Scripture:
Matthew 18:1–5
1 At that time the disciples came to Jesus and asked, “Who is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven?” 2 He called a child, whom he put among them, 3 and said, “Truly I tell you, unless you change and become like children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven. 4 Whoever becomes humble like this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven. 5 Whoever welcomes one such child in my name welcomes me. (NRSVUE)
Observation:
The disciples still couldn’t quite get their heads around what kind of leader Jesus was. When He talked about the kingdom of heaven, I’m guessing they still imagined something that looked a lot like an earthly kingdom. They were trying to serve Him faithfully, but their question suggests they were still thinking in terms of status and position. Who would be the greatest? Where would they fit into the pecking order?
Jesus’ response is nothing they would have anticipated. Instead of identifying which of them would hold the highest position, He calls over a child and places the child among them. I’m sure at this moment they’re scratching their heads.
We can easily miss how shocking this would have been. Children in the ancient world were extremely vulnerable. Childhood mortality was high, and in the wider Roman world, even the exposure of unwanted infants was a familiar practice. Children simply did not possess the status or power of adults. Yet Jesus takes a child and puts that child in the middle of a conversation about greatness.
Then He tells the disciples that they must change and become like children. That certainly doesn’t fit the picture of a strong soldier or powerful politician. Greatness in the kingdom of heaven will not be measured by position or power, but by humility.
But Jesus doesn’t stop there. He tells them, “Whoever welcomes one such child in my name welcomes me.”
The one who could easily have been overlooked is suddenly the one through whom Jesus says He Himself may be welcomed.
The disciples asked a sticky question.
Jesus gave them a very sticky answer.
Application:
I’m in England on my sabbatical and enjoying time with my British grandchildren. One of our jobs is picking them up from school in the afternoons. One day they came home wearing “Sticky Questions.” These are questions put on a sticker that they wear home from school, intended to stimulate conversation around the dinner table.
Alana’s question was what we would do if we had eight arms! I told her that would simply give me more arms to hug her with.
Theo’s sticky question was more profound:
“What’s more important, adult work and things to be done, or kids’ work and things to be done?”
As the conversation grew around the dinner table, Grandpa pointed us to this Scripture passage. Theo was quite certain that the right answer was the things of children, and we had to agree that he was onto something important. Children have their whole lives ahead of them, and what is happening in their lives right now is shaping and forming who they will become. Their questions matter. Their learning matters. Their spiritual formation matters. The things of children are very important.
I’m not sure that we adults always live as though that’s true. We can become consumed with our work, our responsibilities, our schedules, and all the things that seem terribly important. Then Jesus calls a child and puts that child in the middle of everything and seems to say, Pay attention.
When I pay attention to my grandchildren, I discover there is so much to learn from them.
Alana is filled with energy and joy. She can’t just walk anywhere; she has to skip or run.
My sticky question:
“Is the joy of the Lord my strength?”
Theo wants to read all kinds of science books. We read one about animals last night. When we read these books together, he is absolutely mesmerized. He becomes so focused that he cannot be distracted.
Another sticky question:
“Am I easily distracted from the things of God?”
There is so much to learn from children. Maybe that’s why Jesus didn’t simply talk to the disciples about humility. He called a child over and placed the child among them. He gave them someone to notice, someone to welcome, and someone from whom they could learn.
The disciples wanted to know who was greatest.
Jesus answered by changing the way they understood greatness.
Maybe that’s what sticky questions are supposed to do. They stay with us long enough to change the way we see things.
Prayer:
Lord, I’m so grateful that Your Word speaks to me each day. Thank You for the children You place in our lives and for the ways they can teach us about Your kingdom. Help me to welcome them, listen to them, and invest in the things that are forming their lives. May I come to You each day with the humility of a child, eager to spend time with my Heavenly Father. Amen.
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