WHO IS THE GREATEST?

Passage: Luke 9:43-56

Key verse: 48b

NIV

43 And they were all amazed at the greatness of God.

Jesus Predicts His Death a Second Time

While everyone was marveling at all that Jesus did, he said to his disciples, 44 “Listen carefully to what I am about to tell you: The Son of Man is going to be delivered into the hands of men.”(A) 45 But they did not understand what this meant. It was hidden from them, so that they did not grasp it,(B) and they were afraid to ask him about it.

46 An argument started among the disciples as to which of them would be the greatest.(C) 47 Jesus, knowing their thoughts,(D) 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.(E) For it is the one who is least among you all who is the greatest.”(F)

49 “Master,”(G) 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.”(H)

Samaritan Opposition

51 As the time approached for him to be taken up to heaven,(I) Jesus resolutely set out for Jerusalem.(J) 52 And he sent messengers on ahead, who went into a Samaritan(K) village to get things ready for him; 53 but the people there did not welcome him, because he was heading for Jerusalem. 54 When the disciples James and John(L) saw this, they asked, “Lord, do you want us to call fire down from heaven to destroy them[a]?”(M) 55 But Jesus turned and rebuked them. 56 Then he and his disciples went to another village.

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Footnotes
  1. Luke 9:54 Some manuscripts them, just as Elijah did
Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
Source: BibleGateway

ESV

43 And all were astonished at (A)the majesty of God.

Jesus Again Foretells His Death

(B)But while they were all marveling at everything he was doing, Jesus[a] said (C)to his disciples, 44 “Let these words sink into your ears: (D)The Son of Man is about to be delivered into the hands of men.” 45 (E)But they did not understand this saying, and (F)it was concealed from them, so that they might not perceive it. And they were afraid to ask him about this saying.

Who Is the Greatest?

46 (G)An argument arose among them as to which of them was the greatest. 47 But Jesus, knowing the reasoning of their hearts, took a child and put him by his side 48 and said to them, (H)“Whoever receives this child in my name receives me, and (I)whoever receives me receives him who sent me. For (J)he who is least among you all is the one who is great.”

Anyone Not Against Us Is For Us

49 (K)John answered, “Master, we saw someone (L)casting out demons in your name, and (M)we tried to stop him, because he does not follow with us.” 50 But Jesus said to him, “Do not stop him, (N)for the one who is not against you is for you.”

A Samaritan Village Rejects Jesus

51 When the days drew near for (O)him to be taken up, (P)he set his face (Q)to go to Jerusalem. 52 And (R)he sent messengers ahead of him, who went and entered a village of (S)the Samaritans, to make preparations for him. 53 But (T)the people did not receive him, because (U)his face was set toward Jerusalem. 54 And when his disciples James and John saw it, they said, “Lord, do you want us to tell (V)fire to come down from heaven and consume them?”[b] 55 But he turned and rebuked them.[c] 56 And they went on to another village.

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Footnotes
  1. Luke 9:43 Greek he
  2. Luke 9:54 Some manuscripts add as Elijah did
  3. Luke 9:55 Some manuscripts add And he said, “You do not know what manner of spirit you are of; 56for the Son of Man came not to destroy people's lives but to save them”
The Holy Bible, English Standard Version. ESV® Text Edition: 2016. Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.
Source: BibleGateway
1. Greatness in humility (43b-50) Who is the greatest follower of Jesus? The one who looks most like Him! For our sake, Jesus set aside His glory and allowed himself to be delivered into the hands of men. He did this because of his great love for all kinds of people and his desire for each person to be saved. We are to have His humility. There is not a single person who is insignificant to the Lord. He wants us to embrace even the lowliest child and invite them into the kingdom of God. We are to rejoice in how he has called and used different people to advance his kingdom. Instead of being jealous, we are to offer them our support and encouragement. 2. Greatness in grace (51-56) Luke says that Jesus resolutely set out for Jerusalem. Another side of Jesus' greatness is his willingness to obey the Father's will, even though it meant his own suffering and death. Jesus came to display the wondrous grace of God for lost sinners. No wonder he rebuked his disciples when they asked him if they wanted them to call down fire upon the Samaritan village who rejected them! Followers of Jesus are to obey God's will and to share his mercy and grace with others, even in the face of rejection. This is what it means to be truly great.

Prayer: Father, help us to be humble and graceful like Jesus.

One Word: To be great is to be like Jesus