THE GREATEST IN THE KINGDOM
MATTHEW 18:1-10
MARCH 24, 2019
IN THE 1960’S THE BOXING WORLD WELCOMED A RELATIVE NEWCOMER TO THE HEAVYWEIGHT RANKS. WITHIN A MATTER OF MONTHS HE HAD DEFEATED THE CHAMPION, TWICE, AND WAS NOW THE HEAVYWEIGHT CHAMPION OF THE WORLD. HE HELD THE TITLE FOR A LONG TIME. THERE WAS NOONE WHO COULD REALLY MATCH UP WITH HIM. HE WAS KNOWN FOR BEING ARROGANT AND EVENTUALLY WOULD PRONOUNCE HIMSELF “THE GREATEST” BOXER WHO HAD EVER LIVED. HIS NAME WAS CASSIUS CLAY, BUT WE GREW TO KNOW HIM AS MOHAMMAD ALI.
IT IS NOT WRONG TO STRIVE TO BE THE GREATEST. SPORT TEAMS WANT TO BE THE CHAMPIONS IN THEIR SPORT. INDIVIDUALS INVOLVED IN SPORTS LIKE MOHAMMAD ALI, WANT TO BE THE CHAMPION IN THEIR INDIVIDUAL SPORT. CANADIANS HAVE BEEN DOING WELL IN THE SPORT OF FIGURE SKATING AND HAVE HAD A NUMBER OF WORLD CHAMPIONS.
THE ISSUE WITH DESIRING TO BE THE GREATEST, IS THAT IT IS VERY EASY FOR PRIDE TO BECOME PART OF OUR LIVES. THIS HAPPENED TO THE APOSTLES AND IT COULD EASILY HAPPEN TO US. A STRONG CHRISTIAN IN MY HOME CHURCH WOULD OFTEN SAY WHEN SOMEONE SPOKE IN A PRIDEFUL WAY, “TRY YOUR LIGHTS, YOUR HORN WORKS FINE.”
OVER THE PERIOD OF EIGHT DAYS JESUS HAD TOLD THE DISCIPLES THAT HE WAS TO TRAVEL TO JERUSALEM WHERE HE WOULD BE KILLED. TWICE DURING THIS TIME JESUS REBUKED PETER FOR HIS PRIDE. HE DIDN’T WANT JESUS TO GO THE WAY OF THE CROSS. HE WAS AFRAID OF WHAT THAT WOULD MEAN TO HIM. WOULD THEY CRUCIFY HIM NEXT?
WHAT WOULD JESUS DEATH MEAN TO THE ESTABLISHMENT OF A NEW KNIGDOM HERE ON EARTH? IT SEEMED OBVIOUS THAT IF THE KING WERE DEAD SO WOULD THAT DREAM. THE POSITIONS OF PROMINENCE THAT HE AND THE OTHER DISCIPLES WOULD BE GONE.
WHEN JESUS SAID TO PETER GET BEHIND ME SATAN, HE WAS REBUKING PETER FOR TRYING TO BLOCK THE PLAN OF GOD. THE WORDS OF ISAIAH COME TO MY MIND:
ISAIAH 55:8: FOR MY THOUGHTS ARE NOT YOUR THOUGHTS, NEITHER ARE YOUR WAYS MY WAYS,” DECLARES THE LORD.
THEN JESUS TOOK PETER, JAMES AND JOHN WITH HIM AND AS THEY ASCENDED MOUNT HORAB, THEY WITNESSED HIS TRANSFIGURATION. THERE PETER WANTED TO BUILD THREE SHELTERS, SUPPOSEDLY FOR JESUS, MOSES AND ELIJAH.
THE REALITY IS THAT HE WANTED TO BUILD THE THREE SHELTERS FOR JAMES, JOHN AND HIMSELF. THEY DIDN’T WANT TO COME DOWN FROM THE MOUNTAIN, AND ONCE AGAIN PETER HAD INTERFERED WITH THE PLAN OF GOD, THE PLAN OF THE CROSS.
THE DISCIPLES IN THEIR PRIDE WOULD TAKE SOME OFFENCE IN SEEING JESUS SHOW WHAT APPEARED TO BE PREFERENCE TO PETER JAMES AND JOHN. THEY HAD ALWAYS THOUGHT THAT JESUS WAS GOING TO SETUP A PHYSICAL KINGDOM AND THAT THEY WOULD HAVE PROMINENT POSITIONS IN THE NEW KINGDOM, BUT THE QUESTION ON THEIR MINDS WAS, WHICH ONE OF THEM WAS THE GREATEST. FINALLY THE APOSTLES JUST ASK JESUS WHO IS GOING TO BE THE GREATEST IN THE KINGDOM.
JESUS RESPONDS TO THIS QUESTION IN A STRANGE WAY, OR WHAT WAS FOR THEM A STRANGE WAY. JESUS DIRECTS THEIR ATTENTION TO A CHILD AND TELLS THEM THAT IF THEY WANT TO BE GREAT IN HIS KINGDOM, THEY MUST BECOME LIKE LITTLE CHILDREN.
CHILDREN DURING JESUS’ TIME WERE SEEN AS INSIGNIFICANT AND UNIMPORTANT. THIS WAS NOT TRUE OF OUR SAVIOUR. THE PICTURE BEING PAINTED FOR US HERE IS JESUS TAKING THE CHILDREN BY THE HAND AND LIFTING THEM UP, AS IF THEY WERE PART OF THEIR FAMILY.
JESUS WAS ESTABLISHING THAT THE DISCIPLES NEED TO BE CHILDLIKE IN THEIR FAITH NOT CHILDISH IN THEIR BEHAVIOUR.
1 PETER 5:5-6:
IN THE SAME WAY, YOU WHO ARE YOUNGER, SUBMIT YOURSELVES TO YOUR ELDERS. ALL OF YOU, CLOTHE YOURSELVES WITH HUMILITY TOWARD ONE ANOTHER, BECAUSE, “GOD OPPOSES THE PROUD BUT SHOWS FAVOR TO THE HUMBLE.” 6 HUMBLE YOURSELVES, THEREFORE, UNDER GOD’S MIGHTY HAND, THAT HE MAY LIFT YOU UP IN DUE TIME. 7 CAST ALL YOUR ANXIETY ON HIM BECAUSE HE CARES FOR YOU.
IT IS FROM CHILDREN THAT WE CAN LEARN SOME OF THE BASIC LESSONS OF LIFE. CHILDREN ARE VERY BASIC. THEY EAT, SLEEP, POTTY, AND CRY WHEN ONE OF THESE IS OUT OF SYNC.
LITTLE CHILDREN ARE NOT AFRAID TO BE DEPENDANT ON ADULTS AND HAVE NO PROBLEM ACKNOWLEDGING THIS. IT IS THIS DEPENDANCE THAT LEAD CHILDREN TO TRUST. CHILDREN CANNOT PROVIDE THEIR OWN FOOD, CLOTHING OR SHELTER, BUT THEY NEVER DOUBT THAT THEY WILL RECEIVE THAT CLOTHING FOOD AND SHELTER, AT LEAST NOT AS LITTLE CHILDREN. THEY JUST KNOW IT WILL BE THERE.
I HAVE YET TO SEE A ONE OR TWO YEAR OLD, KISS HIS MOTHER AND FATHER GOOD-BYE AND TELL THEM THAT HE WAS OFF TO WORK. JESUS ASKED THE QUESTION OF PEOPLE EARLY IN MATTHEW.
MATTHEW 6:31-33:
SO DO NOT WORRY, SAYING, ‘WHAT SHALL WE EAT?’ OR ‘WHAT SHALL WE DRINK?’ OR ‘WHAT SHALL WE WEAR?’ 32 FOR THE PAGANS RUN AFTER ALL THESE THINGS, AND YOUR HEAVENLY FATHER KNOWS THAT YOU NEED THEM. 33 BUT SEEK FIRST HIS KINGDOM AND HIS RIGHTEOUSNESS, AND ALL THESE THINGS WILL BE GIVEN TO YOU AS WELL.
THIS IS THE KIND OF FAITH JESUS WAS EXPECTING OF THE DISCIPLES. JESUS EXPECTS US TO BE PEOPLE OF FAITH. HE EXPECTS US TO EXERCISE OUR FAITH IN OUR DAILY LIVES, JUST AS AN INFANT EXERCISES THEIR FAITH IN PARENTS.
CHILDREN HAVE A NUMBER OF QUALITIES THAT WE NEED TO EXPRESS IF WE ARE GOING TO EXERCISE CHRISTLIKE FAITH SUCH AS:
DEPENDANCY
FEAR WHEN SEPARATED
THEIR SENSE OF WONDER
THEIR ABILITY TO TRUST
THEIR EXCITEMENT TO LEARN
THEIR ABILITY TO FORGIVE
POINT ONE: DEPENDANCY
CHILDREN HAVE NO PROBLEM BEING DEPENDANT ON PARENTS. ASK A CHILD AND THEY WILL TELL YOU THAT DAD CAN DO ANYTHING. CHILDREN DO NOT WANT TO BE LEFT ALONE. THEY FEEL SECURE WHEN THEIR PARENTS ARE AROUND. IF THEY DON’T SEE THEIR PARENTS MANY TIMES THEY WILL CRY.
DEPENDANCE IS NATURAL TO A CHILD. THEY KNOW THEY CAN’T FACE LIFE ON THEIR OWN. THEY COME AND ASK FOR A DRINK OF MILK OR FOR A COOKIE BECAUSE THEY KNOW THEY CAN’T GET IT ON THEIR OWN. THEY ARE ALL RIGHT WITH THAT BECAUSE THEY KNOW THEIR PARENTS CAN.
GOD WANTS US TO HAVE THE SAME KIND OF DEPENDANT ATTITUDE IN REGARDS TO HIM. JESUS TOLD US TO SEEK THE KINGDOM OF HEAVEN, AND THE THINGS THAT WE NEED WILL BE ADDED TO YOU.
MATTHEW 7:7-8:
“ASK AND IT WILL BE GIVEN TO YOU; SEEK AND YOU WILL FIND; KNOCK AND THE DOOR WILL BE OPENED TO YOU. 8 FOR EVERYONE WHO ASKS RECEIVES; THE ONE WHO SEEKS FINDS; AND TO THE ONE WHO KNOCKS, THE DOOR WILL BE OPENED.
WE CAN LEARN TO BE DEPENDANT ON HIM.
POINT TWO: WE MUST HAVE A FEAR WHEN SEPARATED
CHILDREN DO NOT LIKE TO BE SEPARATED FROM THEIR PARENTS. THEY MAY PLAY HIDE AND SEEK FOR AWHILE, BUT IF THEY SENSE THAT THEY HAVE LOST THEIR PARENTS THEY WILL GET SCARED AND CRY.
WE SHOULD NOT LIKE TO BE SEPARATED FROM OUR SPIRITUAL FATHER AS WELL. JESUS SAID IN THE SERMON ON THE MOUNT:
MATTHEW 5:3-4:
BLESSED ARE THE POOR IN SPIRIT, FOR THEIRS IS THE KINGDOM OF HEAVEN. 4 BLESSED ARE THOSE WHO MOURN,
FOR THEY WILL BE COMFORTED
WE OFTEN ASSOCIATE THESE VERSES WITH COMFORT DURING TIMES OF DEATH, BUT THAT IS NOT WHAT THEY ARE SPEAKING OF. JESUS WAS TELLING PEOPLE WHAT THEIR ATTITUDE SHOULD BE LIKE IF THEY SEPARATE THEMSELVES FROM THEIR CHRISTIAN WALK. IT SHOULD CREATE AN ATTITUDE OF SORROW THAT CAN ONLY BE RELIEVED BY GETTING BACK INTO A RIGHT RELATIONSHIP WITH THE LORD.
LIKE CHILDREN WE SHOULD NOT LIKE BEING SEPARATED FROM OUR HEAVENLY FATHER, AND SHOULD CRY OUT TO BE HELD IN HIS COMFORTING ARMS ONCE AGAIN.
POINT THREE: CHILDREN HAVE THEIR SENSE OF WONDER
I REMEMBER ONE NIGHT AROUND CHRISTMAS TIME, ERIN AND SARAH MY NIECES WERE VERY YOUNG, MAYBE THREE YEARS OLD, AND THEY WERE SPELLBOUND BY A SMALL CERAMIC CHRISTMAS TREE THAT MOM HAD. IT HAD A LIGHT IN THE MIDDLE AND WHEN ON THE TREE LOOKED LIKE IT HAD COLORED LIGHTS ON IT.
MOM HELD THE GIRLS AND THEN ERIN TOOK ONE OF THE BULBS OUT OF THE TREE. WHEN SHE DID I TURNED OUT THE LIGHT. THEY BOTH HAD LOOKS OF SHOCK AND SARAH SAID “OH ERIN YOU BWOKE IT (NOT A MISPELLING. HER R’S WERE W’S FOR A LONG TIME.)” I TOLD SARAH TO PUT THE BULB BACK IN CAREFULLY AND WHEN SHE DID I LIT THE BULB AGAIN.
THEY CHEERED, AND CLAPPED THEIR HANDS, SARAH EXCLAIMED “I TIXED (AGAIN NOT A MISSPELLING) IT”!! THEN ERIN PULLED OUT ANOTHER ONE AND I TURNED THE LIGHT OFF AGAIN. THE KIDS MUST HAVE PLAYED LIKE THAT FOR 20 MINUTES. THE BEST THING OF ALL IS THAT MOM AND I HAD JUST AS MUCH FUN.
IT DOESN’T TAKE MUCH TO IMPRESS A KID. IT TAKES MUCH MORE FOR US TO BE IMPRESSED BY GOD THOUGH DOESN’T IT..
PSALM 8:9: LORD, OUR LORD, HOW MAJESTIC IS YOUR NAME IN ALL THE EARTH!
AND
PSALM 19:1: THE HEAVENS DECLARE THE GLORY OF GOD; THE SKIES PROCLAIM THE WORK OF HBUT LET’S LEARN THE IS HANDS.
I WAS TALKING WITH AN AUTISTIC STUDENT WHILE I WAS STUDYING FOR MY M.ED. IN FREDERICTON. WE LOOKED AT SNOW FALLING ON THE WINDOW OF THE SCHOOL, AND I NOTICED THAT HE WAS TRYING TO COUNT THE FLAKES.
HE WAS SMILING AS WE TALKED. HE SAID “I CAN’T COUNT THEM ALL, THERE’S JUST TOO MANY.” THEN I SAID “THERE ARE A LOT OF THEM, PROBABLY MILLIONS.” HIS EYES GREW BIG. THEN I SAID “WHAT’S REALLY AMAZING IS THAT NO TWO SNOWFLAKES ARE ALIKE.” HE WAS SO HAPPY HE GAVE ME A BIG HUG AND THAT WAS SOMETHING HE NEVER DID.
HOW AWESTRUCK ARE YOU AT THE GLORY OF GOD. SOMETIMES WE EXPECT BIG THINGS FROM GOD TO MOVE US AND THERE’S NOTHING WRONG WITH THAT. HOWEVER LET’S LEARN FROM CHILDREN HOW TO BE AWESTRUCK AT A SNOWFLAKE OR A LIGHT SWITCH.
POINT FOUR: CHILDREN HAVE AN AMAZING ABILITY TO TRUST
MY LITTLE NIECE IS FEARLESS. SHE WOULD STAND ON THE ARM OF THE COUCH AND JUMP, NO MATTER IF YOU WERE READY OR NOT. SHE JUST BELIEVED THAT YOU WOULD ALWAYS BE READY.
CHILDREN HAVE IMMENSE AMOUNTS OF COURAGE AND WILL PUT THAT COURAGE TO THE TEST BY TRUSTING US. THEY ONLY HAVE THAT COURAGE BECAUSE THEY HAVE ABSOLUTE TRUST IN SOMEONE WATCHING OVER THEM.
I WONDER HOW MUCH WE REALLY TRUST GOD TODAY?
HEBREWS 13:5-6:
KEEP YOUR LIVES FREE FROM THE LOVE OF MONEY AND BE CONTENT WITH WHAT YOU HAVE, BECAUSE GOD HAS SAID,
“NEVER WILL I LEAVE YOU; NEVER WILL I FORSAKE YOU.” 6 SO WE SAY WITH CONFIDENCE, “THE LORD IS MY HELPER; I WILL NOT BE AFRAID. WHAT CAN MERE MORTALS DO TO ME
ELSA EINSTEIN THE WIFE OF ALBERT EINSTEIN SAID THIS ABOUT TRUST:
“I DON’T UNDERSTAND MY HUSBAND’S THEORY OF RELATIVITY, BUT I KNOW MY HUSBAND, AND I KNOW HE CAN BE TRUSTED!”
CAN YOU SAY THE SAME THING ABOUT YOUR RELATIONSHIP WITH GOD?
POINT FIVE: CHILDREN HAVE A NATURAL INTEREST TO LEARN
HAVE YOU EVER TRIED TO FIGURE OUT THE FAVORITE QUESTION OF A TWO YEAR OLD CHILD? IT’S JUST ONE WORD. WHY? CHILDREN LIKE TO ASK WHY? WHY WILL A ROUND PEG NOT FIT INTO A SQUARE HOLE? WHY CAN A PLANE FLY BUT I CAN’T?
HOW IS YOUR INTEREST IN LEARNING ABOUT THE THINGS OF GOD? MOST OF YOU I DARE SAY STAY CLEAR OF BOOKS OF THE BIBLE LIKE REVELATION AND SOME OF THE BOOKS OF THE OLD TESTAMENT. THEY ARE TOO DIFFICULT TO UNDERSTAND.
DO YOU STRETCH YOUR MINDS AND ALLOW YOURSELVES TO THINK OF HOW GOOD HEAVEN IS GOING TO BE? DO YOU THINK ABOUT THE COST OF YOUR SALVATION? THE THINGS THAT COME TO YOUR MIND CAN SHOW YOU HOW MUCH GOD LOVES YOU AND DESIRES A RELATIONSHIP WITH YOU.
DO YOU THINK ABOUT GOD’S CREATION? MUCH OF THE UNDERSEA WORLD HAS NOT AS YET BEEN EXPLORED. WE ARE DISCOVERING NEW GALAXIES EVERY DAY. SCIENTIFIC DISCOVERIES ABOUT OUR BODIES ARE HELPING US FIND CURES AND CONTROLS FOR DISEASES LIKE CANCER, DIABETES, HEART ISSUES, M.S. AND M.D. THE MORE WE FIND OUT ABOUT OUR BODY, THE MORE WE STAND IN AWE OF ITS CREATOR.
POINT SIX: CHILDREN HAVE AN AMAZING ABILITY TO FORGIVE
CHILDREN CAN BE ANGRY WITH YOU AT ONE MOMENT AND THEN HUGGING YOU THE NEXT. IT’S JUST IN THEIR NATURE TO LET GO.
LET ME ASK YOU A QUESTION. HOW MANY CHILDREN DO YOU KNOW WHO HAVE ULSERS DUE TO STRESS?
THERE ARE SOME HURTS THAT FOR CHILDREN ARE HARD TO LET GO OF, BUT FOR EVERYDAY LIFE THEY CAN FORGIVE EASILY.
JESUS WANTS TO FORGIVE US, AND HE WILL IF WE LET HIM. HE SAID
HEBREWS 8:12: FOR I WILL FORGIVE THEIR WICKEDNESS
AND WILL REMEMBER THEIR SINS NO MORE
CONCLUSION:
IS IT ANY WONDER THAT JESUS WOULD USE A CHILD TO TEACH THE ADULT DISCIPLES. THERE IS SO MUCH WE CAN LEARN FROM THEM. THE DISCIPLES THOUGH STILL DIDN’T GET THE MESSAGE. THEY TRIED TO KEEP THE CHILDREN FROM COMING TO JESUS.
JESUS RESPONSE WAS A BIT OF OVERKILL. HE SAID THAT IF ANYONE HURTS OR PROHIBITS A LITTLE ONE FROM COMING TO HIM IT WOULD BE BETTER FOR A LIMESTONE TO BE TIED AROUND HIM AND HE BE THROWN INTO THE DEEPEST PART OF THE SEA.
THIS MILLSTONE WAS NO SMALL THING. THEY WERE USED IN MILLS TO GRIND ALL THE GRAIN OF THE COMMUNITY. THEY WERE HUGE. IT WOULD TAKE SEVERAL MEN TO WORK WITH ONE SO TO TIE IT AROUND YOUR NECK AND THROW YOU INTO THE SEA WAS A BIG DEAL. JESUS LOVED CHILDREN AND PROTECTED THEM.
THE DISCIPLES DIDN’T GET THE MESSAGE, AND AS WE WILL SEE NEXT WEEK, ARE GOING TO COME TO JESUS WITH A CHILDISHNESS THAT WILL MAKE YOUR HEAD SPIN.
