The contrast could not be starker. The Lord Jesus has been speaking of his coming humiliation; how he would soon allow himself to be ridiculed and crucified in public shame on a cross. While Jesus was speaking of his coming humiliation, the disciples were pondering their coming greatness. As they were walking along the road without Jesus, an argument broke out among them. They were arguing over which of them would have the highest honor and rank in Jesus' kingdom.
After all, if Christ was about to establish his government over the world, he would need generals and presidents and religious authorities and judges. The only question was, which of them would receive what high position in his kingdom.
We can imagine why they were arguing amongst themselves. There was likely some jealously over the fact that only three disciples were invited up the mountain with Jesus. Can we not assume that the three had developed a somewhat arrogant attitude against the others? We might imagine Peter reminding the others that he was the rock, but then the others responding, yes, but you were also called Satan. So as Jesus heads to the lowly cross, the disciples are jockeying for the most important positions in Christ's kingdom.
We see in the other gospels that when the disciples reached the house where Jesus was, Christ asked them what they were talking about on the road. Of course the Lord knew what they had been arguing about, but gave them a chance to come clean.
At first no one would answer because they were embarrassed. They knew the Lord would not approve of such talk. Then they ask Jesus a theological question to hide their true intent. Who is the greatest in your kingdom? The real question of course was, which of us twelve is the greatest in your kingdom?
The disciples were reflecting the carnal Jewish religion of the times. The whole system of Pharisaism rested upon distinctions of honor given to men based upon merit. The Jewish writings of the day were obsessed with who receives the most honor in God's eyes. Some of the writings are close to blasphemy, as they speak of how God must honor certain men and answer their prayers over others because of their righteousness.
Maybe no place in the gospels do the disciples seem more like unbelievers than here. And maybe no place do we see such a contrast between Christ and the disciples. In the face of utter self-sacrifice and love, in the face of God in the flesh speaking of suffering and dying for his people, the disciples engage in a debate of which of them deserves the most honor from God.
Part of Christ's suffering was simply to bear with his disciples. Oh how much God bears with us; what amazing patience and long-suffering in the face of all our arrogance.
We see the gentleness of the Lord in that he did not yell at his disciples, as we might in that situation, nor did he give up on them, as we might. Instead he provides an illustration for them to teach what it means to be great in his kingdom.
The Lord calls a little boy to himself. Even in this act we see the Lord's gentleness towards others. He did not simply use the boy as a teaching tool, embarrassing him or scaring him. The book of Mark tells us that Jesus put his arms around the child. We might imagine the Lord with a smile calling the child to himself and placing the boy in his lap. You see the Lord's tender love as he cares for the feelings of a little boy.
The Lord will make a point about the low status of a child, how we are to become like children, unconcerned with status. This illustration may have difficult time hitting home with us as it would have the disciples.
Our modern culture values children highly, maybe too highly. I recently read of the life of Jonathan Edwards and his family. In the Edwards home, this was in the eighteenth century, the Edwards children were never allowed to speak to adults unless the adults first spoke to them. And whenever the children spoke with an adult they had to stand up to show respect.
Obviously we live in a different time. We may live in the only culture in the world's history that considers spanking child abuse. If you are a politician, and you want to prove that your political goals are superior to others, you only have to say you are doing this for the children. That is expected to settle the issue. We have almost made children equal to adults in status. But in Jesus' day children had little if any status. The disciples usually considered children a nuisance to their ministry.
That is why it would have been all the more shocking to hear Jesus say, unless you change and become like this child you will never enter my kingdom.
A child cares nothing about status. He knows he is dependent. A child is not embarrassed to hold out his hand for his parents to lead him across the street. Give a child an opportunity to rule over millions, and he'd rather go play with his toys in his bedroom. Honor and status mean nothing to a two-year old. A child is dependent on others and not ashamed of his dependency, for he instinctively knows his need of others.
Here is the warning from God; unless you humble yourself before God and others like a little child, you cannot be a Christian; you cannot be a member of God's kingdom.
To become as a child is to admit your sinfulness before God, that you do not deserve anything. It is to stretch out your hand completely dependent on Christ to save you, not ashamed to admit your utter dependence.
After the warning the Lord instructs you in the meaning of greatness in his eyes. Whoever humbles himself as this little child is great in God's kingdom. The Lord is unimpressed with the pomp of men, with their crowing about their gifts and usefulness and wisdom, even among his people.
Greatness in God's eyes is remembering who God is and who you are, and responding accordingly; remembering all you have is undeserved, and that any wisdom, or character, or usefulness is a free gift from above.
We live in an arrogant culture, and in saying "we" I mean modern Christians. Christians have a difficult time asking for help. Fewer and fewer Christians ask for help in understanding the Bible. It is seen as a sign of weakness if a man cannot come to all his own conclusions without human help.
Young parents are convinced that they have all the wisdom it takes to raise children on their own. Rarely do they go to those who have raised children and ask questions, what were your mistakes, what worked; what did you do in this situation? Young parents foolishly think they have all the wisdom they need on their own.
We read books that validate our views; we do not challenge ourselves with books of those with differing opinions. Thus we think way too much of our own opinions. It takes years to encourage Christians to even question their own views. We doubt almost everyone else except ourselves.
Jesus bears with his people in their arrogance, but warns us to become as children before him. Arrogance is unbecoming to our faith, and does not honor the Lord. To be like a child is to be teachable; it is to admit our need, it is to admit our utter dependence upon God, and not only God, but upon other people. It is not to seek honor over others, but to honor others over ourselves.
Remember, Christian humility is not simply thinking lowly of yourself. We all remember that friend in high school with the poor self-image. You know, the one who was always saying, "I'm so unattractive; I can't do anything right; I'm so unpopular;" etc., etc.... In their lowly self-image the world still revolved around them and what they thought they deserved. Thinking lowly of yourself is not necessarily Christian humility.
Christian humility agrees with what God says about us, that we are all by nature sinful, carnal, and worthy of judgment. And we are all utterly dependent on Christ to save us. Humility recognizes we are not God, we do not have his wisdom and knowledge, and that he does as he pleases, and doesn't need our permission.
Christian humility is not ashamed of weakness. We are dependent on Christ and his church to help us live as Christians. Christian humility is not ashamed to ask for help.
Though Christ's warnings come calmly, both from the text of Scripture and from this pulpit, take this warning with the utmost seriousness. Unless you become as a child you cannot enter Christ's kingdom.
And do not judge greatness as the world does. Greatness to God is not who has the most wisdom, or knowledge, or who does the greatest deeds. Greatness is becoming a child before God and living humbly before him.
Because we have been redeemed and loved freely by Christ, we do not have to be concerned with status and what others think about us. If you are accused of something, admit it. Do not defend your honor. If you name three of my weaknesses, I can name twenty more.
Christian humility honors others because God has informed us that we need others, and that to honor others over ourselves is to honor Christ, and be like him.
This call to humility is not a law too great to bear. Jesus died for arrogant people, and sanctification is very slow. God is patient, as bore with his silly disciples, he bears with us. My arrogance haunts me every week. Something or someone always slaps me down to size when I begin thinking too much of myself. Sanctification is painful, but necessary.
But do not judge greatness based upon the values of your old nature you were born with. Judge greatness by what the Lord has informed you in his word, and what Christ demonstrated for you as he lowered himself for you on the cross.
Remember, God is opposed to the proud, but gives grace to the humble. His promise is always true, those who humble themselves before him now will be greatly exalted eternally. Amen