The Least of These

Luke 9:46-48
46 An argument started among the disciples as to which of them would be the greatest.
47 Jesus, knowing their thoughts, took a little child and had him stand beside him.
48 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 he who is least among you all—he is the greatest."

We hear a lot about childlike faith, about needing to become like a little child to enter the kingdom of God. But I don't think that's necessarily what this passage is referring to. I think it's referring once again to Jesus' directive to love and serve others disinterestedly, without thinking about what we can get out of it.

Why do you call me good? -- ¿Por qué me llamas bueno?

Mark 10:17-22

17 As Jesus started on his way, a man ran up to him and fell on his knees before him. "Good teacher," he asked, "what must I do to inherit eternal life?"


18 "Why do you call me good?" Jesus answered. "No one is good—except God alone. 19 You know the commandments: 'Do not murder, do not commit adultery, do not steal, do not give false testimony, do not defraud, honor your father and mother.'"


20 "Teacher," he declared, "all these I have kept since I was a boy."


21 Jesus looked at him and loved him. "One thing you lack," he said. "Go, sell everything you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me."


22 At this the man's face fell. He went away sad, because he had great wealth.

When Jesus asked the rich young ruler, “Why do you call me good? No one is good – except God alone,” He was giving this man an opportunity to declare who Jesus was. This man had a chance to proclaim, “But You are God, therefore I am correct in calling You good.” He had a chance to make a declaration on the level of Peter’s proclamation in Matthew 16:16: "You are the Christ, the Son of the living God."