Who’s the greatest?
Mark 9:36-37AMP
These confessions and thoughts have been on my heart and mind for some time now, and I have a burden to plead with those of you who have followed the Lord Jesus for any amount of time to examine yourselves and perhaps engage in some spiritual "house cleaning" in order to see if you have gotten off track anywhere. If I knew or heard of anything I might have said or done that resulted in somebody rejecting and walking away from the message of the Gospel, then I would rather have the Lord Jesus remove all salvation and hope from me and throw me into hell to prevent the other person from meeting such a fate. I would rather have the flames of hell destroy me and I endure God's eternal wrath than to know that someone in hell was there due to my silence, hypocritical behavior, or indifference towards the condition of their soul. I could not live with myself if I knew that someone was suffering in eternity because I took the words of Jesus too casually and treated my faith and relationship with Him as if it were just another religious routine that demonstrated no change in my behavior, attitude, or worldview. I would cringe in abject terror were I to find out that something I might have said either behind a pulpit or a teaching that sounded as if I was in doubt about a passage of Scripture or expressed any kind of skepticism that could have turned an inquisitive listener back to the world's wickedness and ungodliness.
Some highlights- Jesus had just told His disciples that He would be betrayed and handed over to men [who are His enemies], He will be killed and 3 days later Jesus would be resurrected.
The disciples of Jesus didn’t understand, nor did they dare ask Jesus what He meant.
Did you know that, Children ask questions; children aren’t afraid to approach their subject. It might be the local janitor, or it could be the president of the United States, Children will approach whoever, and ask any question.
Mark 9:33-34AMP They arrived at Capernaum; and when He (Jesus) was in the house, He asked them, “What were you discussing and arguing about on the road?” 34 But they kept quiet, because on the road they had discussed and debated with one another which one [of them] was the greatest.
Who’s the greatest? Who among us has the most clout? Who gets to be close to Jesus? Who gets the money and the power?
Matthew 18:1-3AMP gives us the same account of this event but Matthew adds some more truth: 1 At that time the disciples came to Jesus and asked, “Who is greatest in the kingdom of heaven?” 2 He called a little child and set him before them, 3 and said, “I assure you and most solemnly say to you, unless you repent [that is, change your inner self—your old way of thinking, live changed lives] and become like children [trusting, humble, and forgiving], you will never enter the kingdom of heaven.
Again, Jesus states, “I assure you and most solemnly say to you...” In other words, Jesus spoke these words with total confidence.
Jesus sternly warns His disciples, If you want to be great in My Kingdom, you come as a child.
A children’s Easter Play was in the stage of preparation. The director was supervising the cast to make certain that each child would feel comfortable with his or her assigned role. One young lad was offered a speaking part, but he turned it down, saying, "I would rather play the part of the stone guarding the entrance to Jesus’ tomb.” The play went well and, when it was over, the director asked the boy if he had been happy with his non-speaking role. "Why did you want to play the stone?" she asked. With a big smile, the boy replied, "Because letting Jesus out of the tomb really felt good."
Is Jesus living outside the tomb when it comes to your attitude, your words, your thinking, Is Jesus living outside the tomb when it comes to your heart for the church? Your heart for salvation, Your heart for others and children, Your heart for worship, Your heart for God’s word? P.H
Now listen to the text, Mark 9:36-37AMP Taking a child, He set him before them; and taking him in His arms, He said to them, 37 “Whoever receives and welcomes one child such as this in My name receives Me; and whoever receives Me receives not [only] Me, but Him who sent Me.”
Q&A: How do you receive and welcome Jesus? Is my reception of Jesus based on my time table, or maybe your welcome of Jesus is based on how you feel?
Jesus takes a child in His arms, and begins to teach this all-important-truth:
Again, How do you receive and welcome the least? How you receive and welcome the least determines your position when it comes to eternity!
Moreover, Jesus teaches His 12, “If you can’t receive and welcome the least, you can’t receive and welcome Me."
Go back to this scripture reference, Matthew 18:2-5AMP He called a little child and set him before them, 3 and said, “I assure you and most solemnly say to you, unless you repent [that is, change your inner self—your old way of thinking, live changed lives] and become like children [trusting, humble, and forgiving], you will never enter the kingdom of heaven. 4 Therefore, whoever humbles himself like this child is greatest in the kingdom of heaven. 5 Whoever receives and welcomes one child like this in My name receives Me;
Repentance should be part of every believers lifestyle.
Jesus states in Matthew 18:3, unless you repent.
How does a child repent? They cry tears, they hug tightly. They don’t let go. They are genuinely remorseful. Their cry becomes cheer.
Peter preaches a messages of repentance, and 3,000 folks get saved: Acts 3:19AMP So repent [change your inner self—your old way of thinking, regret past sins] and return [to God—seek His purpose for your life], so that your sins may be wiped away [blotted out, completely erased], so that times of refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord [restoring you like a cool wind on a hot day];
Repentance involves a change of mind; Conversion involves a change of direction. A truly repented person changes their mindset. To be converted means to turn, turn around, change direction. Turn and you won’t burn.
So again, Repentance is based on your deeds, and attitude toward Him. Repentance, in deed and attitude.
This I know- If you don’t repent, you will eventually allow satan to use you. You see, satan uses people who aren’t genuine. An unrepentant and prideful man can damage many things. PH
The secret clue of where you are, and who you belong to, begins with repentance. And repentance produces times of refreshing from the presence of God.
The amplified states, [restoring you like a cool wind on a hot day];
Proverbs 28:13NLT People who conceal their sins will not prosper, but if they confess and turn from them, they will receive mercy.
Unconfessed sin comes concealed, and you’re promised, you will not prosper.
Again, Children have no problem confessing sin.
Matthew 4:17NLT From then on Jesus began to preach, “Repent of your sins and turn to God, for the Kingdom of Heaven is near.”
Jesus states, the Kingdom comes near after repentance.
Luke 5:32NLT I have come to call not those who think they are righteous, but those who know they are sinners and need to repent.
Matthew 18:3b... [that is, change your inner self—your old way of thinking, live changed lives] and become like children [trusting, humble, and forgiving],
Become like children- 1 Trusting. 2 Humble.
3. Forgiving.
1. “Trusting, not fault finding, Trusting, believing the best. Trusting God’s word. Knowing if God can change me, He can change anybody.” P.H
1 Corinthians 13:5NKJV does not behave rudely, does not seek its own, is not provoked, thinks no evil;
Author John Powell, “Gossiping can also be a balm for sensitive and guilty feelings.?Some people like to recite the misdeeds of others so they won’t have to feel so badly about their own misdeeds.?After reading the trash said about others, their own petty offenses don’t seem to be such terrible evils after all.”
Listen Saints we’re missing the point, We are to come to Jesus as a child. Child like- repentance, child like faith, child like love.
2. Matthew 18:3b...Children are humble.
Nothing to hide, and if he or she does hide, their humility and childlike faith gives them away. Children are easy to read.
3. Children are Forgiving- They can get mad and forgive the next minute.
Again, A child trusts, humbles, and forgives.
Sarcasm mixed with what you really think, isn’t a child’s way. Understand, Jesus makes it clear, you cannot enter God’s Kingdom unless you come as a child.
Matthew 18:2-3TM For an answer Jesus called over a child, whom he stood in the middle of the room, and said, “I’m telling you, once and for all, that unless you return to square one and start over like children, you’re not even going to get a look at the kingdom, let alone get in.’
* When I was 12, my sister Karen, had Mark my Nephew, it was like I became a child again!
* Over 35 years ago, before I pastored our first church, I was the pastor of Springdale Nursing Home, Time and time again, when a child came inside the common area all residents wanted was to touch him or her. Children are like a magnet to seniors.
* I’ve watched Brother Paul enjoy his Grandchildren, I think it’s safe to say, Brother Paul has relived his childhood.
* For 3 years I went daily to Morning Pointe to visit my parents. If a child made a visit it was memorable.
Many of you can tell me what your Grand Kids mean to you.
Matthew 18:6AMP but whoever causes one of these little ones who believe in Me to stumble and sin [by leading him away from My teaching], it would be better for him to have a heavy millstone [as large as one turned by a donkey] hung around his neck and to be drowned in the depth of the sea.
"When my words are spoken without merit those words cause others to stumble and sin! Again, Sarcastic and critical attitudes cause others to stumble.” P.H
Whose the greatest? Children.
In Closing, The genuine, the humble, the broken, The poor in Spirit, and those without selfish motives.
Benediction.
