Matthew 18: 1-4 Like this child...

Matthew 18:1-4 Like this child…

[1] At that time the disciples came to Jesus and asked, "Who is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven?" [2] He called a child, whom he put among them, [3] and said, "Truly I tell you, unless you change and become like children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven. [4] Whoever becomes humble like this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven. [5] Whoever welcomes one such child in my name welcomes me.

What is happening in this script? – The disciples ask Jesus who is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven. What a typically human question for adults to ask, exposing their ignorance regarding what Jesus was trying to teach them about the differences between God’s kingdom and Caesar’s or humankind’s kingdom. Jesus calls a child over, puts the child physically in their midst, and tells his followers, “Truly I tell you, unless you change and become like children, you will never enter in the kingdom of heaven. Whoever becomes humble like this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven. Who ever welcomes one such child in my name welcomes me.”

How is this happening in the world today? - Where do you see followers asking who is the greatest among them? When have people like us wondered who was the greatest in God’s kingdom? When are we acting like those disciples, focusing on our “righteousness” or piousness, instead of simply being who and what we are, directly and honestly, like a child. How does our sense of personal power and pride keep us from changing and becoming like children? How does this keep us out of the kingdom of heaven here and now?

How is this scripture about you? -
Unless you change, and become like children…Let us take this phrase, this warning from Jesus, and ask ourselves some questions.
What is the nature and character of children, and why would we need to have those qualities in order to enter what Jesus called the kingdom of God or heaven?
What changes would be required of you in order to do as Jesus said?
What does humble like this child really mean?
Why is welcoming one such child in his name so important, and how would that look and sound? And a follow up to this question, does one such child refer back to a child, or to one who becomes humble like this child, or both?