Apprentice 2 Jesus

The challenge of the Word

I returned to an earlier practice of praying through Scripture. Finished with Romans and not knowing where else to turn, I began again my prayer walk through the Word, beginning with Luke.

Praying through the Scripture is a tough challenge. It’s not always about praying for victory. It’s about allowing the Spirit to open up my heart and examine what is going on. In Luke 9 Jesus is trying once again to get his disciples to realize he is on his way to a violent death. This is a journey that will not end “pretty.”

How do the disciples respond? They get into an argument about greatness. Who gets the seat closest to Jesus? Who gets the honor? Who gets to be called “Rabbi” next? On and on they went.

Some response.

Jesus: “Guys, I’m headed for a violent death at the hands of the Jewish and Roman powers.”

Disciples: “Um… who gets the keys to the car? Who gets to wear your robe? Who gets to lead the group next? PICK ME! PICK ME!”

Jesus takes a child and puts the child in front of them.

“Whoever becomes like this little child in my name welcomes me; and whoever welcomes me welcomes the one who sent me. For whoever is least among you all is the greatest” (Lk. 9:48).

A child. In our culture, we preach on being a child. Innocent. Loving. Trusting.

In their culture a child was useless. They carried on the family name, so they needed to be trained to carry the name with honor, but no one would listen to a child, or pay attention to a child. In some ancient cultures children weren’t even named until age 2 so they could be “disposed of” if the fathers didn’t have need of them.

Jesus is saying, “You want greatness? Become UNIMPORTANT. Don’t take your cues from the accolades of other people.”

I have not been able to move past this verse for days. It has crushed me. My ego. My pride. I try to read past, and I simply cannot. I COULD read past it, I suppose, but it defeats the exercise of prayer. Prayer is not a one way street of me talking to God. It is God talking to me, and right now the conversation isn’t very pleasant for me. That doesn’t mean it isn’t good. It’s just not pleasant.