The Right Pecking Order
Opening Prayer
God, let Your Word change me so that my values become aligned with those of Your kingdom.
Read Luke 9:46-50
[46] An argument started among the disciples as to which of them would be the greatest. [47] Jesus, knowing their thoughts, took a little child and had him stand beside him. [48] Then he said to them, “Whoever welcomes this little child in my name welcomes me; and whoever welcomes me welcomes the one who sent me. For it is the one who is least among you all who is the greatest.” [49] “Master,” said John, “we saw someone driving out demons in your name and we tried to stop him, because he is not one of us.” [50] “Do not stop him,” Jesus said, “for whoever is not against you is for you.” Scripture taken from the THE HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION, NIV Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
Reflect
How does Jesus turn things on their head?In the last two readings, three of the leading disciples saw something of how great Jesus was. He was transfigured before them, talking to Moses and Elijah, and he had performed a very impressive exorcism in front of a large crowd. How trivial now to be bickering about their status and position amongst each other! Status is so important to people. We measure it in all sorts of ways–culture, education, wealth, titles and seniority, for example. In the kingdom of God, however, it just doesn’t seem appropriate. How could the disciples stoop to such questions in the light of what they had just experienced? Well, it’s all too familiar, isn’t it? Even after Jesus’ teaching they seem to see another exorcist as a rival (49,50). To understand what Jesus did (48) we need to realize that children had very little status at that time. Jesus explicitly compares himself in status to a child and completely reverses the markers of status of his culture and time.
Apply
Journal about where issues of status are the real drivers in the way that you behave towards others.
Closing prayer
Father, I come to You as a child. I bow low and You make me great because of Christ.
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