The first disciples were human beings just like us full of questions, hopes, and doubts. Looking for a way to follow in life. Today they come to Jesus with a simple question so that they might have an example to follow, a guide for their life. Who is the greatest in the Kingdom of heaven? A traditional, practicing Jew in that time would have had many responses in mind. Perhaps Abraham, the father of all in the faith; Jacob or Isaac, or one of the other patriarchs; Moises, the law giver and deliverer of Israel; surely one of the great prophets; perhaps one of the judges or Solomon for his wisdom; maybe a great warrior like Josue or Samson; or one of Israel’s great political leaders like King David.
Considering all the possible candidates in the Old Testament, Jesus’ response is utterly shocking. He does not name one of the great Biblical heroes. Instead, he calls his disciple to be like children. In those days children were not even considered to be human beings until they had matured enough to be able to understand and read the Bible publicly in the synagogue. A child was practically a non-entity. Before the Bar mitzvah, they were little more than property of the family with no legal rights and servants to everyone else. This is not a sweet, cute, poetic moment or statement. No, in that culture and at that time, it would have been a shocking, earth-shattering statement.
That day and today Jesus equates greatness with profound humility and humble service. The greatness of all the figures in the Old Testament comes from their humility and service to the Word of God and others. Then Jesus ties the parable of he lost sheep to his saying about humble service. It is the will of the Father that not one of us be lost from the way of service and humility. God is always looking for us to bring us back to the way, to the way of humility and service.
Amen, I say to you, unless you turn and become like children,
you will not enter the Kingdom of heaven.
Image: https://lincolnparkubf2442.squarespace.com/blog/2018/1/27/become-like-little-children