The beloved physician Luke wrote how people who saw Jesus rebuke the unclean spirit within a man's son, “were all amazed at the mighty power of God. But while they wondered every one at all things which Jesus did, he said unto his disciples, Let these sayings sink down into your ears: for the Son of man shall be delivered into the hands of men. But they understood not this saying, and it was hid from them, that they perceived it not: and they feared to ask him of that saying, then there arose a reasoning among them, which of them should be greatest. And Jesus, perceiving the thought of their heart, took a child, and set him by him, ...”, and in chapter nine and verse forty-eight of his book Luke shared how Jesus said, “whosoever shall receive this child in my name receives me” where we read:
And said unto them, Whosoever shall receive this child in my name receives me: and whosoever shall receive me receives him that sent me: for he that is least among you all, the same shall be great.
The verse reads, “And said unto them, Whosoever shall receive this child in my name receives me:” Luke began with the words, “and said unto them” or “and uttered, declared and proclaimed to Jesus' own disciples”, “whosoever shall receive this child” which means “whatever person whether male or female will embrace, approve, does not reject and accept the little boy set beside Jesus” “in my name” or “in everything which Jesus' name covers including the thoughts or feelings of which are aroused in the mind by mentioning, hearing and remembering” “receives me” which means “embraces, approves, does not reject and accepts” Jesus Himself. Luke shared how Jesus told His disciples when they “accept and lay hold of” the “little boy” He used as an illustration, they were “accepting and laying hold” of Him as well.
The verse continues, “and whosoever shall receive me receives him that sent me: for he that is least among you all, the same shall be great.” Luke added the words, “and whosoever” which means “and whatever person whether male or female” “shall receive me” or “will embrace, approve, does not reject and accepts Jesus” “receives him that sent me” which means “embraces, approves, does not reject and accepts God the Father who set forth and discharged Jesus”: “for he that is least among you all” or “because, since and on account that the person whether male or female who is the smallest, less in rank and littlest with Jesus' disciples”, “the same shall be great” which means “that selfsame disciple will be highly esteemed for excellence”. Luke shared how Jesus said “anyone” who “accepts and embraces” Him also “accepts and embraces” God the Father because the person who is the “smallest in rank” will actually be “esteemed for excellence”.
When we think through Luke's words in this verse, we learn what Jesus said about “receiving a little child”. Jesus equated “accepting and embracing” a small child to “receiving” Him, and He told His disciples that the one of them who would act as the “least” or “smallest” among them would actually be the “most highly esteemed”. God's Kingdom is an “upside down” Kingdom and works opposite to the world. Self promotion and “climbing to the top of the heap” or “head of the crowd” is the normal way of the world, however, Jesus said the “least” would be known as the “greatest”. God desires to have a personal relationship with every person through His Son Jesus who being the “greatest” became as the “least” so that all men might be saved. Those who examine His life will find, “the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that, though he was rich, yet for your sakes he became poor, that you through his poverty might be rich” (See 2 Corinthians 8:9)
Next time Luke shares how John says, “Master, we saw one casting out devils in your name” Jesus' disciples, so read ahead, and we shall join together then.
Until
tomorrow…there is more…
Look for the daily devotional book
“Equipped for Battle – From Generation to Generation”, the
marriage book “So, You Want to Be Married”, “One Year in the
Sermon on the Mount” and the new poetry book "Random Mushrooms
Volumes I and II" and the new novel "Elizabeth County"
in all major bookstore sites, http://www.amazon.com
; http://www.barnesandnobles.com
; download to e-books, and find it locally at
www.mrzlc.com/bookstore.
All references are from "Strongs Concordance".
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