Luke 9:46-50 - Greatness through Union

Well this morning we are continuing on and are sermon series in Luke. Let me get started. I want to share with you a tweet that I saw on Twitter this week now. I'm not commending Twitter to you use at your own risk. It's a lot of good things on Twitter. There's a lot of time wasted and bad things on Twitter as well. But I read something quite interesting as I Was preparing for this sermon and I think we've got to slide here is how the Tweet was phrased not plate-spinning Branch comparing or fence building, but Vine abide. Love that challenge. Thank you. This tweet was directed to someone who had just delivered a sermon on John 15 1 through 6, not plate-spinning Branch comparing or fence building but Vine Abiding Love That challenge. Thank you read John 15 1 through 6. So you have some contacts that I think is this sermon goes on you'll see why this tweet jumped out of it actually speaks directly in line with our sermon this morning and not just in love their sermon but has the same points as my sermon this morning, but John 15 1 through 6, we read this I am the True Vine and my father is the vinedresser every branch and me that does not bear fruit. He takes away in every branch that does not bear fruit. He prunes that it may bear more fruit already. You are clean because of the word that I've spoken to you abide in me. And I in you as the branch cannot bear fruit by itself, unless it abides in the vine. Neither. Can you unless you abide in me? I am the vine you are the branches whoever abides in me and I in him he it is the Bears much fruit for apart from me. You can do nothing if anyone does not abide in me. He is thrown away like a branch and Withers and the branches are gathered thrown into the fire and burned. See the point clearly that this other preacher was making that gave rise to this tweet. Was that a Vine doesn't accomplish things. And it doesn't compare itself to other our story of Aunt not a bunny but a branch doesn't accomplish things. It doesn't compare itself to other branches. It doesn't exclude other branches from being in the vine. What does it do its simply abides it abides in the vine and our main idea this morning, which we will see when we go to Luke in a moment. Is this for Disciples of Jesus for followers of Christ Kingdom significance is found in Union with Christ Kingdom significance or Godly importance or spiritual greatness is found in Union with Christ. Therefore we reject carnal comparisons. We reject selfish exclusions. We even reject impressive accomplishments as a means to see significant. It's rather we find our significance in Christ. So let's look at Luke chapter 9 verses 46 through 50 where we get a sense.

What Jesus is trying to communicate this idea of Kingdom significance our Godly importance or spiritual greatness? That is to be found solely in him.

Luke 9 starting verse 46 an argument arose among them. That is the disciples as to which of them was the greatest. But Jesus knowing the reasoning of their hearts took a child and put him by his side and said to them whoever receives this child in my name receives me and whoever receives me receives him who sent me for he who is least among you all is the one who is great. John answered Master. We saw someone casting out demons in your name, and we tried to stop him because he does not follow with us. But Jesus said to him do not stop him for the one who is not against you is for you but spray. Good and gracious Heavenly Father. We thank you for your words.

We come even as Brian prayed we come needy this morning looking for a touch from your hand by your spirit. You have promised father got to conform us to the image of Christ and your word makes clear that the spirit uses your word. to effect the changes required and so we come to you and ask you this morning change us. Conform us to the image of Christ cause us to grow in godliness. Let us understand your truth this morning with our minds and let us embrace it with our hearts and in doing so we are convinced that your spirit will help us to change the way we live our lives.

Particular this morning. I asked for your help. Help me Father God to communicate your truth in a way. That is. Helpful and wait, it's accurate pray this in Jesus name when you man teaching his disciples in the gospel. He's been teaching them and he continues to do so I remind you he was up on the Mount of transfiguration. He came down reminded his disciples. Once again of his coming death is coming suffering indicating that as we spoke about in a sermon last week that weakness was the waiting continues teaching this morning and I want to consider his teaching by beginning with the negative. That is what does Jesus speak against. What correction does he bring? In regards to this issue of greatness, and I think there's three.

First negatively. We cannot find significance as Disciples of Jesus Through worldly comparison. An argument arose among them as to which of them was the greatest. Again, this passage immediately follows the preceding verse where Jesus revisits this idea of weakness. The road of weakness that he would take which would result in his rejection and his suffering and his death. And only following those things his resurrection. Clearly the disciples did not understand Jesus his role as the Savior who would save through suffering and so could not grasp its implication for them his disciples if they understood they wouldn't be arguing about who was the greatest. Jesus I just said I'm going to die. I'm going to suffer and they're arguing who is the greatest?

And we aren't given details and terms of their criteria for Greatness by Jesus's reply makes it clear that they were not arguing from Kingdom criteria. They wanted to find significant. They wanted to see themselves as important. They wanted to have a sense of greatness about themselves and they were doing this by comparing themselves one to another but Kingdom significance. Godly importance is not found through these sorts of worldly comparisons to go back to that tweets branches don't compare one another to each other the branches that are in the vine don't look at other branches and say how do my leaves compared to this branches leaves? How does the fruit I'm producing compared to the fruit. This other branch is producing. This is a worldly way to try and find significance. It is not the way of a disciple and this is what Jesus is trying to teach. In fact, there's many things we could say about the problems of comparing ourselves one to another it gives rise to many negative bad things two of which I want to bring to your attention this morning those two are arrogance and Assurance. You see some of us are prone to compare ourselves with others so that we feel Superior. And those of us who practice that more regularly compare ourselves with people that we perceive to be lesser than we are. And that leads us perhaps to the conclusion that we are greater. And we can make these comparisons in many different ways. We could compare things that are relatively unimportant like wealth and status and power and appearance.

Taking ourselves. Well, I make more money than so-and-so. Or this person's only an assistant manager. Where is I'm a manager at work? Or perhaps I might be a little bit overweight but not as much as Pastor Jude.

What's the conclusion arrived at in these things is some sense of greatness being more important than the other person even in these relatively unimportant things but we don't just do it with an important thing. Sometimes we make these comparisons with criteria that do matter with things like godliness or prayerfulness or service. Well, I don't pray as much as I should pray, but I pray a lot more than so. And so Hey guy, Grant. I'm a sinner, but I'm not a sinner like old. What's his name?

I serve the church. I'm there three times a week. compared to my brother who's only there twice again, these are not the way the disciples find significance. In fact, they lead to arrogance. They lead to thinking of ourselves more highly than we ought to think of ourselves. This is not the way of Jesus.

Now some people approach this a different way. They compare themselves with others in such a way that they end up struggling with their own acceptance or their own insurance even if salvation There last after comparisons feeling inferior. people who approached comparisons this way compare themselves with someone else who they think is greater than they are. And again, this can be important criteria or insignificant criteria. Well, I'm just not as attractive is so and so they're much better looking than I am. I just don't have as an enjoyable retirement as so-and-so. Because they have so much more in their savings. I just can't wrap my head around the Bible the way my sister or brother does they're much more Godly than I am. Well, there's this process of comparing. Is not the way of Jesus and it leads people to struggle either with arrogance or acceptance or their own insurance.

All made it clear that comparing one another to each other wasn't wise and 2nd Corinthians 10 verse 12. He writes not that we dared a classifier compare ourselves with some of those who are committing themselves, but when they measure themselves by one another and compare themselves with one another they are without understanding. This is Paul saying they don't understand the way of a disciple of Jesus when they compare each other in this sort of way when they try to self recommend. They're using the wrong criteria. The criteria of comparing ourselves one to another is wrong. And this is one of the things that Jesus is trying to teach his disciples and what he's trying to teach us this morning greatness or Kingdom significance is not through found to these worldly Colonel comparisons. We need to stop doing that.

But it's not the only wrong way to find Kingdom significance. Often we try to do it in through excluding people through suffix exclusions. We read the fact that John answered Master. We saw someone casting out demons in your name, and we tried to stop him because he does not follow with us. but to return to that tweet branches are not to be in the business of building fences that does not what branches do they don't look at other branches and say what can I do with my Branch to exclude this other person? The world biblical commentary said this as those called to the way of the Cross remember Jesus was just speaking about that to his disciples. The disciple should rather be grateful that there is any kind of recognition for their cause they are really in no position to be acting out of self-importance to secure their own demesne of influence. No matter what the shortcomings any place where God's power is found to be at work should be joyfully recognized. But instead the disciples were selfishly trying to inflate their own importance by at least in their words and thoughts excluding others. From participation or recognition again just like really comparing. This is not a path to Kingdom significance to Godley greatness to spiritual important. We should make every effort. To affirm those who like I seek to glorify God. Through Jesus in the power of the spirit is they are revealed to be in scriptures. We as a church have made efforts to do this. We have looked for ways to partner with other churches, and we do so with with Gateway and with Westpark with CBC, Odenton and Crossroads in Redemption. This doesn't mean that we are going to agree with them on everything. It doesn't mean that we are going to refrain from bringing correction or demonic mean if we believe there is unfaithfulness in certain areas. Does it mean we're going to get along and everything and agree and everything but what it does mean is that Every everyone who follows Christ and who serves him ought to be recognized by other followers of Christ. We are never to see personal or congregational importance or significance by excluding other people or other churches or other denominations were part of the body of Christ. We don't find our significance by excluding other people or other groups of people. That's not how we are to determine. Are important or greatness not through worldly comparisons and not through self-serving exclusions. All the third negative way in which Jesus teaches about this I think is in regards to our accomplishments. We are not to look to our impressive accomplishments as a means of seeing ourselves is important or significant again, John answered Master. We saw someone casting out demons in your name and we tried to stop him because he does not follow with us. Remember the previous passage talked about the disciples being unable to cast out a demon from the epileptic boy, right? And right after that. Apparently some of them saw someone successfully casting out demons and said no you don't do that. You're not one of us. Now it seems to me that John here is focused on actions. In fact his answers little weird. Jesus said to be the least among you must be great and he starts talking about stopping someone from casting out demons. But what I think he's pointing to him when he's maybe focusing on is this idea of accomplishments?

And maybe it was even the failure of the disciples to cast out these demons that instigated this discussion. Maybe as they sat around talking about this and thinking about this.

Maybe being frustrated with their own inability. We could hear one of them say well, I may not have been able to cast out that epileptic demon, but just remember I killed a man with Leprosy. What about that?

Well, it's a lot harder to kill a man with a withered Lynn than it is to kill someone with Leprosy. What about me? I think I'm the greatest. Well, that's all well and good but we all have healed people to but only three of us got to go up to the mountains to see Jesus transfigured. I think one of us must be the greatest greatest again, Jesus would not want them to entertain this perspective. In fact, we'll see you in a little later on and Luke Luke chapter 10 verse 20. We're Jesus communicates. Nevertheless do not rejoice in this that the spirits are subject to you. But Rejoice that your names are written in heaven E points towards where we get our Point are important and it's not in the things that we do.

Again, Paul taught this clearly and Philippians chapter 3 verses 3 through 11. He says for we are the circumcision who worship by the spirit of God and glory in Christ Jesus and put no confidence in the flesh though. I myself have reason for confidence in the flesh Also if anyone thinks he has reason for confidence in the flesh. I have more and he's about to list his accomplishments and things he's done. He says circumcised on the 8th day of the people of Israel The Tribe of Benjamin Hebrew of Hebrews as to the law as seriously as the Zeal a persecutor of the church as to righteousness under the law blameless. But whatever gain I had I counted as loss for the sake of Christ indeed. I count everything as loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. For his sake. I have suffered the loss of all things and count them as rubbish in order that I may gain Christ and be found in him not having a righteousness of my own that comes in the law, but that would comes through faith in Christ the righteousness from God that depends on faith that I may know him in the power of his resurrection and made share his sufferings becoming like him in his death that by any means possible mm18 the resurrection from the dead to Paul understood that the half of seeking significance through navel gazing at our own accomplishments is to be awestruck by garbage. That's what he called that he calls it rubbish. He says it's all rubbish all your accomplishments done in and out of yourself are garbage compared to being found in Christ. Brothers and sisters we need to take the trash out. We need to put Colonel comparisons in cellfix of selfish exclusions. And even our impressive accomplishments in the dumpster. There's not the way to being found significant in the kingdom of God. Branches are not about accomplishments there about abiding until at least three ways that we try to seek significance through comparisons and exclusions and accomplishments. Let's get rid of them. Let's stop doing that. Because disciples find their significance. They find their Godly greatness. They find their spiritual importance in one place. It's found in their Union with Jesus Christ. That's where it's found. As the Tweet stated just to buy just abide. It's so I want to talk about Union and what comes out of that Union communion. We find significance as followers of Christ in our Union with Christ in our communion with the Saints.

We read but Jesus knowing the reasoning of the hearts took a child and put them by a side and said to them whoever receives this child in my name receives me and whoever receives me receives him who sent me for he who is least among you all is the one who is great. Jesus puts an end to their discussion of greatness by bringing a child before then. And is the disciples amongst themselves were pontificating about their own greatness Jesus brought one whom their society largely perceived as unimportant.

I want to, ders talked about that the mishnah which was an authority of collection of exegetical material that really mm bottle story embody the oral teaching a Jewish law. Here's a here's a quote from the mishnah morning sleep. Midday wine chattering with children and tearing and places where men of the Common People assemble destroy a man. This was a teaching of the law to chatter to speak with children was to destroy yourself a man ought not to do that if they were here this morning and and saw the pastor up here sitting on steps talking with kids. They would say that's a waste of time. You're destroying Yourself by doing that now imagine the disciples hear the disciple see a pair of figures in front of them one of whom they see is supremely powerful and valuable. And one of whom is a relative nobody in their eyes and what this visual aid in place Jesus indicates that despite their preconceived ideas to the contrary the two figures in front of the medes Jesus and the child are somehow interchangeable to receive the child is to receive Christ respect shown for the less than greater child turns out to be respect shown to Jesus loving the child is loving Christ and loving and receiving Christ is loving and receiving the Supreme Being in the universe God almighty.

I just wasn't the first time Jesus spoke about greatness or that we heard about greatness site of the first time in Luke and Luke chapter 7 verse 28. Jesus talks about greatness. He says I tell you among those born of women. None is greater than John.

And then he says you're the one who is least in the kingdom of God is greater than he what major John great Surly part of the reason can be found in the Gospel of John chapter 3 verses 25 through 33 read now discussion rolls between some of John's disciples than a Jew or purification and it came to John and send him Rabbi who is with you across the Jordan to whom he bore witness. Look he is baptizing and all are going to him speaking of Jesus. The cycles of John are concerned Brad's concerned about their rabbis greatness because of the rabbi who he bore witness to and John answered a person cannot receive one thing unless it is given him from Heaven you yourselves bear me witness that I said. I am not the Christ but I've been sent before him the one who has the Bride is a bride when the friend of the bridegroom who stands and hears and rejoices greatly at the bridegroom. Voice there for this Joy of mine is now complete. And then he said the line I think which speaks to his greatness. He must increase I must decrease what made John Gray was that he understand. It wasn't about him wasn't about who he baptized. It was about comparing himself to other rabbis.

His significance was found in Christ. He must increase but I must decrease so it's not about us greatness comes importance, I'm sick and significance as we decrease in Christ increases as disciples are significance is found in our Union with him. It's found as we abide in him. Commentator Darrell Bock said greatness is not inherent in a person but is established by one's relationship to Jesus.

Each one of us here if we're honest will confess that we've all participated in the search for significance.

It's something that every human being does a search for importance a search for significance a search for greatness as it were. But the search for significance is only since successful when we are joined to Christ through repentance and faith. Brothers and sisters no one is born in that Union. No one has that inherent greatness. We don't because send destroyed it. Send destroyed our connection with God therefore send took away our significance. That's why Christ became human. He came human in order to repair the relationship between God and man and he did so through his death and his resurrection so that all those who turn from their sin and turn to him in faith and entrust their life to him and Avail themselves of his work on the cross are brought into Union with Christ. And thereby become great through the relationship with him understand that followers of Jesus. That's what salvation is. That's where your significance is found. It's found in Christ. And if you're here this morning. And you've never taken an opportunity to Avail yourself of Christ's work on the cross for the Forgiveness of your sins and to reconcile you to the father. Let me encourage you to do so this morning. Stop chasing significance in the ways. We talked about this morning and in many other ways.

Find your significance in Union with Christ.

That's how disciples find their significance and what's connected to that this morning. As I close is the communion of the Saints what works out of our having Union with Christ is having communion with the Saints. Jesus said they do not stop him for the one who is not against you is for you in our culture. We have a tendency to overemphasize the individual nature of our Salvation in Christ. Now, it is individual make no mistake by the end of days. I think you will stand individually before your maker.

however a relationship with Christ. There's also a corporate element to it and part of our understanding. Our own significance in Union with Christ is perceiving our participation in his body. Cuz those are not against us are for us. We're in this together. We share a kingdom significance in Christ. With all of those past present and future who have been joined to Christ through faith or the last section of the Apostles Creed which reads I believe in the Holy Spirit the Holy Catholic Church. That is the universal church. The communion of saints the Forgiveness of sins the resurrection of the body and the life Everlasting. Amen. The communion of saints refers to Believers to all believers in the past and in the present and in the years to come sharing our common salvation in Christ there by finding our significance in the same source.

And that's what I believe. Jesus is trying to instruct his disciples in this moment and what he's trying to instruct Us in this moment.

That is to say that the search for king of significance is not harmed by other people. It's not harm by other believers. It's not harmed by brothers and sisters who are gifted may be more than you are. It's not a harm. It's hell out and it's hell because their source of significance is the same as yours. It's Jesus Christ.

So let's reject any pursuit of significance, whether it be worldly comparisons or selfish selfish, exclusions or even impressive accomplishments. Let's not find her significance in those things. We will not find significance or greatness in those things. Instead, let's pursue significance in Christ. We seek our own importance. Girl greatness on ourselves but in the Son of God they're found in him and his birth and his life and his death and his resurrection and his Ascension to the right hand of the father Dale ourselves of that greatness through his work on the cross.

By turning from our sin and putting our faith in him.

And once we've been saved and come in and out Union with Christ, we continue to look and find our significance in Christ by pursuing. That relationship with him. Let's print.

Father we thank you again this morning for your word. We thank you Father God. We sincerely thank you that our significance is not found in our cells. What a massive disappointment. That would be

But rather are significant our importance are our Godly greatness as followers of Christ are found in you. If we are found in you are significance can be found in you that's why I pray you would help us help us father. God not to compare ourselves among each other and not to try and boost our feelings of self-importance by excluding others. And not to rely on any accomplishments we have even if their accomplishments For Your Glory. But rather let's let's put our hole in the Son of God and Father God. I pray for anyone here who doesn't know you who is seeking that significance in all the things that the world offers I Pray by your spirit you would open their eyes to the glory of the Gospel. And the true greatness that can be found in Union with Christ. I pray this in his name. Amen.