"Who Is The Greatest?"

Sermon by Pastor David Layman

September 23, 2007

Matthew 18:1-5

Cassius Clay, who became Muhammad Ali, was not what one would consider the shy and retiring sort. Ali would pound his chest and boldly proclaim "I am the greatest!" Ali seems to have started a trend. Before Ali, I don't remember athletes being very demonstrative. They'd score a touchdown and just run back to the sidelines for handshakes. Or hit a home run and simply trot around the bases. But athletes began to hold up one finger in the air, indicating they were "Number One", and that was just the beginning of dancing, strutting, and who knows what all else!

When the disciples came and asked Jesus, "Who is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven?", you can bet they were each thinking "I hope he describes someone just like me!" Peter was hoping that Jesus would say "Those who are bold and outspoken are the greatest." Andrew, whose special gift was introducing others to Jesus, was hoping that Jesus would cite his gifts as the greatest. At the least, the 12 were hoping Jesus would say "Folks like you 12, who took leaves of absence to follow me around, you're the greatest!" But Jesus caught them all off guard when he called a child who was hanging out nearby and said "Truly I tell you, unless you change and become like children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven. Whoever becomes humble like this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven."

Jesus' words had to hurt! First of all, Jesus said "Unless you change...." Who wants to hear a sentence that begins like that? It sounds like a frustrated parent beginning a conversation with a misbehaving child: "Unless you can learn to eat a meal without getting more food on your shirt than in your mouth, we can't take you anywhere!" "If you don't develop better study habits (in other words, "Unless you change!",) you'll never graduate from high school, let alone get into college." "Unless you learn some manners, and clean up your slovenly appearance, no girl will ever want to go out with you." And Jesus wasn't talking to kids here. He was talking to adult disciples, saying "Unless you change...."

Ouch! We're talking the 18th chapter of Matthew. It's not like the disciples were on their second day of following Jesus. They'd been with him a while. And they needed to change!

What would Jesus wish to change about us? And what about the disciples needed to change? Our clue is found in what Jesus used for an object lesson. Jesus brought a child before the disciples. We have to understand that children in Jesus' day were not the center of attention they often are today. People didn't lavish so much money and attention on their children 2,000 years ago. Often, they couldn't afford to. A society where they had to pray for daily bread was not a prosperous place where they could afford to spend much on children. They didn't have "Toys R Us" stores back then. Instead of baby showers, they tore up rags for swaddling cloths. Children had to help out with the work as soon as they were able to. They were to be seen and not heard. Children were to be humble, attentive. Children were dependent upon parents and others to get by. In contrast, Jesus sadly found in many adults including his disciples the desire for attention. Everybody wanted to be first. The disciples' arrogance and attitude needed to change!

When Jesus brought a child before the disciples, and said "this is what you must become like", he wasn't saying "You need to become cute like this child." Jesus was saying you must become humble, fully aware of your dependence upon God. You've got to realize you aren't the center of the world. You need to be meek, appreciative, let the simple things of life bring you pleasure.

Matthew 18 is about Life in the kingdom of God. It's about how we are to relate with fellow believers. We're to be humble, aware of how much we depend upon God. All that follows in Matthew 18 relates to its beginning emphasis on child like humility.

The gospels were certainly not written to make the disciples look good! The disciples inevitably missed the point of Jesus' teaching. For example, Jesus tells the disciples in Matthew 18 that they must change and become like children. They must stop being arrogant and focussing on themselves so much. They must not be so concerned about their own status and condition. But in Matthew 20, the mother of James and John comes to Jesus, asking that one of them would sit at Jesus right hand, and the other at his left. The gospel according to Mark relates that James and John had also come to Jesus asking to be named # 1 and # 2. "What is it about childlike humility and dependence that you don't get?", Jesus was surely tempted to respond. And in Matthew 19:13, we read that children were being brought to Jesus in order that he might lay his hands upon them and pray. But the disciples tried to send the little children and their parents away! The beautiful stained glass window at the back of our sanctuary captures this scene. Note the frowning disciple in the window?

I love to attend sporting events. At popular major sporting events, there is a real class breakdown. Attending major league baseball games in Milwaukee as a teenager, I often sat in the outfield bleachers, or the upper deck. But occasionally a bank president would let Dad have the bank's box seat tickets. It was amazing to be ushered to your seat, and then have the usher fold down and then wipe off the great seat with a rag. There were no ushers to wipe off and fold down seats in the bleachers--the seats didn't have a back! And at Big Ten games, the big donors have reserved parking spaces right by the stadium! They don't have to walk a mile to get in! I've gone to Big Ten basketball games without a ticket, that were sold out. I had no expectation of getting a center court seat. I just hoped and prayed I could afford a ticket from a scalper that could get me in! "Just get me in, and it doesn't matter where the seat is!!" I remember when Pam and I wound up with tickets in the top row of the balcony near one end at Assembly Hall. We couldn't even see the scoreboard from up there, but we were thrilled to be in (at least I was!)

That's the attitude of a disciple with a child-like humility. They don't expect first place, acknowledgment or recognition. They just want to be in the Lord's presence. They're happy to serve! "I'd rather be a doorkeeper in the house of the Lord!"

In what ways are we not humble like the children of Jesus' day? Are we willing not to be the center of attention? Teddy Roosevelt was no shrinking violet. It is said that Teddy Roosevelt wanted to be the center of attention: the bride at every wedding, the corpse at every funeral! That's REALLY wanting to be the center of attention if you'll go that far!

Children know they have to depend on others to get the things they need. We pride ourselves on being independent. Adulthood is meant to be a time when one can earn one's own keep and reach out and help others. But Jesus seems to be saying here that even adults still need to depend upon and trust God to provide that which is essential spiritually. David Niven tells of the beginning of his service in World War II. Bunking in a large room with many other new soldiers, David had grown up kneeling beside his bed in prayer before retiring. But he hesitated to do so. What would these other men think? But Niven knew that great challenges lay ahead. He was away from home, he would undoubtedly see combat, who knows what lay ahead? So Niven got off his cot and knelt in prayer. When he finished and opened his eyes to climb back into bed, he noticed that a number of other soldiers were kneeling in prayer! Throughout our years, we need to maintain our childlike dependence on God. None of us are sufficient for the challenges that lie ahead!

This summer, one of our guest musicians, Ann Frost, sang "People Need the Lord". Ann sang this song not with professional distance, but personal conviction. People need the Lord! I do, and you do! Ironically, we strive to be in control of everything. But when we acknowledge our need for God's help and presence, that is when we can experience the great strength of God!

One can't go through major surgery without realizing one's dependence and need for help! Even though I intellectually knew I'd be weak and needy following bypass surgery, I still remember the psychic shock I experienced afterwards, not even being able to roll onto my side without help. Our first choice is independence. It's good to strive for independence physically. But Jesus seems to be saying that spiritually, we do the best when we acknowledge our dependence upon and need of God! There's no room for spiritual pride when we acknowledge our child-like dependence upon our Heavenly Father. But the greatest strength of all comes when we humbly lean upon the everlasting arms!

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