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Who Is the Greatest?
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mission, and they succeed where many of the intellectually wise
would fail.
But when people exalt themselves, feeling that they are necessary
for God’s plan to succeed, the Lord causes them to be set aside. The
work does not stop but goes forward with greater power.
It was not enough for the disciples of Jesus to be instructed about
the nature of His kingdom. What they needed was a change of heart.
Calling a little child to Him, Jesus set him in the midst of them. Then
tenderly wrapping the little one in His arms, He said, “Unless you
are converted and become as little children, you will by no means
enter the kingdom of heaven.” The simplicity, self-forgetfulness, and
trusting love of a little child are the attributes that Heaven values,
the characteristics of real greatness. At the feet of Jesus, earthly
dignity and display are forgotten. Rich and poor, the educated and
the ignorant, meet together as bloodbought souls, with no thought
of social levels or worldly superiority.
God places His own mark of ownership on us, not by rank, not by
wealth, not by intellectual greatness, but by our oneness with Christ.
“You have also given me,” said David, “the shield of Your salvation;
... Your gentleness”—as an element in the human character—“has
made me great.”
Psalm 18:35
.
The Savior’s words awakened a feeling of self-distrust in the
disciples. John began to question whether his actions in a certain
case had been right. “Teacher,” he said, “we saw someone ... casting
out demons in Your name, and we forbade him because he does not
follow us.”
James and John thought that in stopping this man they were
defending their Lord’s honor. Now they began to see that they were
jealous for their own. They acknowledged their error and accepted
Jesus’ reproof, “Do not forbid him, for no one who works a miracle
in My name can soon afterward speak evil of Me.” Many had been
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deeply moved by the character and work of Christ, and their hearts
were opening to Him in faith. The disciples must be careful not to
discourage these people. They must show the same far-reaching
sympathy they had seen in their Master.
Christ is the Great Teacher. We are to sit at His feet and learn
from Him. Every individual whom God has made willing is a
channel through whom Christ will reveal His pardoning love. How