Today, I have basically one point that I would like to emphasize.
From this passage before us in Luke 9, and from my other experiences in life, I
am convinced that one of the greatest dangers we will face in following Christ
as His disciples is pride. After following and being with the Lord Jesus for
now over three years the disciples are arguing and disputing with one another
over “which of them would be the greatest”. Can you imagine how this must
have grieved the Lord Jesus as He “perceived the thought of their heart”.
For the past three years the disciples have been with Jesus
as He as preformed many miracles. He fed the five thousand men and their
families with only five loaves of bread and two small fish. He cast demons out
of people, setting them free from their bondage. He heals the lepers, He raised
the dead boy at Nain, and He gave sight to the blind.
Over and over Jesus showed great love and compassion for
the individual. He took time for the woman who touched the hem of His garment
while the crowd was thronging Him. He crossed a stormy sea to go the other side
and set one maniac Gentile man free from the possession of a “legion” of demons.
Every day the disciples experienced up close His miraculous power to heal poor
people and cast out demons. Every day they saw His love and compassion for
everyone!
But most of all, they must have seen and noticed the humility
of Jesus. They had proclaimed that they believed that He was the Promised
Messiah of the Old Testament. That He was the Christ, the Son of God! They
heard Jesus’ messages on love and forgiveness! They watched Him respond to
rejection at His hometown, and from the scorn of the religious leaders in every
place they went. In every situation Jesus portrayed His humility as a servant
to everyone He ministered too.
But now, instead of being humble like Jesus, they individually
are seeking to be in a position of greatness or authority over all the other
disciples. They are not only “disputing” verbally with each other about
this subject, but their inward attitudes that caused this conflict was one of
pride. “Jesus, perceiving the thought of their heart.” Their hearts were
full of pride!
But before we get too critical of them, can you imagine what
it must have been like to be a poor, nobody, fisherman, or despised tax
collector, and you have been chosen specially by Jesus to be with Him every day
as He ministered and performed His miracles? I think it would have been very
difficult not to experience a spirit of pride that I was so honored by Jesus
Himself to have this privilege and position as His disciple. Goodness, three of
them had just seen Moses and Elijah and the glorious transfiguration of Jesus
on the mountain!
Shortly after they got back home to Capernaum, the Lord
decided to deal with their disputes. According to Mark's account, they were in
a house when Jesus took a child and set the child alongside Him. The Lord set
these big burley men in contrast with the young child, prattling about little
concerns. Then He said, "Whoever receives this little child in My name
receives Me; and whoever receives Me receives Him who sent Me. For he who is
least among you all will be great." (9:48).
We are to love, help, and protect children, who are the
very symbol of all who are weak, helpless, and dependent. In doing so, we serve
Him and, by extension, His Father as well. So much for their boasts as to which
of them would wear the brightest crown!
Remember “the pride of our heart will always deceive us”
into thinking we are better than we really are. (Obadiah 1:3). No doubt, our
greatest danger in experiencing the wonderful and miraculous blessings of the Lord
Jesus will be pride! We should all be very careful!
God bless!
