The disciples just keep not getting what Jesus is telling them because they are distracted by their own self interests. Our own kingdom obscures our view of God’s Kingdom.

Instead of chastising the disciples to turn their attention, Jesus holds up something beautiful to draw their attention instead. Children were at the bottom of society, below slaves and the homeless. A father could decide up to the age of twelve if a child deserved to live. If Jesus were teaching this today who would Jesus pull out of the crowd as an example? A drug addict? The elderly? The homeless?

Jesus response to the disciples argument about who is the greatest redefines what greatness is. It’s also broadening who can obtain greatness-“whoever.”

Vs 49-50 John tries to clarify who the “in crowd” is. He still isn’t getting it. This is just a few sentences after failing to do this very thing with the bit at the foot of the mountain. We take our eyes off of the bigness of God’s Kingdom and focus on our mini kingdoms when we think only our church can successfully minister.

The disciples were connecting the dots between the Mt. of Transfiguration that Jesus is greater than Elijah who called down fire on the enemies of God. The are angry for the name of Jesus and ask if they should call down fire on the Samaritans. Their faith is big and they are enraged that Jesus is being offended.

Sincere faith plus zealous passion minus the heart of Jesus destroys people!

Christian Americans need to hear this! We interpret all defensive walls toward us as persecution and go to “war” with them. We are called to break down barriers and bring peace.

Vs 57-62 In Jewish culture when someone dies you sit shiva. They don’t leave the house for 7 days and burials happened the same day or day after death. If someone was saying this to Jesus they had to mean the second burial after a year in a cave for decomposition. This person was asking for 2-10 months. Jesus was saying this level of commitment wasn’t going to cut it.

Another says let me go home and wrap some things up. Jesus is saying we are in a mission and timeline headed towards Jerusalem. If you can’t come now then you can’t come. Their following has conditions attached and Jesus is saying everything must take back seat to their commitment to Jesus.