YOU GIVE THEM SOMETHING TO EAT, Ron Ward
CHARACTERISTICS OF JESUS' KINGDOM
Passage: Luke 9:43b~56  
Key verse: 48b
43 And they were all amazed at the greatness of God.
Jesus Predicts His Death a Second Time
While everyone was marveling at all that Jesus did, he said to his disciples, 44 “Listen carefully to what I am about to tell you: The Son of Man is going to be delivered into the hands of men.”(A) 45 But they did not understand what this meant. It was hidden from them, so that they did not grasp it,(B) and they were afraid to ask him about it.
46 An argument started among the disciples as to which of them would be the greatest.(C) 47 Jesus, knowing their thoughts,(D) took a little child and had him stand beside him. 48 Then he said to them, “Whoever welcomes this little child in my name welcomes me; and whoever welcomes me welcomes the one who sent me.(E) For it is the one who is least among you all who is the greatest.”(F)
49 “Master,”(G) said John, “we saw someone driving out demons in your name and we tried to stop him, because he is not one of us.”
50 “Do not stop him,” Jesus said, “for whoever is not against you is for you.”(H)
Samaritan Opposition
51 As the time approached for him to be taken up to heaven,(I) Jesus resolutely set out for Jerusalem.(J) 52 And he sent messengers on ahead, who went into a Samaritan(K) village to get things ready for him; 53 but the people there did not welcome him, because he was heading for Jerusalem. 54 When the disciples James and John(L) saw this, they asked, “Lord, do you want us to call fire down from heaven to destroy them[a]?”(M) 55 But Jesus turned and rebuked them. 56 Then he and his disciples went to another village.
Footnotes
- Luke 9:54 Some manuscripts them, just as Elijah did
Cross references
- Luke 9:44 : S ver 22
- Luke 9:45 : S Mk 9:32
- Luke 9:46 : Lk 22:24
- Luke 9:47 : S Mt 9:4
- Luke 9:48 : S Mt 10:40
- Luke 9:48 : S Mk 9:35
- Luke 9:49 : S Lk 5:5
- Luke 9:50 : Mt 12:30; Lk 11:23
- Luke 9:51 : S Mk 16:19
- Luke 9:51 : Lk 13:22; 17:11; 18:31; 19:28
- Luke 9:52 : S Mt 10:5
- Luke 9:54 : S Mt 4:21
- Luke 9:54 : 2Ki 1:10, 12
Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
Source:  BibleGateway
1. The least is the greatest (43b-48)
Jesus' popularity might have been at its peak but he was not swept up in the moment. He told the disciples that he would be delivered into the hands of men. The disciples did not understand. However, rather than seek clarity, they began to argue about who would be the greatest. Jesus had a little child stand beside him and explained that welcoming a little child in his name was like welcoming Jesus. Jesus did not care about human praise and honor. He came to serve and those who serve the least in his name would be the greatest.
2. When our pride gets in the way (49-56)
John tried to stop someone from driving out demons in Jesus' name. His pride must have been bruised, especially after the disciples had failed to drive out demons earlier. (9:39-40) Jesus told him that whoever was not against him was for him. Later Jesus wanted to enter a Samaritan village but was not welcomed. James and John were offended and asked about calling down fire from heaven. Jesus rebuked them for reacting in pride.
Prayer: Lord, thank you for welcoming me. Help me not to live by my pride but to serve others in your name.
One Word: Welcome a little one in Jesus' name