In Luke 9:46–48, right after Jesus speaks of His coming betrayal, the disciples argue about who among them is greatest—a striking picture of human nature. Jesus responds by placing a child before them, showing that true greatness isn’t found in power, rank, or recognition, but in humility and in welcoming the least and overlooked. In God’s kingdom, greatness is measured not by status or wealth—what the world treasures most is as ordinary as pavement in heaven—but by service, love, and grace. Real greatness is found in following Jesus with humility and lifting up those society ignores.

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Good morning! It’s good to be back with you on this Friday. Sorry we didn’t have a Rooted yesterday—sometimes the best-laid plans get away from us. Nothing was wrong, my day just slipped past me, and before I knew it, it was gone. But I’m glad to be back with you today.

This morning we’re looking at Luke 9:46–48:

“An argument arose among them as to which one of them was the greatest. But Jesus, aware of their inner thoughts, took a little child and put it by his side and said to them, ‘Whoever welcomes this child in my name welcomes me, and whoever welcomes me welcomes the one who sent me; for the least among all of you is the greatest.’”

One of the keys to understanding Scripture is to see things in context. Just before this, Jesus had told his disciples that he would be betrayed into human hands. They didn’t understand, and they were afraid to ask what he meant. So think of the contrast here: Jesus has just said, “I will be betrayed,” and their next move is to argue over which of them will be the greatest.

That says a lot about human nature, doesn’t it? Jesus is talking about suffering, betrayal, and sacrifice. And the disciples respond by debating power, rank, and importance. If there’s ever a snapshot of humanity, that’s it.

But Jesus flips the conversation. He takes a child—something most people in that culture saw as insignificant—and puts the child at his side. Today we see children as precious, even central to family life. But in Jesus’ time, children were valued more as possessions than people. They had worth, yes, but not the kind of affection or attention we give today. So when Jesus placed a child in front of them, it was shocking.

He was saying: You want to know what greatness looks like? It’s not in power. It’s not in status. It’s not in being first. True greatness is found in welcoming the least, the overlooked, the ones society ignores. To welcome them is to welcome me. And to welcome me is to welcome the Father.

That’s Luke’s gospel through and through—the least, the last, and the lost. The widows, the orphans, the marginalized, the overlooked—Jesus continually shows us that greatness in God’s kingdom is found there.

Greatness, in God’s eyes, is not about wealth or privilege or recognition. It’s not about making sure everyone sees how generous we are or how spiritual we appear. Greatness is found in humility, in service, in laying down our lives for others. As Jesus said elsewhere, what does it profit a person to gain the whole world and lose their soul?

Revelation tells us that in heaven, the streets are paved with gold. Think about that. The most valuable resource on earth—what so many have chased after for power, wealth, and greatness—is reduced to nothing more than pavement in God’s kingdom. That’s the contrast.

So what is true greatness? Not in winning the argument. Not in climbing the ladder. Not in being first. Greatness is in following Jesus—in humility, in service, in love.

“For the least among you is the greatest.” That’s where real greatness lies: not in the things of this world, but in the grace of Jesus Christ.

Thanks for joining me today. We’ll pick up again Monday in Luke 9. Have a great weekend, and live with that greatness of humility and service.