The person closest to the Lord is the one who considers themselves small.

The person closest to the Lord is

the one who considers themselves small.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

“An argument arose among the disciples as to which of them was the greatest. Jesus, knowing their thoughts, took a little child and had him stand beside him.  Then he said to them, ‘Whoever welcomes one of these little children in my name welcomes me; and whoever welcomes me welcomes the one who sent me.  Truly I tell you, whoever is least among you all is the greatest’” (Luke 9:46-48).

 

 

 

 

(1)      Jesus, who had healed the demon-possessed boy, said to His disciples while everyone was marveling at God’s majesty [“God’s greatness” (Korean Modern Bible)] and all the things He had done: “Listen carefully to this.  For I am about to be handed over into the hands of men" (Lk. 9:38-44).  But the disciples, not understanding this statement, began arguing among themselves about who was the greatest (v. 46).

 

(a)    Here, I became somewhat interested in the contrast between “God's greatness” (v. 43) and the disciples' argument about human ‘greatness’ (v. 46):

 

(i)                 The Greek word “μεγαλειότητι” (megalēiōtēti), meaning “greatness” or “majesty” in reference to God, appears three times in the New Testament (Lk. 9:43; Acts 19:27; 2 Pet. 1:16), each time denoting the overwhelming glory, majesty, and transcendent greatness fitting only God (Internet).

 

·            God's glory revealed in Christ's earthly ministry: Immediately after Jesus healed the demon-possessed boy, it signifies the ‘overwhelming power and glory of God’ witnessed by the people.   This divine majesty is directly described as an attribute of God manifested through Jesus' authority over evil spirits.  This event confirms that every act of salvation in Jesus' ministry renews the pure glory of God the Father.  The crowd's astonishment demonstrates humanity's proper response to divine revelation—worship born of wonder (Internet).

 

(ii)               The Greek word “μείζων” (meizon) in “greater than” is the comparative form of the adjective μέγας (mégas, great), meaning “greater,” “more important,” or “the greatest” (Internet).

 

·            The disciples argued among themselves about who would occupy the highest position or key role in the coming Messianic kingdom.  Here, «μείζων» refers to social and political ‘status’ or ‘influence’ rather than spiritual maturity” (Internet).

 

(iii)             Ultimately, the disciples who marveled at God's majesty (μεγαλειότητι) in Luke 9:43 immediately afterward (v. 46) began arguing about their own greatness (μείζων).  This starkly contrasts human pride with God's glory (Internet).

 

·            Jesus, who had revealed God's majesty (greatness), spoke of how He would soon be handed over to men and humbly suffer death (vv. 43-44).  Yet the disciples not only failed to grasp this teaching but arrogantly argued among themselves about “who is the greatest” (μέιζων) (v. 46) (Ref.: Internet).

 

(b)    Here, I also became interested in the word “debate” in the statement that a ‘debate’ arose among the disciples about “who is the greatest” (v. 46).

 

(i)                 The Greek word for “debate,” “διαλογισμὸς” (dialogismos), combines “δια” (dia), meaning “to pass through,” with ‘λογίζομαι’ (logizomai), meaning “to calculate, to think.”  It signifies not simple conversation, but self-centered calculations made by weighing and considering things in one's mind, and the disputes arising from such calculations (Internet).

 

·         While the disciples may have argued openly, verse 47 emphasizes the selfish ambition and jealousy entrenched in their hearts, as Jesus knew their ‘inner thoughts (διαλογισμὸν).

 

-             In the Bible, this word is often linked to ‘doubt’ or ‘evil thoughts’.  This ‘argument’ among the disciples suggests it stemmed from human greed—misunderstanding God's kingdom and calculating their own standing" (Internet).

 

(c)    What happens if selfish ambition and jealousy take root in our hearts, enslaving us to human greed that calculates our own standing?

 

(i)                 Blinded by our ambition, we would fail to see God's great work unfolding in our lives, seeing only ‘my influence’ and ‘my position’.  As a result, reverence would vanish, leaving only the anxiety and pride born of comparison.

 

·               Furthermore, our selfish ambition causes us to see others not as fellow workers but as competitors to be eliminated or surpassed.  The calculations (διαλογισμὸς) within our hearts give rise to sharp arguments and disputes that manifest outwardly.  Consequently, true fellowship within the community vanishes, and souls become isolated due to constant jockeying for position and envy.

 

-             When we are ensnared by our ‘desire to be exalted,’ the core of the gospel—which emphasizes humility and service—will fall on deaf ears.   Consequently, we easily fall into ‘religious hypocrisy,’ walking a path diametrically opposed to the way of the cross while deluding ourselves into thinking we are faithfully following the Lord (Internet).

 

(2)      Jesus knew what was going on in the disciples' hearts. He took a little child and placed him beside him.  Then he said to the disciples, “Whoever welcomes one such child in my name welcomes me; and whoever welcomes me welcomes the one who sent me.  For the one who is least among you all is the greatest” (Lk. 9:47-48).

 

(a)    Jesus, who knew even the secret thoughts of the disciples' hearts, deliberately chose a little child and placed him ‘beside him’ to completely overturn their perspective on the ‘seat of power’ they coveted.  The disciples had been arguing over who would sit at Jesus' right and left (the closest seats).  By seating a child, not the disciples, in that coveted place, Jesus delivered a powerful message: “The person closest to the Lord is the one who considers themselves the least.”  It was an educational act, contrasting the child's pure innocence, free of any political calculation, to shame the disciples' complex and selfish ambitions (Internet).

 

(i)                 In Jewish society at that time, children were not protected figures like today, but rather symbols of the ‘most insignificant beings’ without legal rights or social status.  While the disciples were looking up, arguing over who was the greatest, Jesus visually demonstrated the truth that “the size of the kingdom of God is determined not by social rank but by the depth of humility” by raising up a child of no social value (Internet).

 

·            Jesus placed the child beside him and said, “Whoever welcomes one such child in my name welcomes me” (v. 48).  While the disciples sought to connect with the powerful to increase their own influence, Jesus taught that how one treats the insignificant, who cannot repay them, reveals their attitude toward him (Internet).

 

(3)      When I think of the saying, “The person closest to the Lord is the one who considers themselves small,” I think of the Apostle Paul.  The reason is that Paul was a person who considered himself small: (a) “I am the least of the apostles...” (1 Cor 15:9), (b) “To me, who am less than the least of all the saints...” (Eph 3:8), (c) “...the chief of sinners” (1 Tim 1:15).

 

(a)    So the Apostle Paul said in 1 Corinthians 15:10: “But by the grace of God I am what I am, and His grace toward me was not in vain. I worked harder than any of them, though it was not I, but the grace of God that was with me.”

 

(i)                 Just as Paul did, those who progressively come to know God's grace more and more cannot help but become increasingly humble and increasingly obedient to God's word.  Therefore, in fulfilling the mission he received from the Lord—to testify to the gospel—Paul did not consider his own life of any value to himself (Acts 20:24).

 

·            Therefore, I too desire to grow ever more humble and lowly in my faith journey as I increasingly comprehend God's grace, obeying the Lord's word and submitting even unto death like Jesus did (Phil 2:8).

 

-             Hymn “I Know not Why God’s Wondrous Grace” lyrics:

 

(Verse 1) I know not why God’s wondrous grace To me He hath made Known, Nor why, unworthy, Christ in love Redeemed me for His own.

 

(Verse 2)  I know not how this saving faith To me He did impart, Nor how believing in His Word Wrought peace within my heart.  But “I know whom I have believed, and am persuaded that He is able To keep that which I’ve committed Unto Him against that day.”

 

(Verse 3)  I know not how the Spirit moves, Convincing men of sin, Revealing Jesus through the Word, Creating faith in Him.

 

(Verse 4)  I know not what of good or ill May be reserved for me, Of weary ways or golden days, Before His face I see. But “I know whom I have believed, and am persuaded that He is able To keep that which I’ve committed Unto Him against that day.”