Topsy-Turvy Christianity – Least is Greatest – Luke’s Gospel chapter 9, verses 46 to 48
Christianity says the cross is a symbol of the powerless triumphing over the powerful. It’s the symbol of the slave triumphing over the master; of the victim triumphing over the torturer. This is such a radical notion that it’s hard to adequately express how radical it is. The idea that the last shall be first, that there is an inherent dignity and value and indeed power in being a victim, this is something that would have been utterly bewildering for the Romans … In a way, we are so habituated to it that it takes an effort to understand just how weird, just how strange, that idea is.
Tom Holland – author of Dominion: How the Christian Revolution Remade the World.
46 An argument started among the disciples as to which of them would be the greatest. 47 Jesus, knowing their thoughts, took a little child and made him stand beside him. 48 Then he said to them, ‘Whoever welcomes this little child in my name welcomes me; and whoever welcomes me welcomes the one who sent me. For it is the one who is least among you all who is the greatest.’
Luke 9:46-48 New International Version – UK (NIVUK) Holy Bible, New International Version® Anglicized, NIV® Copyright © 1979, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
A Revealing Row
Verse 46 – Jesus’ followers arguing – “I am the greatest!”
An Insightful Illustration
Verse 47 – A little child in a culture that thought little of them.
A Convicting Conclusion
Verse 48 – “Least is Greatest!”
Dare to Voyage to the Valley
We can’t go there alone – Jesus must meet us there.
