+ 15th Sunday after Pentecost – September 6th, 2026 +
Series A: Ezekiel 33:7-9; Romans 13:1-10; Matthew 18:1-20
Beautiful Savior Lutheran Church
Milton, WA
In the Name of the Father and of the + Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.
Who is the greatest?
You’d think it was a soldier of the Roman legion: sword glinting, polished armor, crimson shield. But no. This is not greatness.
You’d think it was a king like Herod Anitpas or Agrippa: flowing purple robes, a goblet of wine in one hand, a shank of lamb in the other.
But no. This is not greatness.
You’d think it was the law-abiding pharisee. Strolling the temple courts with their pockets full of shekels. The pride of the town. But no.
None of these are in Jesus’ hall of fame. When Jesus opens his dictionary to define greatness, he does something rather shocking, unexpected, and opposite of what everyone in his day (and ours) expects.
This is how Jesus defines greatness... Not in military prowess. Nor regal power. Nor man’s idolatrous piety.
Rather, greatness for Jesus is found in weakness. Littleness. Lowliness. In the least, the lost, the last.
Who is the greatest?
And calling to him a child, he put him in the midst of them 3 and said, “Truly, I say to you, unless you turn and become like children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven.
It’s hard to appreciate just how shocking this is for Jesus’ disciples. In their day children were not idolized or idealized as they are often today. Children were seen as weak, helpless, subject to the will of the grownups – nothing admirable or to aspire to here.
So, why does Jesus call a child into their midst? Imagine an infant. Now remember that as cute and cuddly as they are, that little bundle of adorability cannot and will not feed himself, drink for himself, dress himself, change himself, bath, tend, care, and nurture himself.
A child is utterly dependent upon her parents for everything. Children are constantly in need. totally dependent.
No wonder God’s people are called the children of Israel so often.
Adam and Eve were entirely dependent upon YHWH to clothe their nakedness and shame. And yet they lived on the promise of a child.
Aged Abraham and barren Sarah were completely unable to bear children until YHWH opened Sarah’s womb to make way for Isaac.
Moses (once a helpless infant floating down the Nile in a mini ark), and Israel were constantly in need, from Egypt all the way to the Promised Land.
God’s people then, and us now, are no different, Jesus says.
Whoever humbles himself to become like this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven.
Jesus is saying something he’s already said before. To humble oneself and become like this child is to acknowledge our utter dependence on our Lord. Not just for some things. Not just spiritual things. But all things. Body. Soul. Life. Death. Resurrection.
Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of God. Blessed are those confess, we are all beggars, this is true. Blessed are those who are constantly in need of God’s grace. Who are totally dependent upon his mercy. Who are utterly helpless on our own when it comes to our daily bread, and even more so, the higher gifts of forgiveness, mercy, and grace.
Blessed are the lowly. The least. The last. The lost.
Blessed are you when you realize you have nothing and God gives and does everything for us and for our salvation.
You see what this does, don’t you. It destroys all our pride. It squashes all our thinking that we are very grown up, insufferable know-it-alls.
That is not greatness according to Jesus. Greatness for Jesus looks like...the holy God wrapped in swaddling clothes and laid in a manger. The Almighty Lord became a needy, dependent, and totally helpless infant to seek and save the lost. The God who has all power, prestige, and honor became for you the least, lowly, the last on the cross and in the grave. In his weakness is your strength. In his humility is your honor. In his lowliness is your steadfast love.
The Son of God became a child to make you children of God. Totally dependent upon him. Constantly in need of his grace and goodness.
Children of God who also look out in the body of Christ for the weakest and the struggling and the most in need of nurture and forgiveness. Children of God who look to Christ and are in daily need of what he gives you: his word and promise. Forgiveness and life. Water and a new creation. His body and blood.
This is greatness in the kingdom of heaven.
In the Name of the Father and of the + Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.
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