“An argument arose among them as to which of them was the greatest” (Luke 9:46).  Can you imagine that?  Grown men arguing about who was the greatest!  And this, just after Jesus, the truly great one, had spoken of becoming low for us! 

To get their attention, Jesus takes a child – with no status, no power – clearly not great.  “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 9:48).  The child, least in their eyes, is great.  Greatness is not about status or power.  It is not about being better than others, exalting oneself above others.

If receiveiving a child is like receiving Jesus, like receiving God, then the child has great significance.  And so do all of us, for we are all made in the image of God.  No one is better or worse than others, we are all equally valuable.  So arguing about who is greatest is nothing short of foolish.

I suspect few of us would argue with someone else about who was greater.  And yet, how easy it may be for us to act like we are greater than another.  How easy to start thinking we are better than another.

I’m better than you because I am a Baptist, a Methodist, a Charismatic, a Calvinist, an Arminian, a Dispensationalist, and the list could go on.  I’m better than you because of my spiritual gifts, and I minister this way, and you don’t.  I’m better than you because my family does things this way, and your family does it that way, and that seems really odd to me.  I’m better than you because I make more money than you, I have a higher standard of living.  I’m better than you because you hurt me which makes you a terible sinner.  I’m better than you…. 

Father, how easy it is for us to begin to think that we are better than others.  The smallest differences can introduce this idea to our minds, and our pride grasps and feeds the idea.  Guard our minds.  Throw down our pride.  Help us to give up our pursuit of being being better than others.  Let us learn from Jesus who, though greater than all, humbled himself and became one of us to save us.  Amen.