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Luke 9:46-56

The Greatest in the Kingdom

  • Rich Jones
  • Weekend Messages
  • June 17, 2012

In the latter verses of Luke chapter 9, we encounter the questions of who is greatest in the kingdom of heaven. It was a heated discussion. The Jewish leaders and the disciples were debating about the issue and they finally come to Jesus for the answer. They were expecting Jesus to point out one of them as the greatest in the kingdom. But their problem was that they were looking at the idea of greatness the way the world looks at it. They wanted to be seen as great in the eyes of others. This is all about the motives of the heart and it becomes an opportunity for Jesus to teach them about God’s heart and it’s an opportunity to bring them into the maturity of faith.

  • Sermon Notes
  • Scripture

The Greatest in the Kingdom

Luke 9:46-56

As we return our study in Luke chapter 9, let’s take a running start by remembering the events that had just recently happened. Jesus had taken Peter,
James and John his brother up to a high mountain where He was transfigured before them. His face shone like the sun and His garments became white as
light and Moses and Elijah also appeared with him talking about the events that would soon happen in Jerusalem, speaking of his crucifixion and resurrection.

Coming down from the mountain He found His disciples engaged in a debate with some of the Jewish leaders. Just as Jesus was coming up to them, a man with
a demon possessed boy fell on his knees before Jesus asking for mercy for his son. The disciples had been unable to heal the boy of the demon, but
Jesus cured him at once. When they asked why they were unable to cast it out, Jesus responded, “Because of the littleness of your faith.” Jesus
then began to teach them about the importance of faith that completely trusts in God’s ability and not in man’s.

All of that leads up to a discussion, or perhaps a better word might be argument, about who is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven. When you read all
the gospels you see that this was a debate they had more than once and at times the arguments even became heated. Even the mother of James and John
got into the debate.

So they finally came to Jesus to settle the question. It seems clear they were expecting Jesus to point out one of them as the greatest in the kingdom.
But their problem was that they were looking at the idea of greatness the way the world looks at it. They wanted to be great in the eyes of man; they
wanted position and power and to be in authority over others.

This is all about the motives of the heart and it becomes an opportunity for Jesus to teach them about God’s heart and it’s an opportunity to bring them
into the maturity of faith.

It’s an opportunity for us to learn about God’s heart and it’s an opportunity for us also to grow into the maturity of faith in how we live our lives before
God and others.

I. Leave the World’s Way behind You

  • When Jesus transforms people He transforms their hearts. He takes them from what they once were in the world and makes them new.
  • “The old things have passed away, behold, I make all things new,” Jesus said.
  • Therefore, the world’s way of doing things will not work in the kingdom of heaven.
  • He wants to transform our motives, our desires, the way we consider others, and the way we look at ourselves. God’s ways and God’s thoughts are higher
    than ours and He wants to make us walk on higher places.

A. The world’s way does not consider others

  • Jesus had explained several times that He must suffer many things by the leaders in Jerusalem and that He would be killed.
  • The disciples don’t seem to be concerned with what will be happening to Jesus, but instead are concerned about who’s going to be the greatest.
  • When you’re looking out for your own personal interests you become oblivious to the needs of those around you.

Philippians 2:4-5, Do not merely look out for your own personal interests, but also for the interests of others. Have this attitude in yourselves which was also in Christ Jesus.

Illus – Howard Hendricks once said that being a waiter is great training for ministry because a waiter has to be concerned about serving others. Have you ever had a waiter that looked down at you?

Illus – More commonly, it’s the customers who come in with an attitude. When I was managing a restaurant, one day I had to help by serving a party of 12 or 15 people…

Illus – This was the very problem going on in the church at Corinth; some people were thinking they were more spiritual, therefore greater, than others.

1 Corinthians 12:31, But earnestly desire the greatest gifts. And I will show you a still more excellent way.

  • Paul then gave them that great chapter on love; 1 Corinthians 13.
  • The scriptures show that God is not pleased with those who seek to serve or promote self.

3 John 9-10, I wrote something to the church; but Diotrephes, who loves to be first among them, does not accept what we say.

B. The world’s way seeks position over others

  • Today, there are seminars and conferences that will teach you how to obtain power seats, wear power ties, and have power lunches. This strategy
    involves how to have advantage over others.

Illus – When I was growing up we used the have a game called “King of the Hill.” Whoever held the stick (leg of an old broken chair) was the king and could tell everyone what to do, but if you could knock him off the hill and get the stick, you could be “king of the hill.”

  • But Jesus made it clear this is the way the world is, but this is not the way it should be among you.

Mark 10:42, Calling them to Himself, Jesus said to them, “You know that those who are recognized as rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them; and their great men exercise authority over them. But it is not this way among you, whoever wishes to become great among you shall be your servant;”

  • Imagine what churches or families or marriages would be like if everyone had a heart to serve one another…
  • But also imagine the opposite, a kingdom of people trying to lord themselves over everyone, that’s exactly why Jesus said, “Don’t be like the world.”
    His way is clearly higher than our way.
  • The root of all of this from the world is of course pride. And isn’t pride the source of many troubles in our lives?
  • The scripture says that God resists the proud; in fact, so does everyone else.

James 4:6-7, But He gives a greater grace. Therefore it says, “God is opposed to the proud, but gives grace to the humble.” Submit therefore to God.

Proverbs 13:10, By pride comes nothing but contention, but with the well advised is wisdom.

  • The problem is that in the world, you can get more done by being bossy and dominant.
  • In the kingdom of heaven, however, God is the Kings of all kings and the world’s ways of being bossy and dominant do not work.

II. The Greatest is He Who Humbles Himself

  • To answer the question of who was the greatest, Jesus called a child to Himself. Mark tells us that He put his arms around the child, I love that
    picture.
  • I also love the fact that when Jesus called the child, he came without hesitation.
  • Jesus then said, “Unless you be converted and become like children, you shall not even enter the kingdom of heaven.”
  • He then said, “Whoever humbles himself as this child, he is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven.”

A. God wants us to have the heart of a child

  • Jesus is referring to the heart of a child, the humility of a child and the honest simplicity of faith that you see in children.

Illus – Everyone in our family loves to hear our granddaughter pray, how much more does God love to hear her or any child sincerely pray.

  • Jesus is not asking us to be childish and immature in petty bickering; He’s referring to the fact that children were considered least in that culture,
    they were to be seen and not heard.

Illus – if Jesus had asked the disciples to organize everyone there according to greatness, no doubt they would’ve had the disciples as the greatest, then would come the crowd, and last of all the children.

  • But Jesus was saying that the opposite was true; in fact, the verses that follow make it very clear how much God loves those children.
  • “Whoever receives one such child in My name receives Me.” But the opposite is also true…
  • “Whoever offends one of these little ones who believe in Me, offends Me also.”
  • “Whoever causes one of these little ones to stumble, it is better for him that a heavy millstone be hung around his neck and that he be drowned in the depths of the sea.”

Matthew 18:10, “See that you do not despise one of these little ones, for their angels in heaven continually behold the face of My Father who is in heaven.”

B. He loves you like a father

  • Jesus said that you cannot even enter the kingdom of heaven unless you are converted and become like children. There is a simple faith of trusting
    God that He asks of us.
  • When we receive his offer of life, we are adopted into his family as sons and daughters and his love for us can be understood more deeply from
    that relationship.

Romans 8:15, For you have not received the spirit of slavery leading to fear again, but you have received a spirit of adoption as sons by which we cry out, “Abba, Father!”

Galatians 4:6, Because you are sons, God has sent forth the Spirit of His Son into our hearts, crying, “Abba! Father!”

  • But then we need to be about our Father’s business and care for the least of these as well.
  • Verse 48, “Whoever receives this child in My name receives Me…”

C. The greatest is he who serves others

  • Why is this true? Because that is what God is doing through Jesus Christ.

Matthew 20:27-28, “and whoever wishes to be first among you shall be your servant; just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life a ransom for many.”

  • In the world, greatness is often measured by how many people serve you, but in the kingdom of heaven it is exactly the opposite.
  • In the world, when someone falls short, offends, or disappoints, they throw that person away. But this is not God’s way.
  • Verses 51-56“The Son of Man did not come to destroy men’s lives, but to save them.”
  • We need to rethink how we perceive the imperfections and offenses in others. Instead of throwing others away, we need to transform, we need to
    redeem, build up, and edify.
  • Why? Because that is what God is doing.

Matthew 18:11, “For the Son of Man has come to save that which was lost…”

Illus – there is joy in heaven when one sinner repents and comes home. Look at the story of the Prodigal Son; it is a perfect example of the heart of the Father.

Galatians 6:1, Brethren, even if anyone is caught in any trespass, you who are spiritual, restore such a one in a spirit of gentleness…

Luke 9:46-56      NASB

46 An argument started among them as to which of them might be the greatest. 47 But Jesus, knowing what they were thinking in their heart, took a child
and stood him by His side, 48 and said to them, “Whoever receives this child in My name receives Me, and whoever receives Me receives Him who sent
Me; for the one who is least among all of you, this is the one who is great.”
 
49 John answered and said, “Master, we saw someone casting out demons in Your name; and we tried to prevent him because he does not follow along with us.”
50 But Jesus said to him, “Do not hinder him; for he who is not against you is for you.”
 
51 When the days were approaching for His ascension, He was determined to go to Jerusalem; 52 and He sent messengers on ahead of Him, and they went and
entered a village of the Samaritans to make arrangements for Him. 53 But they did not receive Him, because He was traveling toward Jerusalem. 54 When
His disciples James and John saw this, they said, “Lord, do You want us to command fire to come down from heaven and consume them?” 55 But He turned
and rebuked them, [and said, “You do not know what kind of spirit you are of; 56 for the Son of Man did not come to destroy men’s lives, but to save
them.”] And they went on to another village.
Audio

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