“Truly, I say to you, unless you switch and develop into like children, you won’t ever enter the dominion of heaven. Whoever humbles himself like this child is the best in the dominion of heaven.” – Matthew 18:3b – 4 ESV
Among other consistent threads in Jesus’s teaching is that what we humans find helpful in our lives here on earth will not be viewed as helpful in the dominion of heaven. Wealth, power, and possessions – all mean nothing in our everlasting existence. Jesus constantly taught that God’s kingdom is nothing like the dominion of this world. While we humans remain overly concerned with social status and appearances, clout, power, and prestige – the dominion of heaven is nothing like that. We rank people by how they appear, their houses, their cars, their education. Fame. Position in life. We need only have a look at the extent of influence owned by celebrities and skilled athletes – undeserved and unearned by anything aside from fame and fortune, fed by their very own egos.
Starting early on, we’re taught the best way to reach life. It is a mentality, a mind-set. We need to top the list. Work harder. Dig deeper. The early bird gets the worm. Second place is the primary loser. You get what you pay for. No pain, no gain.
Life and careers in our corporate worlds will not be much different. Those who work harder and are willing to sacrifice their personal lives on behalf of the corporate excel. Those who simply see it as “a job and nothing more” are left behind. Even many pastors will admit this drive to “grow the church” often begins to dominate their lives over the gospel and their families.
But Jesus taught us otherwise, and it is usually quite difficult for us humans to understand – to even understand. We have this built-in resistance to getting something for nothing – thus, we struggle with the thought of not earning something, like our salvation. In other words, we resist the whole concept of free grace. It simply goes against every lesson and each instinct. What we all know is “those on top get the rewards.” What Jesus taught is that those that are last might be first.
“But many who’re first might be last, and lots of who’re last might be first.” – Matthew 19:30
I feel it’s on this light that Jesus answered an issue from his disciples with a lesson.
Who Is Greatest within the Kingdom?
Shortly after the transfiguration, the disciples decided to ask Jesus about their standing in the dominion of heaven. Perhaps Peter, James, and John were feeling their oats a bit after being called with Jesus onto the mountaintop to hope – after which to bear witness to the transfiguration. It needed to have been overpowering and awe-inspiring. And perhaps their heads were getting a bit big for his or her britches.
“Who, then, is the best in the dominion of heaven?” (Matthew 18:1b) they asked. The query can have been innocent, but on the other hand, they thoroughly can have been searching for affirmation from Jesus as to which ones can be granted superior status after they stepped out into eternity.
As was his way, Jesus gave them an example. Calling a baby to him, Jesus said this:
“Truly, I say to you, unless you switch and develop into like children, you won’t ever enter the dominion of heaven. Whoever humbles himself like this child is the best in the dominion of heaven.” – Matthew 18:3b – 4 ESV
While the disciples gave the impression to be hoping for commendation from Jesus, as an alternative, they were told to be like children. They sought recognition, praise and honor – searching for to realize significant roles in the brand new kingdom they assumed Jesus was to ascertain on earth and as an alternative were caught off guard with a wake-up call. Not unusual when following Jesus, I might guess. To the disciples, it was only an issue of which amongst them can be most vital. But Jesus had a pointy lesson for them.
But what’s it about children that Jesus referred to? After all, children will not be all the time the very best behaved, most obedient, and positively not naturally clever or pure or mature – nor innocent. But children are humble in that they instinctively recognize the necessity for his or her parents.
Children are intuitively humble within the sense they know they will not be answerable for their very own lives. They are completely depending on us, their parents, to receive anything they need or might want. Children don’t have any legal standing of their very own in society – can’t drive, can’t vote, can’t work. They own nothing. Can buy nothing. No status in society normally – without an adult.
Being a parent, perhaps a very powerful job we are going to ever be given, comes with no instruction manuals. We are blessed and have our hands full all at the identical time. Yet, children innately trust us as they hold our hands to cross the road. As we drive them from place to put with no hesitancy about their safety. As they trust us to reply questions for them. And oh, so far more.
Here, we’re blessed with this little human being in our lives who not only looks as much as us but who counts on us. Who relies on us. Who trusts us completely. Who knows, deep inside, we’d never do anything to harm them. These children know we are going to provide for them through all things. All things.
When the lives of our youngsters run into challenges or trials or roadblocks of some kind after they begin to have doubts – about themselves, their faith, their path in life, their chosen career…to whom do they turn? Indeed, to their parents. To whom did Jesus turn? To his Father.
Lessons Not Learned
The disciples perhaps didn’t learn the teachings Jesus taught until later. After Jesus’ teaching concerning the best in heaven, John tells Jesus a few group he saw casting out demons in Jesus’s name. (Mark 9:38, Luke 9:49.) John looked as if it would find this offensive. Jesus’ reply made a press release that what was essential was the name during which the works were being done, not who performed those works.
Then we see in Mark 10 (and Matthew 20:20-21) Jesus taught an analogous lesson when James and John went on to Jesus to ask for special treatment:
Then James and John, the sons of Zebedee, got here to him. “Teacher,” they said, “we wish you to do for us whatever we ask.”
“What do you would like me to do for you?” he asked.
They replied, “Let one among us sit at your right and the opposite at your left in your glory.” – Mark 10:35-37
Upon hearing about this, the opposite ten “became indignant.” Indeed, outraged, perhaps? Annoyed on the two brothers? Offended by their chutzpah? Then Jesus taught them again:
Jesus called them together and said, “You know that those that are considered rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and their high officials exercise authority over them. Not so with you. Instead, whoever desires to develop into great amongst you will need to be your servant, and whoever desires to be first should be slave of all. For even the Son of Man didn’t come to be served, but to serve, and to provide his life as a ransom for a lot of.” (v. 42-15)
“….didn’t come to be served, but to serve.”
Then, even on the last supper, one other dispute arose among the many disciples as they argued about who was the best.
“A dispute also arose amongst them as to which ones was considered to be best. Jesus said to them, “The kings of the Gentiles lord it over them; and people who exercise authority over them call themselves Benefactors. But you will not be to be like that. Instead, the best amongst try to be just like the youngest, and the one who rules just like the one who serves. For who is bigger, the one who’s on the table or the one who serves? Is it not the one who’s on the table? But I’m amongst you as one who serves.” – Luke 22:24-27
Humility, trust, and repair. These are the keys to the best in heaven.
Practicing What Jesus Preached
Christians, it might seem, often have a difficult time accepting free grace. We are raised to do higher, do more, and work harder. Of course, that’s why they call it grace – there may be nothing we will do to earn it.
We must ask ourselves – what are we willing to provide up here on earth? What claims on this life are we willing to forego for the sake of knowing Jesus Christ? Paul renounced all of the status he had in his prior life, calling it garbage. Other versions use the word “dung.”
“But whatever were gains to me, I now consider loss for the sake of Christ. What is more, I consider every part a loss due to surpassing price of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whose sake I even have lost all things. I consider them garbage, that I’ll gain Christ and be present in him, not having a righteousness of my very own that comes from the law, but that which is thru faith in Christ—the righteousness that comes from God on the premise of religion.” – Philippians 3:7-9
The best in the dominion of heaven will not be based on who we’re on earth, moderately it’s the one whose humility helps them realize how much they need Christ. Greatness in God’s kingdom has nothing to do with power, prestige, or privilege. Quite the contrary – it has more to do with our weakness.
“My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore, I’ll boast all of the more gladly about my weaknesses, in order that Christ’s power may rest on me.” – 2 Corinthians 12:9
His grace is sufficient for us. His power is made perfect in our weaknesses – not in our strengths.
The best, perhaps, are those most aware of that which she or he lacks. In fact, as we step into eternity, what we lack is surpassed in importance only by what we now have through Jesus Christ – on the premise of what has been done for us. Helpless on our own, yet loved without condition.
I sense that I’m not the just one who will find that understanding the teachings of Jesus will not be nearly as difficult as actually living in response to what he says.
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