Knowing The Word in Luke 9:46-48, Who is the Greatest

Pride rears its ugly head among the disciples. Perhaps they could not understand the nature of Jesus’ death because they were more worried about their place in the pecking order. The child Jesus selects stands for the helpless and unimportant. The really great person is the lowly one. In the kingdom of God people do not compare themselves to one another. True greatness comes in lowly service.

46 An argument arose among them as to which of them was the greatest. 47 But Jesus, knowing the reasoning of their hearts, took a child and put 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 he who is least among you all is the one who is great.”

Prayer:

O Lord, give us more charity, more self-denial, more likeness to thee. Teach us to sacrifice our comforts to others, and our likings for the sake of doing good. Make us kindly in thought, gentle in word, generous in deed. Teach us that it is better to give than to receive; better to forget ourselves than to put ourselves forward; better to minister than to be ministered unto. And unto thee, the God of love, be glory and praise for ever.

Henry Alford, 1810-1871