“Truly, I say to you, unless you turn and become like children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven. Whoever humbles himself like this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven." - Matthew 18:3b – 4 ESV
Among other consistent threads in Jesus’s teaching is that what we humans find valuable in our lives here on earth is not viewed as valuable in the kingdom of heaven. Wealth, power, and possessions – all mean nothing in our eternal existence. Jesus continuously taught that God’s kingdom is nothing like the kingdom of this world. While we humans remain overly concerned with social status and appearances, clout, power, and prestige – the kingdom of heaven is nothing like that. We rank people by how they look, their houses, their cars, their education. Fame. Position in life. We need only look at the level of influence owned by celebrities and professional athletes – undeserved and unearned by anything other than fame and fortune, fed by their own egos.
Starting early on, we are taught how to succeed in life. It is a mentality, a state of mind. We want to top the list. Work harder. Dig deeper. The early bird gets the worm. Second place is the first loser. You get what you pay for. No pain, no gain.
Life and careers in our corporate worlds are not much different. Those who work harder and are willing to sacrifice their personal lives on behalf of the company excel. Those who simply see it as “a job and nothing more” are left behind. Even many pastors will admit this drive to “grow the church” often begins to dominate their lives over the gospel and their families.
But Jesus taught us differently, and it is often quite difficult for us humans to grasp – to even understand. We have this built-in resistance to getting something for nothing – thus, we struggle with the idea of not earning something, like our salvation. In other words, we resist the entire concept of free grace. It simply goes against every lesson and every instinct. What we know is “those on top get the rewards.” What Jesus taught is that those who are last will be first.
"But many who are first will be last, and many who are last will be first." - Matthew 19:30
I believe it is in this light that Jesus answered a question from his disciples with a lesson.
Who Is Greatest in the Kingdom?
Shortly after the transfiguration, the disciples decided to ask Jesus about their standing in the kingdom of heaven. Perhaps Peter, James, and John were feeling their oats a bit after being called with Jesus onto the mountaintop to pray – and then to bear witness to the transfiguration. It had to have been overpowering and awe-inspiring. And perhaps their heads were getting a bit big for their britches.
“Who, then, is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven?” (Matthew 18:1b) they asked. The question may have been innocent, but then again, they very well may have been seeking affirmation from Jesus as to which of them would be granted superior status when they stepped out into eternity.
As was his way, Jesus gave them an example. Calling a child to him, Jesus said this:
“Truly, I say to you, unless you turn and become like children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven. Whoever humbles himself like this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven." - Matthew 18:3b – 4 ESV
While the disciples seemed to be hoping for commendation from Jesus, instead, they were told to be like children. They sought recognition, praise and honor – seeking to attain significant roles in the new kingdom they assumed Jesus was to establish on earth and instead were caught off guard with a wake-up call. Not unusual when following Jesus, I would guess. To the disciples, it was only a question of which among them would be most important. But Jesus had a sharp lesson for them.
But what is it about children that Jesus referred to? After all, children are not always the best behaved, most obedient, and certainly not naturally wise or pure or mature – nor innocent. But children are humble in that they instinctively recognize the need for their parents.
Children are intuitively humble in the sense they know they are not in control of their own lives. They are completely dependent on us, their parents, to receive anything they need or may want. Children have no legal standing of their own in society – can’t drive, can’t vote, can’t work. They own nothing. Can buy nothing. No status in society in general – without an adult.
Being a parent, perhaps the most important job we will ever be given, comes with no instruction manuals. We are blessed and have our hands full all at the same time. Yet, children innately trust us as they hold our hands to cross the street. As we drive them from place to place with no hesitancy about their safety. As they trust us to answer questions for them. And oh, so much more.
Here, we are blessed with this little human being in our lives who not only looks up to us but who counts on us. Who relies on us. Who trusts us completely. Who knows, deep inside, we would never do anything to harm them. These children know we will provide for them through all things. All things.
When the lives of our children run into challenges or trials or roadblocks of some kind when they begin to have doubts – about themselves, their faith, their path in life, their chosen profession…to whom do they turn? Indeed, to their parents. To whom did Jesus turn? To his Father.
Lessons Not Learned
The disciples perhaps didn’t learn the lessons Jesus taught until later. After Jesus’ teaching about the greatest in heaven, John tells Jesus about a group he saw casting out demons in Jesus’s name. (Mark 9:38, Luke 9:49.) John seemed to find this offensive. Jesus’ reply made a statement that what was important was the name in which the works were being done, not who performed those works.
Then we see in Mark 10 (and Matthew 20:20-21) Jesus taught a similar lesson when James and John went directly to Jesus to ask for special treatment:
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
Upon hearing about this, the other ten “became indignant.” Indeed, outraged, maybe? Annoyed at the two brothers? Offended by their chutzpah? Then Jesus taught them again:
Jesus called them together and said, “You know that those who are regarded as 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 slave of all. For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.” (v. 42-15)
“….did not come to be served, but to serve.”
Then, even at the last supper, another dispute arose among the disciples as they argued about who was the greatest.
"A dispute also arose among them as to which of them was considered to be greatest. Jesus said to them, “The kings of the Gentiles lord it over them; and those who exercise authority over them call themselves Benefactors. But you are not to be like that. Instead, the greatest among you should be like the youngest, and the one who rules like the one who serves. For who is greater, the one who is at the table or the one who serves? Is it not the one who is at the table? But I am among you as one who serves." - Luke 22:24-27
Humility, trust, and service. These are the keys to the greatest in heaven.
Practicing What Jesus Preached
Christians, it would seem, often have a difficult time accepting free grace. We are raised to do better, do more, and work harder. Of course, that’s why they call it grace – there is nothing we can do to earn it.
We must ask ourselves – what are we willing to give up here on earth? What claims in this life are we willing to forego for the sake of knowing Jesus Christ? Paul renounced all the status he had in his prior life, calling it garbage. Other versions use the word “dung.”
"But whatever were gains to me, I now consider loss for the sake of Christ. What is more, I consider everything a loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whose sake I have lost all things. I consider them garbage, that I may gain Christ and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which is through faith in Christ—the righteousness that comes from God on the basis of faith." - Philippians 3:7-9
The greatest in the kingdom of heaven is not based on who we are on earth, rather it is the one whose humility helps them realize how much they need Christ. Greatness in God’s kingdom has nothing to do with power, prestige, or privilege. Quite the contrary – it has more to do with our weakness.
“My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore, I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me." - 2 Corinthians 12:9
His grace is sufficient for us. His power is made perfect in our weaknesses – not in our strengths.
The greatest, perhaps, are those most aware of that which he or she lacks. In fact, as we step into eternity, what we lack is surpassed in importance only by what we have through Jesus Christ - on the basis of what has been done for us. Helpless on our own, yet loved without condition.
I sense that I am not the only one who will find that understanding the teachings of Jesus is not nearly as difficult as actually living according to what he says.
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