“For it is the one who is least among you all who is the greatest.” Luke 9:48, NIV. Once again Jesus declares that his kingdom is an upside-down kingdom. Humans strive for status in this life, but how many people are more concerned with their status in God’s kingdom? Our status in the kingdom of God is not dependent on our status in this world. God is not interested in our worldly status. Instead, it is the one who is least among us who is the most important; the least is the greatest.
In this passage Jesus was trying to settle an argument among his twelve disciples about who was greatest. But this doesn’t just apply to the twelve; anyone who is willing to humble themselves like a child is great in the kingdom of God (Matt. 18:4). This is so encouraging to those who have no status in this world, who do not receive much honor from others, and who realize that we really are only children before God. You can take heart that God has decided that the least is the greatest in his kingdom, and that is the most important status anyone can have.
Are you one of the “least”? Do you ever think about being great in the kingdom of God? Jesus seemed to think it was important to think about greatness in his kingdom; are you okay with doing that?
