Like Little Children

In Matthew 18, the disciples come to Jesus and ask Him who is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven?  There are several interesting things about this whole situation.  First of all, it's the wrong question.  All indications are that they were arguing among themselves about who was the greatest.  Both Mark 9 and Luke 9 tell the story, but they indicate that the apostles were arguing among themselves about this very question.  Their thought process was that Jesus was going to overthrow the Romans and He would become the leader.  He would then need a Secretary of State, a Secretary of Treasury, a Speaker of the House...  They, as they often did, missed the point.  It wasn't about an earthly kingdom, it was about God's kingdom at large.

Another interesting point is, Matthew doesn't bring up the fact that they were arguing among themselves.  Mark does.  Luke does.  But not Matthew.  Mark wasn't an apostle.  Scholars feel he told the story from Peter's perspective.  Luke wrote Acts and Luke and sent them to Theophilus.  Luke was a physician, a missionary mate of Paul.  He wasn't an apostle either.  So neither of them weren't afraid to tell the story.  Perhaps, Matthew was a little too embarrassed about this because maybe, just maybe he was in on the argument.  So "let's just not bring that up."

So Jesus places a child in their midst and says that's what the kingdom of heaven looks like.  William Barclay says it may have been Peter's son.  That's an interesting twist!  He tells those who were acting like children that they need to be more like children.

In my sermon Sunday, I gave five characteristics of children that I think Jesus would want us to emulate.

Trust--
Depenence-
A Sense of Wonder--
Overlooked--
Humble--

I think you can see all of these except for the "overlooked" one.  In his book, Jesus, A Gospel, Henri Nouwen says to be like a child is to pay attention to those who are often overlooked.  "Children should be seen and not heard," is the saying.  Yet, Jesus says they are the ones to look to as our model.

Learn from a child.  See how he still has the purity of youth and has not yet been overcome with the curse of cynicism.  Learn to trust God and to be dependent.  May we always have a sense of wonder and awe at what God has done and is  doing.  And may we follow the example of Jesus when he says he is meek and humble in heart.

Blessings to you this day.  JW