“The least is the greatest”

Read Luke 9:43-50

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Those who saw Jesus heal the boy (9:37-42) “were all amazed at the greatness of God” (43). But once again Jesus shifts the disciples’ focus to his death (44; 9:22). He’s not come to be a wonder-worker but to give his life as the promised suffering servant. That too points to God’s greatness (48), though the disciples haven’t yet grasped that either.

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The disciples’ rivalry (46) prompted Jesus to teach them that the only way to be great in God’s eyes is to be willing to take the lowest place and to serve others, just as he would do through his death (Mk.9:35; Mk.10:43-45). This often repeated principle (Mt.23:11; Lk.22:26) is illustrated here by him saying that even a child – and anyone else who is considered unimportant – should be warmly welcomed, just as if we were serving Jesus himself (47-48).

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The same concern for position is seen in John’s objection to a man casting out demons in Jesus’s name (49). Despite their own recent failure to cast out a spirit (9:40), the disciples were offended that another was doing “their” work (9:1). But all who align themselves with Jesus against the devil must be on the same side and therefore they should not be opposed out of pride (50).