While Jesus was transfigured on the mount in the presence of
three disciples, the other group of disciples were facing a trouble with a boy
whom his father brought them to heal from the demonic power. Not long ago, they
were sent out two by two and exercised the power and authority to drive out
demons, to heal the sick, and even to raise the dead. But this time they failed
powerlessly and helplessly. Why could they do one day and could not another?
Is it not our experience as well? We have both victories and
failures, more failures though. What’s the problem? Jesus says, “You
unbelieving and perverse generation, how long shall I stay with you and put up
with you?” It was faith that the disciples didn’t practice but relied on their
experience in the past. They used exactly the same language in the name of
Jesus to the boy but nothing happened. They were puzzled and later asked Jesus
why.
“Then the disciples came to Jesus in private and asked, ‘Why
couldn’t we drive it out?’ He replied, ‘Because you have so little faith. Truly
I tell you, if you have faith as small as a mustard seed, you can say to this
mountain, ‘Move from here to there,’ and it will move. Nothing will be
impossible for you.’” (Matthew 17:19-20)
Is it not true that we need to eat daily no matter what, even
after a big meal? Our body needs to be fed daily, not weekly or monthly.
Likewise, we cannot live with our experience of victories in the past but with
a fresh and new faith in Christ Jesus. At times, we desire to go back to the
past when we experienced a great victory in God. However, our faith doesn’t lie
on the glorious experience even raising the dead but on the Person Jesus
Christ. The disciples during the journey performed and witnessed the great
miracles in their midst wherever they went. But it wasn’t they who did but
Jesus Christ who gave them authority and power. Since they completely depended
on Jesus who sent them out, they were made to drive out demons and to heal the
sick.
The Scripture says, “The just shall live by faith.” What is
faith? Faith is the cessation of our old life, flesh and the total submission
of our new life to Lord Jesus Christ. Why must our old life cease in order
practice genuine faith? It’s because our flesh has no value at all. The past
glorious and victorious experiences and achievements even in God can mislead us
into illusions and delusions that we have reached the point where we can rely
on ourselves. It is the lie. That’s the reason the disciples failed to practice
the power and authority of Jesus over the boy although they uttered in the name
of Christ.
Our Lord Jesus demonstrated the perfect and complete dependence
on the Father in heaven all the time. He says, “Very truly I tell you, the Son
can do nothing by himself; he can do only what he sees his Father doing,
because whatever the Father does the Son also does.” (John 5:19) That’s a
living faith. Although our Lord Jesus received all power and authority in
heaven and on earth, He did not use it to satisfy Himself but submitted
everything unto the Father. Our Lord Jesus became nothing before the Holy
Father even when He could bring down the multitude of angles to punish those
who were against Him (Matthew 26:53).
Apostle Peter recalled the attitude of our Lord Jesus in his
epistle to the saints, saying “When they hurled their insults at him, he did
not retaliate; when he suffered, he made no threats. Instead, he entrusted
himself to him who judges justly.” (1 Peter 2:23)
Where genuine faith is practiced, there is the greatness of
God manifested. “Even while the boy was coming, the demon threw him to the
ground in a convulsion. But Jesus rebuked the impure spirit, healed the boy and
gave him back to his father. And they were all amazed at the greatness of God.”
(Luke 9:42-43a)
Again, Jesus repeated the announcement of His suffering and
death, underscoring the statement beginning with “Listen carefully what I am
about to tell you.” The disciples still wasn’t grasping who Jesus was and even
afraid to ask Him about it.
“While everyone was marveling at all that Jesus did, he said
to his disciples, ‘Listen carefully to what I am about to tell you: The Son of
Man is going to be delivered into the hands of men.’ But they did not
understand what this meant. It was hidden from them, so that they did not grasp
it, and they were afraid to ask him about it.” (Luke 9:43b-45)
Why our Lord Jesus repeated this unpopular and unpleasant
announcement to the disciples? It’s because it was the way to the Father. He must
be delivered into the hands of men, which means He must die not for Himself but
for the many. Jesus drew the attention of hearers because it is so important to
listen carefully. The death of Jesus forever stands for the cessation of our
old life which is the first step in practicing the genuine faith. He died in
our place when God made the Son sin for us.
“God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in
him we might become the righteousness of God.” (2 Corinthians 5:21)
Even the best man ever lived on the face of earth must die
when God made Him sin for us on the cross. The sin of the world must be
punished for the reconciliation of humanity to the Truthful God. For that
reason, our Lord Jesus Christ was condemned and punished by God the Father in
our place.
Then, God exerted His power to raise Jesus from the dead on
the third day. When nothing could work for the dead, the resurrection of Jesus was
performed by the power of God. Nothing could hinder or block the power of
resurrection from the dead. The whole new life was given to Jesus and God exalted
Him above every name in heaven and on earth. In this way, Jesus Christ became the
author and finisher of faith (Hebrews 12:2). Anyone who comes with the terms
will be given a new life in Christ by the power of resurrection.
The disciples were afraid to ask Jesus about the
announcement because they didn’t understand what it meant. Rather, they argued
who was the greatest among them. Out of ignorance and misunderstandings, they
engaged in the mundane issue among them.
“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)
There is nothing wrong to have desire to be great. The problem
lies on how to be great. The world says we can be great with power and might,
more precisely with status, position, wealth, and achievements. The world is
run by the philosophy of competition and dominance. But Jesus says exactly the opposite.
Jesus says that the one who is least among them all is the greatest. Jesus also
says those who accept little children in His name accept Him.
Little children have little value in the worldly points. But
they have genuine qualities that please God. What are they? They have unique
teachable quality and exceptional honesty, the opposite of pretense. They absorb
the things told and heard in an unlimited fashion. In them, no pretense or
disguise is found. They are direct and straight in asking questions they have. Parents
experience the unending and bombarding questions from their children. The kingdom
of God belongs to those who welcome little children.
Why is the one who is least among all the greatest in the
kingdom of heaven? It’s because the one who is least is the one who practice
genuine faith, knowing that he has nothing to depend on. The one who is least is
the one who deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow Lord Jesus. He is
the greatest because he relies on the One who is the author and finisher of our
faith. Jesus says in the Sermon on the Mount who are the blessed.
“Blessed are
the poor in spirit,
for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
Blessed are
those who mourn,
for they will be comforted.
Blessed are
the meek,
for they will inherit the earth.
Blessed are
those who hunger and thirst for righteousness,
for they will be filled.
Blessed are
the merciful,
for they will be shown mercy.
Blessed are
the pure in heart,
for they will see God.
Blessed are
the peacemakers,
for they will be called children of God.
Blessed are
those who are persecuted because of righteousness,
for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
“Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you and
falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of me. 12Rejoice and be glad,
because great is your reward in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the
prophets who were before you.” (Matthew 5:3-11)
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