In God's world, who would be the greatest creatures – outside of God Himself? Who would be the second in importance, rank, and honor? Wouldn't it seem like the angels should be second? After all, they were probably created before man was. And they were created as holy spirit beings, not made of earthly flesh and blood like we. They dwell with God in heaven and interact with Him in all that they do. They shine with godly glory and heavenly splendor. They sing the most beautiful of songs to Him. They are powerful enough to beat back the devil. They know things that we can't even begin to imagine. So putting it all together, wouldn't you think that the angels are surely second in importance, rank, and honor to God?
Ah, but what does Jesus indicate in our text? Calling a little child to Him, He placed him in the midst of the disciples and said, “Unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven. Therefore, whoever humbles himself like this child is greatest in the kingdom of heaven.”
A grown man or woman who humbles him/herself in faith to the level of a little child, a small child, is great in God's world.
Consider something else. The writer of the letter to the Hebrews (1:14) says about the angels' role: “Are not all angels ministering spirits, sent to serve those who will inherit salvation?”
Angels are servants who minister to believers. A servant serves one who is greater than he is. So, adding that to what Jesus said in our text, wouldn't it be better to say that at least in this sense the believing child of God is greater than the angels in His kingdom?
Dear Christian friends, that's an astonishing fact of grace, a doctrine of the Scriptures that needs to be explored to catch its significance for us. So, at this time of the church year when for centuries the church has commemorated the service of God's holy angels, may the Holy Spirit guide us in considering the importance of Jesus' question and answer to His disciples: Who Is Great in the Kingdom of Heaven? There are really 3 parts to the answer of that question.
I. Christ who died for us.
It was a question that the disciples had recently discussed among themselves as they had been walking along the road. In fact, they not only discussed it, they argued about it. Strange that they could think so highly of themselves an turn their thoughts inward after the events of the past few days.
They had just been on the Mount of Transfiguration where they saw Jesus' appearance change dramatically right before their eyes. His face and His clothing shone as bright as the sun. Moses and Elijah, 2 O.T. prophets of long ago, returned to earth to talk with Him. And then a thunderous voice had called from the heavens, “This is my Son, whom I love, listen to Him.” It had been an awesome spectacle of heavenly glory which they had witnessed – Jesus being in the middle of it all.
As they came down from that mountain, a man brought his son to Jesus. The boy was possessed of a wicked and unclean spirit. He would take hold of the boy and throw him about, causing him to foam at the mouth and shake violently. Sometimes he would make the boy jump into fires. Thinking the disciples could help, the father brought the boy to them. But try as they might, the disciples could do nothing – nothing to help. When Jesus saw what was taking place, He commanded the spirit to come out. And immediately the spirit left the boy. It was an awesome display of heavenly power which the disciples witnessed, centering again on Jesus.
Afterwards He took them off alone to teach them. He explained to them in great detail God's wondrous plan of salvation that would lead Him to die on the cross and rise from the grave. It was an awesome plan of heavenly wisdom of which they heard, centered again on Jesus.
So, within a few short days, the disciples had witnesses Jesus' heavenly glory, heavenly power, and heavenly wisdom that saves. Whom do you think, dear friends, should have gotten the focus of their attention as they walked along? Shouldn't their thoughts have been drawn to the greatness of their Christ who would die for them? But instead their thoughts were on themselves, as they vied to be the greatest among themselves.
Oh, how sad it is when sinful man thinks first and foremost of himself and what he feels he should get. How sad when individuals run over others to be first in line because they deserve it, when they strive for the highest positions, the greatest glory, the most attention. “ Who's the greatest ?” they cry. And the sinful flesh always replies, “Me!”
Surely, we have every reason to be on our guard for if the disciples who witnessed such divine splendor in Christ were this way, what could happen to us? Who of us could lay claim to greatness in God's eyes?
So often we have shown our lives to be tattered and torn by sin, lives that are marked with arguments with one another, lives that are marked with failures to be considerate and serve each other, lives that have erred in loving the neighbor as we love ourselves. Could we boast about such things, like the disciples did? Does anyone have a legitimate claim to personal greatness before God?
Not we, but Christ does for where we have failed He overcame; where we are wanting, He made the supply; and where forgiveness was needed, He hung on the cross to give it. In Him lies our greatness. That is why Paul exclaimed, “May I never boast, except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ” (Ga.6:14).
Who Is Great in the Kingdom of Heaven? Christ who died for us!
II. “Little children” who believe in Him.
In faith we have Christ, the greatest of all. And where Christ is our all-in-all, the thought of personal greatness does not cross the believing mind. Instead joyful humility reigns. It's what Jesus talks about in our text.
Again, He said, “Unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven. Therefore, whoever humbles himself like this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven.”
Humbled like a little child, a small child, a very, very young child. The word can be used of newborns. It was used of John the Baptist when he was brought to his circumcision only 8 days after entering this world. Jesus commands us to become like that. How does an 8 day old child fit the divine demand to be humble?
Well, think of what an 8 day old can do – nothing, simply nothing on his own. And he surely can't argue with anyone about his greatness. In fact, he can't even talk; he has no idea about what greatness means. Furthermore, he is totally dependent on others for everything. And even more, he is dependent on Christ eternally.
You see, an 8 day old child is sinful, even though he hasn't yet had a chance to do anything. Sin corrupts him as David confessed, “Surely, I have been a sinner from birth, even from the time my mother conceived me” (Ps.51:5).
Sin makes us dead things, unable to save ourselves, unable to do anything pleasing to God. It makes us helpless, dependent on someone else to do things for us, just like an 8 day old child. And when we were that way, God stepped in to help.
He came to us in our baptisms, covering us with the garment of Christ's righteousness that we so desperately needed for, “All who were baptized into Christ have been clothed with Him,” Paul writes. He continues, “You are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus” (Ga.3:26).
Think, dear friend, what you were before your baptisms and what you became afterward. Think of what you were before faith, and after it took over your life. When Christ entered, you were reborn, and in His grace He saved you. That's humbling, and at the same time it's cause for great rejoicing.
Now, it's that type of humility to which you must return again and again. It's the humility of a simple faith, dependent on the Savior, simply clinging to Him for all. And it is that type of faith that He gives through His Holy Spirit to all who believe.
So, dear friend, in faith return in the power of the Spirit to your childhood. Change again and become like an 8 day old, totally dependent on Christ – a baptized child of God. And the kingdom of heaven is yours. There will be nothing to boast about in yourself – only in Him. And wonder upon wonders in grace He makes you the greatest – figure that out! For Jesus promised, “Whoever humbles himself like a little child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven.”
Who's the Greatest before God? His “little children,” no matter what age, who believe in Him.
III. The angels who serve God and us.
In such faith you are attached to Christ in a way that even the holy angels aren't. You hold a position as a son, an heir of heaven. They don't hold that. What a wondrous, astonishing truth of grace that is.
One would think that surely the angels, who haven't lost their high position that God gave them from the start, one would think that surely they are attached to Him in a high and glorious way. And they are – as His holy servants. But the fact is that they are servants – they serve God. That's to be expected. But the astounding part is that God makes them serve us who believe in the Savior. The Bible says, “They are ministering spirits, sent to serve those who will inherit salvation.”
You see, dear friends, the astounding part of grace is that in Christ you, if you believe in Him, are the heir. An heir holds a totally different position from the servant.
On earth the servant carries out the bidding of the owner. A servant might carry them out in a noble way and be commended. A servant, through faithful service, could rise to a high position as manager of the estate. A servant could be thought of so highly that the owner would confer with him about important matters and would entrust all affairs to his care. But there is one thing about such a relationship that never changes for the servant, even if he is so great in his service that the owner can't do without him. The estate would never be his because the servant is not the heir – the son is.
And the Bible says of heavenly things, “You are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus.” The angels are great in their service. But the fact of grace is that the son is the heir.
When I think of such matters of grace, it goes beyond my present human understanding. But one day we shall all, in faith, thrill to understand this whole thing even as God intends it. Even now this much I know, for God tells me it is so, Christ is great for He is the Savior who died for us. His “little children” who humbly believe in Him, He declares, in our text, to be greatest in the kingdom of heaven. And the angels who serve Him and us are great for they are holy and carry out His saving plans.
God grant us peace and joy in these truths; for Jesus' sake. Amen.