An argument arose among the disciples
about which of them was the greatest.
Having returned from a recent failed attempt to exorcize a demon it wasn't long before the disciples' conversation devolved into rivalry and division. There was something about failure that made them more eager to define and emphasize their own worth and value. But they didn't know a better way to do this been defining themselves over and against the ones who were supposed to be their teammates and their brothers. They could only see their value on a relative scale of better or worse which implicitly or explicitly implicated everyone else as having some position on that scale. They were reeling from their failure, but still struggled to find reasons to insist that at least they had this or that going for them. And the this or the that could only be seen as valuable if it was something that few or none possessed. It is easy to see why characteristic common to all could not produce the sense of being valuable in such a scheme. They put such stock in their own goodness coming from success that failure sent their thoughts immediately to comparison with others in order to vindicate some sense of worth. They thought that the one most like Jesus is his success and popularity was the best and greatest disciple. But there was actually another way, not related to action or ability, in which one could imitate Jesus.
Jesus realized the intention of their hearts and took a child
and placed it by his side and said to them,
"Whoever receives this child in my name receives me,
and whoever receives me receives the one who sent me.
Receiving a child wasn't an attention grabbing headline. It wasn't something one would put on a poster and hang on the wall. It seemed insignificant, trivial, and even without value. But Jesus revealed that there was in fact a hidden meaning in such a gesture that was actually greater than the external appearance of success or usefulness. Receiving the marginalized, the disenfranchised, and those with nothing to contribute made one more like Jesus than even being a water walking wonder worker would necessarily imply.
If Jesus himself associated so closely with those with no social value, who did not make even a blip on the radar of the great ones of the earth, then his disciples should learn that they too could become childlike, and let go of their insistence on attaining the highest position by the best performance. Only from such a posture, free from the need to compete, could they be open to realize the truth that whoever was not against them was for them.
For the one who is least among all of you
is the one who is the greatest.
The kingdom wouldn't be built be struggling for prestige or popularity. Lack of success might seem like a real roadblock along the way. But the value of disciples was not determined by the success the experienced, but by their willingness to accept and welcome the Lord Jesus and the one who sent him. The world would never celebrate such milestones. But the world was not exactly known as a reliable source of lasting peace. That was something that could only be found in Jesus himself.
I call upon you, for you will answer me, O God;
incline your ear to me; hear my word.
Show your wondrous mercies,
O savior of those who flee
from their foes to refuge at your right hand.
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