A Lesson in Greatness
#84 in Series: “The Life of Christ – in a Harmony of The Gospels”
Matt. 18:1-5, Mark 9:33-37, Luke 9:46-48
Today we will learn about a lesson the Lord gave to the disciples that we will
call; a lesson in greatness... The concept of greatness is one that has visited
every generation, if not every person at some time...
Who is the goat?... Or course the acrostic G.O.A.T. stands for “greatest of
all time”... If you want to start an argument, just claim your favorite
quarterback is the goat! You will undoubtedly encounter someone who
believes their favorite quarterback is really the goat...
Such arguments are not unique to our day... You can point to all kinds of
tyrants, dictators, kings, emperors... and even presidents who have ... boasted
of being the goat...
As we will see, even Jesus’ original disciples had become ... preoccupied
with the concept of just who is the greatest among them!
For continuity’s sake, let’s again turn to Mark’s gospel for our focal passage
as we consider the very next thing that happened in our chronological study of
Jesus’ life and ministry in our harmony of the gospels...
Mark 9:33-37
33 They came to Capernaum; and when He was in the house, He began to
question them, “What were you discussing on the way?” 34 But they kept
silent, for on the way they had discussed with one another which of them
was the greatest. 35 Sitting down, He called the twelve and said to
them, “If anyone wants to be first, he shall be last of all and servant of
all.” 36 Taking a child, He set him before them, and taking him in His
arms, He said to them, 37 “Whoever receives one child like this in My
name receives Me; and whoever receives Me does not receive Me, but Him
who sent Me.”
We saw last time, that ... for the second time, Jesus alerted the disciples that
He will be “delivered” over to evil men to be put to death when they go to
- 2 -
Jerusalem, but they needed to hang on to the promise that “on the third day He
will rise”! (Mark 9:9:31)... That conversation occurred while they were going
throughout Galilee, but now we see that Jesus and His disciples return to
Capernaum, most likely to Peter’s home...
Consider first with me –
1. An Embarrassing Question
Mark tells us that after they had entered the house, Jesus posed a question to
His disciples –
Mark 9:33-34a
33 They came to Capernaum; and when He was in the house, He began to question them, “What
were you discussing on the way?” 34But they kept silent...
This is an embarrassing question... Twice now, the disciples remained
silent... Last time we saw they would not speak up and even ask Jesus about
His announcement of His coming death... So, while they were on the road to
Capernaum, do you suppose they were discussing that matter among
themselves?... It might have been a better thing to discuss – but what is
revealed here is that they were –
Mark 9:34
But they kept silent, for on the way they had discussed with one another
which of them was the greatest.
In fact, Luke says –
Luke 9:46
An argument started among them as to which of them might be the greatest.
This was no ... casual conversation. They were having a heated discussion, to
say it mildly...
What is sad, is that this will not be the last time they will have this
“discussion” on the matter...
- 3 -
John MacArthur was spot on, when he said – “The Lord had just spoken
about His Own humiliation, and all they can think about is their own
exaltation!”
1
This leads to Jesus presenting –
2. A Profound Lesson
Jesus gives a perfect lesson. Being the Master, He always gives the perfect
lesson for His audience and setting...
Let’s read it –
Mark 9:35-37
35 Sitting down, He called the twelve and said to them, “If anyone wants to be
first, he shall be last of all and servant of all.” 36 Taking a child, He set
him before them, and taking him in His arms, He said to them,
37 “Whoever receives one child like this in My name receives Me; and
whoever receives Me does not receive Me, but Him who sent Me.”
Here, we see four things that are perfect about a lesson... Now, I want to be
careful here. Sometimes we can so analyze a text, and miss the main purpose
of a text... It would be like setting down to enjoy a good meal, and talk about
all the ingredients, the recipe, the process of preparing the meal... and miss
the main purpose – enjoying a great meal, and the fellowship with those
whom you share it...
As we think about Jesus’ lesson, we’ll think a little about the mechanics of it,
but try to focus on the very purpose of the lesson...
First, we see –
➢ The knowledge of the Master
What do we mean “the knowledge” of the Master?... What does Jesus
know?... He knows ... everything.
1
John MacArthur – Sermon, The Virtue of Being Last, Mark 9:30-41, Oct 31, 2010
- 4 -
Jesus knows the lesson that is needed. Think about this for a moment...
What do we mean that Jesus knows the lesson that is needed?...
The disciples had been discussing ... among themselves – just who the
greatest among themselves... It seems that they weren’t wanting Jesus to hear
their discussion, but ... no one can hide anything from the Lord!... He either
overhears their conversation – or He ... just knows!... Which is it?... He just
knows!
Luke says –
Luke 9:47
But Jesus, knowing what they were thinking in their heart, took a child and stood him by His side,
Jesus didn’t merely overhear them... He knows them!
Remember –
John 2:25
... because He did not need anyone to testify concerning man, for He Himself
knew what was in man.
Jesus knows what lesson His disciples needed then, and I suspect what we
need ... now.
Let’s lean in, and consider –
➢ The lesson from the Master
The lesson is stated in verse :35 –
Mark 9:35
Sitting down, He called the twelve and said to them, “If anyone wants to be
first, he shall be last of all and servant of all.”
Notice the personal approach... He sets down, which is the posture of a
teacher in that day!... He calls the twelve to Him (implying there may have
been others there, but He wants the 12 to ... get this lesson.)...
“If anyone wants to be first, he shall be last of all and servant of all.”
- 5 -
Jesus addresses a general principle, that everyone knows, and seeks to operate
by – “if anyone wants to be first”... I think, this is the embarrassing part...
His disciples have been exposed... Perhaps all of them want to be first...
This speaks to the internal motivation of one’s heart. They desire something –
they want something... People pursue what they ... want.
This leads me to ask a question... Why are the disciples preoccupied with
wanting to be ... the greatest?... This desire to “be the greatest” is beyond the
idea of simply wanting to be “the best they can be”... To be greatest is a
motivation out of pride. To be one’s best is a motivation for excellence!...
The first is actually sinful, the second is actually spiritual...
Frankly, I think this speaks to an issue that is challenging to keep in balance.
Should we not strive to be ... our best? Of course!... But, are we not also
supposed to be ... content? Again – of course!...
One of the best definitions of contentment is offered by –
Sinclair Ferguson when he said – “Christian contentment, therefore, is the
direct fruit of having no higher ambition than to belong to the Lord and to be
totally at His disposal in the place He appoints, at the time He chooses, with
the provision He is pleased to make.”2
But, whatever the assignment from the Lord, we should seek ... excellence –
for His glory...
Jesus taps into the desire of these men’s hearts, and He gives a ... prescription
for them to be able to achieve what they want...
Jesus is using ... tact in His approach to give the disciples a profound lesson
on what true greatness is, so we see Him immediately give –
➢ An illustration of the lesson
This is a simple point. Jesus –
2 https://www.ligonier.org/learn/articles/learning-contentment
- 6 -
Mark 9:36
Taking a child, He set him before them, and taking him in His arms, He said
to them,
Stop there for a moment.
Jesus just gave a profound statement on greatness; “If anyone wants to be
first, he shall be last of all and servant of all” – but He doesn’t simply let the
words rest there... You see, Jesus also knows something else about people –
not only does He know the need, time, and place for giving a good lesson –
He also knows how to give it in such a way that it will be ... remembered...
So, Jesus brings a visual aid in His lesson... There is a child, a young male
there in the room. And all we are told is that Jesus “sets this young man
before them” and then ... “receives this child into His arms”... He shows the
disciples a visual illustration, before He continues with –
➢ The application of the lesson
We might even say – personal application... You see, Jesus doesn’t present
truth that does not have the call for appropriate and personal application...
Jesus says –
Mark 9:37
“Whoever receives one child like this in My name receives Me; and whoever
receives Me does not receive Me, but Him who sent Me.”
Matthew gives a few more words that Jesus spoke –
Matt. 18:2-5
2 And He called a child to Himself and set him before them, 3
and said,
“Truly I say to you, unless you are converted and become like children, you
will not enter the kingdom of heaven. 4 Whoever then humbles himself as
this child, he is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven. 5 And whoever
receives one such child in My name receives Me;
As we think through Matthew’s recording of Jesus’ words, we see several
“applicable” truths that the disciples (then and now) need to take to heart:
- 7 -
- A call to turn
The term translated “converted” in verse :3, is used 19 times in the NT. This
is the only time it is translated “converted”... In every other instance, it is
translated in a various form of ... “turn”... The idea is to “turn one’s self from
one’s course of conduct, i.e. to change one’s mind”.3
Before one can “turn”, they have to come to the place of acknowledging that
where they are now (in their attitude, or “course of conduct”), is somewhere
they need to ... leave!
And just what is the attitude that Jesus is confronting His disciples, that they
need to leave?... It is that subtle, yet flagrant mindset that lurks in the heart of
all people... It is pride.
We all understand, at least to some level, the subtleness and seduction of
pride... What we may not understand is its endangerment to destroy...
J.C. Ryle in his commentary on Luke 9, says – “Of all sins there is none
against which we have such need to watch and pray, as pride. It is a
pestilence that walks in darkness, and a sickness that destroys at noon-day.
No sin is so deeply rooted in our nature. It cleaves to us like our skin. Its
roots never entirely die. They are ready, at any moment, to spring up, and
exhibit a most pernicious vitality. No sin is so senseless and deceitful. It
can wear the garb of humility itself. It can lurk in the hearts of the ignorant,
the ungifted, and the poor, as well as in the minds of the great, the
learned, and the rich. It is a quaint and homely saying, but only too true, that
no pope has ever received such honor as pope ‘self.’”
4
Do we not all have to face this internal threat to the joy of living a Christ-
centered, and God-honoring life?...
Jesus continues with –
3 https://www.blueletterbible.org/lexicon/g4762/nasb95/mgnt/0-1/
4 Ryle's Expository Thoughts on the Gospels, Luke 9:46-50
- 8 -
- A call to humility
It is one thing to acknowledge from where you need to leave. It is another
thing to recognize where you need to go!
Jesus says –
Matt. 18:3-4
3
... “Truly I say to you, unless you are converted and become like children, you will not
enter the kingdom of heaven. 4 Whoever then humbles himself as this child,
he is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven.
What is sad, is for us to even have to acknowledge that we are too full of
pride, and that we do in fact need to humble ourselves...
Do you need to do this?...
Randy Smith – “Ask someone who knows you well if they believer you are
humble. You have nothing to lose except your pride.”5
Let’s not misunderstand the purpose of humility... It is not to abuse, oppress,
or destroy you – but is actually God’s prescription for healing you!... Healing
a right-spirit within you...
James, the half-brother of Jesus – but never bragged about it, said ... to
Christians –
Jam. 4:10
Humble yourselves in the presence of the Lord, and He will exalt you.
Jesus actually speaks to this in also giving –
- A call to greatness
Now stay with me a moment... We are talking about “greatness” in God’s
eyes, not necessarily man’s...
5 A Gift from God-Part 1, Ephesians 4:7-13, January 15, 2017.
- 9 -
Let’s get all of Jesus’ words here straight in our minds:
Matt. 18:5
And whoever receives one such child in My name receives Me;
Mark 9:37
Whoever receives one child like this in My name receives Me; and whoever
receives Me does not receive Me, but Him who sent Me.”
Luke recorded it this way –
Luke 9:48
... “Whoever receives this child in My name receives Me, and whoever
receives Me receives Him who sent Me; for the one who is least among all of
you, this is the one who is great.”
... So, what does such a life look like?... It looks like ... Jesus!
There is no one more humble, and more glorious than Jesus. And those of us
who follow Him, are in an ever-maturing process of being made more like
Him (Rom. 8:28-29)... Our greatest sense of ... greatness (and humility) will
be when we hear from our Lord –
“Well done...” (Matt. 25:23, Luke 19:17)
- 10 -
Questions to Ask in Community Group:
➢ Who rank among the “greatest” heroes in your life, and why?
➢ Why, do you suppose, the disciples were so hung-up on who was the greatest
among them? What was leading them to think this way?
➢ Do you think they were embarrassed at all, when Jesus confronted them?
➢ What can we learn about the way Jesus confronted them in this particular
encounter? (After all, He wasn’t as direct and strong, as He was when He
confronted Peter with the words; “get behind Me Satan”.)
➢ What did you learn from Jesus’ lesson to the disciples in this lesson?
➢ What “lesson(s)” stand out in His Words that were not covered in the sermon?
➢ What are your thoughts about any of the quotes shared in the message?
John MacArthur – “The Lord had just spoken about His Own humiliation, and all they can think about is
their own exaltation!”
Sinclair Ferguson – “Christian contentment, therefore, is the direct fruit of having no higher ambition
than to belong to the Lord and to be totally at His disposal in the place He appoints, at the time He
chooses, with the provision He is pleased to make.”
J.C. Ryle – “Of all sins there is none against which we have such need to watch and pray, as pride. It is
a pestilence that walks in darkness, and a sickness that destroys at noon-day. No sin is so deeply rooted
in our nature. It cleaves to us like our skin. Its roots never entirely die. They are ready, at any moment,
to spring up, and exhibit a most pernicious vitality. No sin is so senseless and deceitful. It can wear the
garb of humility itself. It can lurk in the hearts of the ignorant, the ungifted, and the poor, as well as in
the minds of the great, the learned, and the rich. It is a quaint and homely saying, but only too true, that
no pope has ever received such honor as pope ‘self.’”
Randy Smith – “Ask someone who knows you well if they believer you are humble. You have nothing
to lose except your pride.”
