, or maybe even feared. Institutions and groups of all sorts preen or even battle for acceptance to insure financial support above other similar organizations. Religious groups war over what god or divinity should be served. Christian communities split or even kill each other over dogma and beliefs about God. Humans are not inclined to take a backseat. We want the driver’s seat, determining the direction of our lives. Even in our most intimate relationships, we do not back down or take less than what we think we deserve. Any supposed slight deserves retribution rather than salve to heal the dispute. Our first response is often to defend instead of seeking understanding. To prove a point, we will allow for permanent division in our relationships. There is no respect, honor or advantage in being the least; we want to come out on top. We desire the center stage, the ballerina or the star of the production with the spotlight on us. We hope to be noticed and respected, a significant person with rights and privileges that are important and recognized by others. Sometimes our existence depends on taking advantage of others, the less fortunate, even without our recognition of this reality. They sew our clothes, produce our electronics, toil in the fields to produce our food— all under the duress of not having enough food and housing to take care of themselves. They are the least and we are glad we are not the least. We believe we were created for better things than to be servants to others. In the above focus, Jesus reveals how different humans are compared to the divine. We know Jesus lived out his life as a servant, even dying an ignominious death for his enemies, willing to be a slave to their need of eternal life. We do not want to be childlike with little power. We want to be the knowledgeable, prominent humans who can dictate terms to others on how to live successfully. But Jesus says to the disciples, Truly I tell you, unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven. The answer to eternal life, to existence that is forever is not what James and John asked Jesus for: Then James and John, the sons of Zebedee, came to him. “Teacher,” they said, “we want you to do for us whatever we ask.” “What do you want me to do for you?” he asked. They replied, “Let one of us sit at your right and the other at your left in your glory.” (Mark 10:35-37) Eternity does not rest on who is the greatest, who holds the best position in heaven, eternity depends on being as Jesus is. He was a servant to all. Peace, tranquility, eternity comes in knowing God’s nature, not the proclivity of men to determine winners or losers. Peace, goodness, and love are attributes of God, not competition for the best spot in heaven. He will give his attributes liberally to all people who place their faith as a child in his grace and mercy. The Father glories in his creation. We bring great joy to him, for we were made in his image. Each of us is loved greatly, honored for who we are IN CHRIST. No one of us is above the other. All are workmanship of the perfect God, perfect in the image of his most beloved Son.
When Jesus was baptized by John, we hear the heart of God about the Son He gave for the purpose of saving mankind from judgment. When all the people were being baptized, Jesus was baptized too. And as he was praying, heaven was opened and the Holy Spirit descended on him in bodily form like a dove. And a voice came from heaven: “You are my Son, whom I love; with you I am well pleased.” (Luke 3:21-22) He, known as the Lamb of God, was given to humans to perfect them before God’s eyes. Perfect lambs in Israel died on the altar as a sacrifice for sin. Jesus was the Lamb of God placed on the altar for every sin mankind has ever committed. As little children who possess complete faith in their parents, who do not question the metaphysical or ethereal reason for living, we are to treat God and life with this faith, the faith of a child. With that kind of faith in life and God and in Jesus’s work, we are clothed in righteousness. IN CHRIST we are hidden in his perfection. Because of Jesus’ perfection, we also hear, My dearly loved sons and daughters, you bring me great joy! These words of adoration come to us through the gate of eternal life: Jesus Christ. God honors no other gate. We are blessed forever by God because his Son Jesus Christ is blessed forever by the Father. Many people believe they can win God’s eternal favor by their own efforts. They possess the feeling, “I can do it.” In my own effort, I can please God. They are telling God the work of Christ is not that great, I can do better. I will show you I am a quality work from your hands. The rich young man who wanted to follow Jesus is an example of this. Jesus looked around and said to his disciples, “How hard it is for the rich to enter the kingdom of God!” The disciples were amazed at his words. But Jesus said again, “Children, how hard it is to enter the kingdom of God! It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for someone who is rich to enter the kingdom of God.” (Mark 10:23-25) Jesus in this statement is not only castigating the rich, He is speaking to all people. He knows that people’s survival is attached to doing well in this world. One does not eat unless he works hard, does not find housing unless he strives for it. Money is an issue to reveal how bound we are to this earth. The more money, houses, lands, and the concomitant amenities we have, the more difficult it is to release ourselves into God’s hands. A child is not greatly concerned about having these possessions because milk comes from the mother’s breast, housing or clothing is taken for granted, and they know nothing about storing up capital for the future. They take life as it comes. The disciples understood what Jesus was saying. They knew he was talking about all human beings; none of us are like little children. Even Judas carried the money pouch for Jesus and his disciples’ needs. The disciples were even more amazed, and said to each other, “Who then can be saved?” (Mark 10:26) If a man who has worked hard to please God cannot be saved, who can be saved. Jesus looked at them and said, “With man this is impossible, but not with God; all things are possible with God.” (Mark 10:27) Jesus understood their concerns, for they all fell under the guiltiness of loving this world more than God. The best effort will always fail. Even loving your mother, father, son, and daughter more than God is an imperfection God will not allow if you are to be pleasing to him. No man, woman or child can reach this level of perfection. We see Jesus in the wilderness without food, totally dedicated to God in prayer. We see the devil coming to hook him into life: make this stone into bread. But Jesus said, I live by the will of God or his words, not by bread or the comforts of this world. But even in that situation, the angels came to minister to the man Jesus in the wilderness. Then the devil left him, and angels came and attended him. (Matthew 4:11) The disciples who gave their all to follow Jesus understood that no person could stand before God in the clothing of his own efforts. No one could be absolutely sure that his whole life was totally satisfying to a holy God. But Jesus reassures them of the message of the Lamb of God: all things are possible with God.
We are all too ready to greet men and women of stature, the elite of our world, but we will pass by the least in our world without a greeting. We receive the help of a clerk or a waiter without a thank you. The maintenance people in our lives are often ignored—everything they do is taken for granted. We walk by people who are living on the street without even looking at them. Our demeanor gives them the impression that they do not deserve recognition. Little children go by us hopping and skipping with joy, and we are too busy to give them even a smile. The least are not very important in our eyes, but if the President we favor would visit our community, we would stand out for an hour in the weather to greet him. The least are not very important. If our team loses a lot of games, we no longer identify with them by wearing their uniform. The least are not very important to us. But Jesus says, the least are the most important in the kingdom of heaven. Therefore, we should practice being the least: the servant, the slave to all people, the one who washes the feet of others. If we design our lives in that way, the God of heaven sees us as the greatest or most honored. Jesus tells us to strive to be instruments of love. To love our neighbors as we love ourselves, to take care of our neighbor’s needs before our own needs. Therefore, whoever takes the lowly position of this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven. And whoever welcomes one such child in my name welcomes me. Are we willing to pay attention to the least in our community? Are we willing to wash the feet of the least favored in our community? This is the question for the authors of this breakfast. And it must be answered with “Yes.” Christians are to be Christ-like. Not dividers, not aloof, not judges of right and wrong, good or bad. We are the ones who should welcome a child in the name of Christ. We are to love the people of the earth, not the things of the earth. Our duty is to serve. Not talk about serving or write about serving, BUT TO SERVE. Jesus called them together and said, “You know that the rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and their high officials exercise authority over them. Not so with you. Instead, whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant, and whoever wants to be first must be your slave—just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.” (Matthew 20:25-28) Breakfast companions, we are all the same. There are no great among us or more spiritual among us. We all have good intensions, but we must look around to see who should be served. If that is in your home, do it. If it is with your next-door neighbor, do it. Life in Christ is an activity, not words or intentions. Therefore, let us encourage each other to have faith like a little child and to have actions with our faith.
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