An argument started among the disciples as to which of them would be the greatest. Jesus, knowing their thoughts, took a little child and had him stand beside him. 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. For it is the one who is least among you all who is the greatest.” Luke 9:46-48
This little one having a little fun at vacation Bible school hosted by Luz a las Naciones.
In
Luke 9, Jesus sends out the twelve for a season of ministry, feeds
the five thousand, affirms Peter's confession of Christ, is
gloriously transfigured on the mountain, heals a boy tormented by an
evil spirit, and cautions his disciples about his own betrayal. But
in the middle of all that's going on, the disciples, masters of
impeccable timing, decide to argue about who among them would be the
greatest.
Jesus
being Jesus, the master of teachable moments, redirects his
disciples' attention toward a child and tells them that to welcome a
child like this one – vulnerable, dependent, needy – is to
welcome Jesus and the one who sent him. In other words, neither brute
strength, social privilege, nor political power determines greatness.
On the contrary, in God's upside kingdom the one who is least is
greatest.
In
a world where it was socially acceptable to only extend hospitality
to those of equal or greater status, Jesus instructs his disciples to
resist the merely acceptable and embrace the most vulnerable.
Honor the least significant, he implores them. Welcome the least
welcomed. Because true greatness is not achieved through might nor
show of power, but by extending Christlike hospitality to the least
of these.
This bigger one having a little fun at our Superbowl themed English class at Reto a la Juventud (Teen Challenge Mexico).
Each
week, the young men of Teen Challenge Mexico enthusiastically
welcome Stuart and I into their lives. Whether I am teaching English,
Stuart is playing soccer, or we are celebrating a Teen Challenge
graduation we are truly honored by their gracious hospitality toward
us.
Likewise, these
next few months, Teen Challenge has kindly invited us to preach and
Stuart will be ministering at Luz a las Naciones. I will share at a couple of leadership gatherings here in
Mexico City as well as in Oaxaca when we visit friends and
missionary colleagues, Ilona and Mike Hadinger.
Lastly, I would like to extend an invitation to you to attend one of the Indiana District Women's Ministries Regional Encounters on April 29. Personally, I'll be attending the Central West location in Greencastle, Indiana at The StoreHouse since I happily accepted the invitation to preach there that day! Find all the information you need on their website. Hope to see you there.
Stuart
& Wendy Brown
serving
in mexico city
