Luke 9:46-48 46But an argument developed among them as to which of them was the greatest. 47But Jesus, knowing the argument of their hearts, after taking a child, he put him by him 48and said to them, “Whoever welcomes this child in my name welcomes me, and whoever welcomes me welcomes him who sent me. For the one who is least among you all is the one who is great.”
The next story continues to follow the struggle of the disciples mentioned in the previous passage. Their struggle is now illustrated by an argument about who was the greatest. The disciples had totally missed the point of what Jesus had been recently teaching them. This short story indicates that their struggle to understand Jesus’ passion prediction was not a matter of outside influence but an internal struggle of faith and acceptance. They were more concerned about earthly matters and about who would be first in this wonderful kingdom that they saw unfolding. They may have done some calculations and made some connections in their minds: twelve disciples was similar to twelve tribes. Maybe God would restore the glory of Israel through them? If so, someone needed to be in charge of it all. Someone needed to be at the right hand of the King. This story shows the failure of the disciples to see the significance of all that had recently taken place.
Jesus saw their struggle as another teaching opportunity. His divine ability can be seen again in verse 47 in how he could see what they were thinking and the attitude of their hearts. Jesus was a master teacher and knew how to get his point across. In this case, he brought a child near him. Children were viewed as the least in that culture and time.
Jesus’ response follows a logical, stair-step sequence: if one part is true, then the next part will be true also. The two parts are then followed by the application to the disciples. In the first step, Jesus uses the child to represent the least and smallest. The surprise is how he connects himself with the child. The motive for welcoming such a small and insignificant person was in Jesus’ name. By welcoming a child, one would also be welcoming Jesus. The disciples would be representing their Master, Jesus, by doing things in his name.
The second logical step builds on the first. By welcoming the child, the disciples would be welcoming Jesus, and they would then also be welcoming the Father. Jesus goes from the least to the greatest in this sequence. Him who sent me also hints at the origin of Jesus’ mission. The disciples would be joining in Jesus’ mission by welcoming a child. They would be doing the will of the Father.
The third step in the sequence applies the illustration to the disciples and their argument over greatness. They had missed the whole point of the mission of discipleship. Being a following of Jesus is not about who can be first or in charge but who can be least like Jesus. In the context of this chapter, the disciples learned that Jesus would take the low position of suffering. The way of the cross was one of self-sacrifice and not self-aggrandizement.
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