Well, last Sunday we heard about the kerfuffle which took place right after Jesus' transfiguration.
Jesus came down the mountain with Peter, James, and John to find his other nine disciples in a dispute with the teachers of the law about why they couldn't cast a demon out from a man's son.
It was an evil spirit that threw this boy into convulsions and caused him to foam at the mouth.
And the spirit had even tried on occasion to kill him.
And we heard about how Jesus commanded the demon to come out, and it did.
And Luke concluded that story with these words.
They were all amazed at the greatness of God.
Well, let's continue on here in Luke chapter 9.
While everyone was marveling at all that Jesus did,
He said to His disciples,
Listen carefully to what I'm about to tell you.
The Son of Man is going to be delivered into the hands of men.
But they did not understand what this meant.
It was hidden from them so that they did not grasp it.
And they were afraid to ask Him about it.
This is now the second reminder from Jesus about what is soon to happen.
Jesus already told them once.
We just heard that back up in verse 22.
We can just go back up and look at that.
He already told them,
The Son of Man must suffer many things and be rejected by the elders, the chief priests, and the teachers of the law.
And He must be killed and on the third day be raised to life.
This second time Jesus says it just a little differently.
He says,
The Son of Man is going to be delivered into the hands of men.
And these words of Luke are actually just a bit of a summary of the fuller statement,
which we read in Matthew 17.
There Jesus is recorded to say,
The Son of Man is going to be delivered into the hands of men.
They will kill Him.
And on the third day,
He will be raised to life.
And the disciples were filled with grief.
Some translations say that they were deeply distressed.
So they seem to understand that something bad is going to happen.
They're deeply distressed or unsettled.
Jesus is talking about being killed for the second time.
But Luke's emphasis here is that the disciples didn't understand what Jesus meant.
It was hidden from them so that they did not grasp it.
And they were afraid to ask Him about it.
I got thinking about this.
It's so obvious to us what Jesus is referring to
when He says these things.
That the Son of Man is going to be delivered into the hands of men.
We can just flip our Bibles ahead to chapter 22 and start reading.
And we read about how Jesus was handed over.
How He was betrayed by Judas
to the religious leaders
in the Garden of Gethsemane.
We read about how Jesus was killed not long after that.
But we have to remember at this point in the story
that Jesus' disciples had no knowledge of this.
They didn't know how it was going to unfold.
It hadn't happened yet.
Judas hadn't even decided yet
to hand Jesus over
to betray Him.
And so no wonder
they didn't understand
what He meant.
Luke says it was hidden from them
so that they did not grasp it.
And I know I have some questions about that.
What does that mean?
Why was it hidden from them?
Is it God that hid it from them?
Or is that a figure of speech
to say that it was just beyond their sight?
And why were they afraid
to ask Jesus about it?
Was it because it just sounded so terrible?
Or was it because the last time
Jesus had said something like this
Peter tried to suggest
that that's not how it's going to go
and then he got rebuked by Jesus?
Was that fresh in their memories?
And then in the mix of all this
there's this secret
that Peter and James and John
are keeping from the other nine disciples.
They, just the day before,
saw Jesus' glory on the mountain.
They heard the voice of God
say that Jesus was His Son
and His chosen one.
And I'm thinking
it's pretty hard to imagine
after hearing and seeing that
how there can be
any delivering over of Him
to the hands of men
and killing of Him.
At this point
Luke jumps to something
that seems totally unrelated.
Verse 46
An argument started
among the disciples
as to which of them
would be the greatest.
If we read Mark's Gospel
we learn that this argument
actually happened
between Jesus' disciples
while they were walking
towards the town of Capernaum.
And it's
when they get to Capernaum
they're in the house together
Jesus asked them
what they were arguing about
on the road.
We get this picture
that maybe Jesus
was just walking with
one of them
and the rest of them
are either behind or ahead
and they're having this squabble.
So Jesus asked them
what were you guys arguing about?
And Mark tells us
that the disciples
didn't want to say anything
at first.
They all kept silent
about this
because they had argued
about who was the greatest
of them.
Why would they be arguing
about that?
Well we don't know
exactly what they're thinking
but we've got to use
our imagination sometimes
to flesh it out a bit.
Maybe Peter and James and John
were thinking pretty highly
of themselves
after what they just saw
on the mountaintop.
something that the others
didn't get to see.
Why would Jesus
have taken only us three?
Maybe we're special.
Maybe we have a special role
to play in the kingdom.
This is just me imagining.
But you know
boasting and comparing
ourselves to others
is natural right?
I mean maybe we look at this
and we think
well how childish of them.
arguing about which of them
was the greatest?
That's immature.
We never do that
do we?
Well maybe we've just learned
to keep our proud thoughts
to ourselves
or to share them only
with those that we know
closely
our friends
our family.
But no
let's be honest
we see this kind of pride
all the time
in our world.
I hesitate to use
this example
but can Donald Trump
even talk for five minutes
without saying the word
great or greatest
about America
or something
that he's working on.
But then think back
to the disciples.
Jesus really did
choose them.
These twelve guys
they were chosen
by the Messiah himself
and I don't know
maybe they're falling asleep
at night
thinking about
what their role
could be
in the kingdom of God
once Jesus
marches into Jerusalem
and takes charge.
Like
will I be an important
regional ruler
over here?
Or maybe I'll be in charge
of the economy.
Or
military strategy
and pure procurement.
If I had my pick
what would it be
to do
in the kingdom
of Jesus?
Maybe second
in command
to him.
You can only
imagine them
talking on the road.
You know
what will this
be like?
This is so exciting.
Generations
of our people
have longed
for this moment
and here it is
the Messiah
has come.
Well
one thing's for sure
Andrew
I'm going to have
a higher position
in the kingdom
than you.
Oh yeah?
Well
what about that time
that Jesus
called you Satan
Peter?
Well
when James
and John
and I
were up on the mountain
we saw something
so amazing
but we can't tell you
because Jesus
told us not to.
And besides
I was the first
to say that
Jesus was the Messiah.
Oh come on
Simon
I was the one
who first introduced
you to Jesus
even before you
had your eye on him
I had him pegged
as the Messiah.
I don't know
we can only imagine
how they thought
and how they argued
over which of them
was the greatest
and they knew
it was prideful
why else would
they keep silent
when Jesus asked
them what they
were talking about?
Well
Jesus turns
this whole thing
into a teachable
moment.
We read in Luke
9 verse
47
Jesus
knowing their
thoughts
took a little
child
and had him
stand beside
him.
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.
So Jesus
basically says
let's talk
about this
who is the
greatest
in the kingdom
of heaven?
you guys
are thinking
about greatness
all wrong.
You've got it
all backwards.
In Matthew's
gospel we get a
little more
of the
conversation.
He said
truly I tell
you unless
you change
and become
like little
children
you will
never enter
the kingdom
of heaven.
therefore
whoever
takes
the lowly
position
of this
child
is the
greatest
in the
kingdom
of heaven
and whoever
welcomes
one such
child
in my
name
welcomes
me.
So their
ideas about
greatness
were all
wrong.
It's not
about strength
or skill
or accomplishment
or position
or authority
or popularity
or intelligence.
It's not
about who
gets first
place.
Those
things do
define greatness
in the eyes
of our world
but not
in the eyes
of God.
Not in the
eyes of
King Jesus.
It must
have been
an absolute
shock to
see Jesus
have this
little
child
come up
and take
the attention
in front
of them
all
and hear
him say
this child
is greater
than all
of you.
And if
you want
even to
enter my
kingdom
you all
need to
change
and become
more like
him.
Back in
those days
children
were often
looked down
on
even more
so today
they still
are today
but for
all the
same reasons
I mean
what can
they do?
What have
they accomplished
with their
lives?
What can
they contribute?
Because of
their weakness
and their
neediness
and their
dependence
they take
more than
they give.
And so
according to
the world's
view of
greatness
they're worth
far less
than an
accomplished
strong
and
successful
adult.
But Jesus
says no
no no no
that thinking
is all
wrong.
True
greatness
in God's
kingdom
is not
about what
you have
done
or how
self-sufficient
you are
or how
smart you
are
or what
title you
have.
It's about
character.
It's about
humility.
It's about
understanding
yourself
rightly
in relation
to others
and how
you treat
others.
There's a
lowliness
and a
humility
that children
have.
Little
children.
Not because
they lack
pride and
selfishness
but because
they have
an understanding
of their
own need
and
dependence.
When they
fall and
hurt themselves
what do
they do?
They run
to mom
and dad.
When they
don't know
something
what do
they do?
They ask
mom or
dad.
They sort
of know
their
dependence
and need
and how
do they
get the
things that
they need?
Not by
their own
power,
not by
their own
work.
They look
to mom
or dad.
How do
they get
the pickle
jar open
or the
toothpaste
out of the
bottom of
the tube?
They just
know that
they can't
but mom
can or
dad can
until they
ask for
help.
They sort
of accept
their
lowliness
in the
family.
I mean
after all
my dad
is twice
as tall
as me.
His arm
is twice
as long
as mine
and he
can just
pick my
whole body
off the
ground
and throw
me up
in the
air
like a
feather.
Peter.
And so
Jesus is
saying
if you
think that
the path
to greatness
is going
around saying
I am
Peter.
Hear me
roar.
You've got
it all
wrong.
You need
to become
more like
a child.
And this
sort of
upside down
truth of
greatness in
God's
kingdom isn't
actually a
new thing.
I mean
even in the
Old Testament
times
we see
it.
God has
been saying
it.
He's been
showing it
all along.
He is a
God who
humbles the
proud and
lifts up
the lowly.
He esteems
the lowly.
And so
Jesus is
basically saying
guys if you
want to enter
my kingdom
and be
great you
need to
consider
yourself to
be the
least.
You need
to humble
yourselves.
You need
to stop
wondering who
will serve
you.
and start
serving
others.
And it
seems that
in this
moment the
child with
Jesus actually
becomes an
example in
another way of
what true
greatness looks
like in the
kingdom of
God.
First it
was his
humility and
his position
which Jesus
highlighted as
an example.
But then
Jesus makes it
practical for
them.
He basically
says you
become greatest
in God's
eyes by
becoming the
servant of
the least
in your
eyes.
And the
child represents
the least
here.
I'm not sure
if the
disciples are
even tracking
with Jesus
here but I'm
sure if they
did it was
pretty shocking
to hear this
as well.
I'm trying
to think of
the modern
way of
saying
this.
Maybe
something like
the great
people of
our day
are not the
presidents and
prime ministers
nor the
wealthy and
successful
business owners.
No the
great people
of our day
are the ones
who get
down on the
floor to
change their
children's
dirty diapers.
they are
those who
are the
greatest.
Those who
serve the
least in
my name.
You want
to be great
in the
kingdom of
God?
Serve the
least.
Welcome
the least
in my
name.
Begin
seeing the
least as
God sees
them.
in Jesus'
eyes the
children are
not
insignificant.
Serving
them and
meeting their
needs is
greatness.
You want
to do
something great
for me
Peter?
How about
you start
by welcoming
a child
such as
this in
my name?
Has
anyone greeted
this little
one since
he slipped
in the
door?
Peter?
I take
how you
treat a
child such
as this
personally.
If you
welcome a
child like
this in
my name,
you welcome
me.
Matthew's
gospel really
goes on at
this point to
emphasize Jesus'
heart for
children.
his fierce
protective
heart for
them.
How he
takes
personally not
only the
good things
that we
do to
them,
but the
ways that
we might
take advantage
of them
or cause
them to
stumble.
He takes
those things
personally as
well.
All too
often we're
looking for
the glorious
and the
glamorous.
We're looking
for the
attention.
We're looking
for control.
We're looking
for position.
we're looking
to be
served by
others.
We want
to know
what the
compensation
will be,
what the
benefit to
ourselves
will be,
but none
of those
things are
the immediate
reward for
serving the
least.
As I got
thinking about
our little
church here,
I wondered,
who might
Jesus say is
the greatest
among us?
would he
pull the
children right
up onto
the stage
and point
us to
them?
Or how
about those
who have
spent countless
hours behind
the scenes
cleaning the
church toilets,
picking up
after us
each week?
Probably the
ones who
think the
least of
themselves,
and yet
serve faithfully
as they're
able,
week after
week.
I feel
convicted
again.
I see in
my own
understanding
of greatness
far too
much of
the
disciples'
attitude,
and not
nearly enough
of this
heart to
serve the
least.
How often
do we roll
the eyes or
sigh deeply
when someone
whom we've
helped a
lot,
calls again?
How often
do we grumble
and complain
that we've
been stuck
with looking
after someone
who's unable
to look after
themselves?
How often
do we look
out at
others and
see them
living the
good life
and going
on their
next trip
or adventure
and feel
envy inside
that all
our time
is wrapped
up in
serving the
needy around
us?
But no,
says Jesus,
that's all
backwards.
Lovingly
serving the
least is
the great
and noble
life,
for it is
the one
who is least
among you
all who
is the
greatest.
Master,
said John,
we saw
someone driving
out demons
in your name
and we tried
to stop him
because he's
not one
of us.
Do you ever
feel like
you're really
working to
explain something
to someone
and they just
aren't hearing
you?
This verse
kind of feels
like that to
me.
Jesus is
trying to
teach him
about greatness
and the
importance of
serving the
least and
what does
John latch
onto?
He latches
onto that
part about
doing something
in Jesus'
name.
Oh yeah,
that reminds
me,
Jesus.
We saw
somebody doing
something in
your name.
He was
trying to
cast out
demons in
your name
so we
told him
to stop
because he's
not one
of us.
And I'm
not really
sure where
John's coming
from here.
Is he
feeling convicted
that maybe he
shouldn't have
tried to stop
him?
Or is he
feeling proud
of what they
did because
this guy
wasn't one
of them?
Whatever the
case, you
can sort of
hear the
territorialism
in what they
did.
Like,
whoa,
whoa.
Hold on a
second,
Bub.
Only us
twelve have
been given
authority and
power to be
doing this,
to be using
Jesus' name in
this way.
You haven't
even been with
us.
Where have
you been?
It's almost
like they wanted
exclusive rights
to use the
name of Jesus.
Like,
this authority
and this power
had gone to
their heads.
never mind
that this guy
is trying to
do something
good to
set someone
free from
an evil
spirit's
control.
It seems
to be another
example of
the disciples'
pride and
their concern
for power and
position rather
than to serve
the least.
Do not
stop him,
Jesus said,
for whoever
is not against
you is for
you.
Mark has a
little more
detail here.
For no one
who does a
miracle in
my name can
in the next
moment say
anything bad
about me.
For whoever
is not against
us is for
us.
Truly,
I tell you,
anyone who
gives you a
cup of water
in my name
because you
belong to
the Messiah
will certainly
not lose
their reward.
There's a
huge irony
here.
just before
this,
nine of the
twelve
disciples had
been asked
to drive
out a
demon but
couldn't
because of
their lack
of faith.
And yet
somewhere,
this guy,
they run
into him,
he's not
even part of
the crowd
that's been
following Jesus
but he has
faith in
Jesus'
name.
He believes
that Jesus'
name has the
power to
heal and
to cast out
evil spirits.
and yet
the disciples
try to
stop him.
Like,
what was
this?
This
entitlement?
I don't
know.
Hey,
buddy,
if you want
to be doing
this,
you need
to come
and hang
out with
us and
with Jesus
for a
while.
You need
to work
your way
up and
put in
your time
like we
have
and then
get Jesus'
permission
to do
stuff like
this.
Well,
Jesus just
burst that
whole bubble
pretty quickly.
Don't
stop him.
If he's
doing this
in my
name,
that means
he has
faith in
me.
That means
that he's
truly one
of us.
The
kingdom of
God is
going to
be bigger
than just
you 12.
But one
of the
big questions
that that
raises,
and we
should just
mention it
at least,
is whether
Jesus
gives this
authority and
power over
evil spirits
to all of
his followers.
So far,
it seems like
it's just
been the
12.
But now
there's this
guy who's
casting out
demons,
and he
hasn't even
been with
them.
We'll see
very shortly
in the next
chapter,
Jesus is
about to
give the
same power
and authority
to a group
of about
70 followers
and send
them out.
God
and we've
talked about
this a little
bit already.
We've seen
from Paul's
letter to
the Corinthians
that it's
not been
given to
all to
be an
apostle or
to work
miracles or
to heal.
But what
about casting
out demons?
Can any
Christian do
this in
faith,
just like
this man?
And I'd
love to be
able to say
definitively one
way or the
other, but
this is
something Christians
disagree over.
Some will
say, well,
why not?
It's Jesus'
name that
has the
power.
Would you
leave a
person in
front of
you afflicted
by a
demon and
not even
try?
Others
point to
the fact
that casting
out demons
is never
commanded in
any of the
letters that
the apostles
wrote as
they gave
instructions to
the church.
They never
said, cast
out the
demons.
Instead, we're
told to stand
firm and to
resist and to
put on the
full armor of
God and to
pray.
Well, we'll
have to leave
that without a
definite answer
for now.
Maybe we'll
come back to
it in chapter
11 when we
hear about what
Jesus did
there.
Well, we've
touched on a
number of
things and
this is just
the way this is
written.
There's exorcism,
there's doing
things in Jesus'
name, there's
greatness in the
kingdom of God,
there's serving
the least,
there's children,
and this is just
the way Luke's
gospel gives it
to us, all
these things.
He gives us the
highlights and
the snippets as
he draws this
portion of his
account to a
close.
And I do want
to encourage us
all this week to
just think about
these things that
we've heard,
especially what
Jesus said about
greatness and
serving the
least.
But for this
morning, we're
going to end
where we started,
with Jesus telling
his disciples about
how he would
soon be delivered
over and die.
In a sense,
this is kind of
related to the
stuff about
greatness too,
isn't it?
Jesus is the
Son of God.
He's the
Messiah.
He's the one
who is radiant
with glory on
the mountaintop.
He himself is
the greatest in
the kingdom of
God.
And just like
Jesus taught,
his greatness is
seen in his
lowliness.
It's seen in how
he humbled himself.
It's seen in how
he welcomed the
children.
And how he loved
the least.
And as the story
goes, his greatness
is seen in how he
humbly allows himself
to be bound and
delivered into the
hands of men.
his greatness is
seen in how he
surrenders himself
to their evil
plan to kill
him.
His greatness is
seen in how he
willingly gives up
his life to be
the servant of
all.
To meet the
greatest need
which we have,
which is atonement
for our sins.
As far as
acts of service
go, what
Jesus endured
to serve us
and make
atonement for
us was as
shame-filled
and horrible
as it gets.
He allowed
himself to be
falsely accused,
to be beaten,
to be insulted
and mocked,
to be stripped
naked and
exposed publicly.
He allowed
himself to be
spit on and
jeered and to
be nailed to a
cross and
lifted into the
air.
He went
through an
agonizing death
death because
that's what was
required to
meet our
spiritual need
of atonement
for our sins.
He humbled
himself to the
uttermost in
order to wash
us clean of
our guilt.
And so he is
truly the
greatest in the
kingdom of God
and worthy of
all praise and
honor and
glory.
In just a
moment we're
going to pass
out the
bread and
the cup.
And this is
to remember
him and what
he did for
us.
The bread and
the cup
represent his
body and
his blood,
his humiliation
and his
death.
If you're
visiting with
us this
morning and
you're a
believer and
a follower of
Jesus,
then we
invite you,
we encourage
you to
partake with
us in
remembrance of
Christ.
And if not,
then just
please let the
elements pass
you by.
We'll have a
few minutes
now for quiet
prayer and
reflection.
And then
Charles and
Simon will
come and serve
the bread and
the cup.
And then once
you have them in
your hand,
just hang on to
them until
everyone has been
served.
and then we'll
give thanks and
we'll partake
all together.
But let's take
those minutes
now to
remember and
to pray
quietly in
remembrance of
our Lord and
his great act
of love for
us.