The Greatness of Child-Like Faith

An argument arose among them as to which of them was the greatest. But Jesus, knowing the reasoning of their hearts, took a child and put him by his side and said to them, “Whoever receives this child in my name receives me, and whoever receives me receives him who sent me. For he who is least among you all is the one who is great” (Luke 9:46-48).

The disciples were too afraid to ask Jesus about His warning that “the Son of Man is about to be delivered into the hands of men” (Luke 9:44). But they were not afraid to argue about “which of them was the greatest”. No doubt they were comparing the miracles they had performed on their recent missions into the villages of Galilee… “He called the twelve together and gave them power and authority over all demons and to cure diseases… and they departed and went through the villages, preaching the gospel and healing everywhere” (Luke 9:1; 6). To readjust their focus and reposition their hearts (in other words, to humble them) Jesus placed a child by His side and He taught them about the greatness of child-like faith.

Jesus placed the child close to His side. He exhorts disciples in every age to imitate the willingness of this young child to be removed from the comfort of his family and friends and to be placed close by the side of Jesus. He wants us to be His children… “See what kind of love the Father has given to us, that we should be called children of God; and so we are. The reason why the world does not know us is that it did not know him” (1 John 3:1). Jesus wants us to move away from the world and stay close to Him that we might become more like Him… “Beloved, we are God’s children now, and what we will be has not yet appeared; but we know that when he appears we shall be like him, because we shall see him as he is” (1 John 3:2). Being born again and growing as a child of God requires child-like faith… “But to all who did receive him, who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God, who were born, not of blood nor of the will of the flesh nor of the will of man, but of God” (John 1:12-13). Like children, born again disciples long for and enjoy deepening intimacy with Jesus Christ.

Jesus told the disciples to receive the child in His name. Children are gifts to be received and treasured as reflections of our Father… “Behold, children are a heritage from the LORD, the fruit of the womb a reward” (Psalm 127:3). He exhorts disciples in every age to see ourselves as children created in the image and for the glory of God. Children who grow up into Christ will discover the unique purpose and plan God has for their lives… “Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, and before you were born I consecrated you; I appointed you a prophet to the nations” (Jeremiah 1:5). To discover and pursue God’s life plan we all must be born again and become like children, forsaking our own life plan in order to discover and discover and enjoy the special life God created for us… “For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them” (Ephesians 2:10). Like children, serious disciples are always learning to live for Christ.

Jesus used the child to redefine greatness. Children were not a high priority in the culture of Jesus’ day. The disciples considered the approach of children to be a distraction to the ministry of their Master… “They were bringing children to him that he might touch them, and the disciples rebuked them” (Mark 10:13). But Jesus turned the tables and established a high priority for children in His kingdom and in the Church… “But when Jesus saw it, he was indignant and said to them, ‘Let the children come to me; do not hinder them, for to such belongs the kingdom of God’” (Mark 10:14). He went on to teach that understanding and experiencing kingdom greatness is a product of child-like faith… “Truly, I say to you, whoever does not receive the kingdom of God like a child shall not enter it” (Mark 10:15). Like children, maturing disciples expect to do great things because we have growing faith as we get to know Jesus better.

As we grow up into Christ we’re never too old to discover and experience…

The Greatness of Child-Like Faith.