This is another entry to a mini series on the book of Luke 9. (Luke 9:46–50 & 1 Peter 5:1–11)
Introduction
So far, we have discovered that making sense of Jesus:
- Requires Change
- Requires a Covenant
- Requires Christ’s Authority
Today we add another essential truth:
- Requires Being Last
This series is designed not simply to teach but to train.
There is a difference.
- Teaching gives knowledge.
- Training prepares someone for deployment.
Jesus was not simply filling the disciples’ minds with information. He was preparing them to change the world.
Yet like many of us, the disciples struggled with comparison.
When I am asked how many people attended church, I sometimes jokingly answer, “Between one and two thousand.” Of course, that means somewhere between 1 and 2,000!
At other times I might say, “The average weight of everyone in attendance was about 255 pounds… they get a little heavier around Thanksgiving!”
Humor aside, the truth is that we all play the comparison game.
Why?
Because comparison helps us feel superior to someone else. It feeds our desire for personal glory.
But Jesus teaches something radically different.
In this passage, He reveals that the Kingdom of God rejects worldly values. It is not about dominance, status, or personal advancement.
The Disciples’ Struggle for Status
Even though this section of Luke is brief, it highlights a recurring issue among the disciples. On several occasions they argued about who was the greatest.
They wanted to know:
- Who would be the leader?
- Who would have the highest rank?
- Who would be the most important?
Ironically, this debate occurred shortly after they struggled to even heal a child. Yet they were still concerned with who was first.
Human nature has not changed much.
Society is obsessed with self-importance.
Even one of the temptations Jesus faced involved authority and power. In Matthew 4, Satan tempted Him with the kingdoms of the world, attempting to lure Him into abandoning His divine mission.
The world remains obsessed with status.
One summary of modern culture describes it this way:
“The world is increasingly obsessed with itself due to a rise in hyper-individualism, exacerbated by social media, celebrity culture, and capitalist structures that reward self-promotion.”
The disciples were not ready to change the world yet. They were still wrestling with selfishness and intimidation by worldly power.
But Jesus was about to train them.
1. Disciples Want to Be First
Luke 9:46
Little did they realize that the Kingdom of God operates very differently.
In God’s Kingdom:
- There is no copyright on ministry.
- There is no superiority among believers.
- There is no rank or status that elevates one above another.
The disciples were attempting to force their expectations onto Jesus. They wanted Him to organize the Kingdom according to worldly structures.
We see similar attitudes in organizations today.
Some people prefer having a boss because it provides security. Someone else makes the tough calls and carries the responsibility.
Others want to be first because they want authority.
But Jesus teaches that authority is delegated by God, not granted for status.
Consider the story of the widow who gave two coins in Mark 12. The wealthy compared themselves favorably, yet they completely missed the point.
The Kingdom of God is not about:
- Status
- Titles
- Rank
- Social class
- Position
Pastor Skip Heitzig once illustrated this beautifully with a story about a dog and a cat.
When the owner came home and petted the dog, the dog wagged its tail and thought:
“He must be God.”
Then the owner picked up the cat and began to pet it. The cat purred, curled up comfortably, and thought:
“I must be God.”
It is a humorous illustration, but it reveals a sad truth about human nature.
When we truly understand God’s grace—our inability to save ourselves and the overwhelming mercy He shows us—humility becomes the natural response.
2. Jesus Knows Our Heart Motives
Luke 9:47
He sees through every façade. He knows when we are pretending. He understands the true motives behind our actions.
Often, God judges the motivation before He judges the action.
Sin matters, but the intent of the heart often reveals why the sin occurred.
Why do we behave the way we do?
That question could require a long sermon—or perhaps a therapist’s couch!
Consider King David. He committed serious sin, yet God still called him a man after His own heart. David’s repentance revealed that his heart ultimately belonged to God.
As William Law once said:
“Humility is nothing else but a right judgment of ourselves.”
3. Jesus Cures Pride
Luke 9:48
In that culture, children were not highly valued in religious society. Many religious leaders considered time spent teaching children to be a waste.
Yet Jesus used a child to demonstrate true greatness.
Pastor Skip Heitzig explains:
“Your greatness is determined by how you treat the weakest among you—those you might consider insignificant.”
Jesus was turning their understanding of leadership upside down.
God Opposes the Proud
In 1 Peter 5:1–11, Peter—once a proud disciple himself—writes these powerful words:
“God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.”
Peter learned this lesson personally. The same man who once claimed he would never deny Jesus eventually did. But through the work of the Holy Spirit, he became a humble leader.
God Gives Grace to the Humble
Verse 6 reminds us:
“Humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God, and at the proper time He will exalt you.”
The Kingdom of God is defined by grace and humility, not power and control.
It is a sad commentary when the church becomes obsessed with status or influence. We must never believe that our works earn our place in heaven.
During one conversation, a well-known actress was asked what she would say to God about why she should be allowed into heaven.
Her answer focused on her accomplishments, including starring in a Bible-based film.
But salvation is not based on what we have done.
It is based on what Christ has done.
As we grow in our faith, we begin to understand this more deeply. Immature believers may still focus on things that do not matter, but mature followers of Christ recognize that life is not about us—it is about Him.
Servant Leadership
Many leadership experts today speak about “people-first leadership.” Interestingly, this mirrors the biblical model.
Great leaders:
- Build trust
- Demonstrate humility
- Encourage others
- Develop people’s potential
- Share credit with the team
- Create an environment where people thrive
In other words, the best leaders are servants.
The Principle of “The Last Shall Be First”
Jesus repeatedly taught this principle throughout Scripture.
Key examples include:
- Matthew 19:30 & 20:16 – After the story of the rich young ruler
- Mark 10:31 – A parallel teaching
- Luke 13:30 – During Jesus’ journey toward Jerusalem
- Mark 9:35 – “If anyone would be first, he must be last of all and servant of all.”
Other passages emphasize caring for “the least,” including:
- Matthew 5:19
- Matthew 11:11
- Luke 7:28
- Matthew 25:40
Three Truths About the Kingdom of God
- Jesus shows humility.
- Jesus understands humanity.
- Jesus subdues human pride.
Ultimately, Christ wants to cure us of pride by helping us empty ourselves and place Him first in everything.
Economist Thomas Sowell once said:
“It is usually futile to talk facts and analysis to people who are enjoying a sense of moral superiority in their ignorance.”
Humility protects us from that danger.
A Call to Prayer and Humility
Scripture instructs us to pray for those in authority:
“I urge that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgivings be made for all people… for kings and all who are in high positions.”
—1 Timothy 2:1–4
Representative Andy Harris noted in the article:
“Prayer isn’t a sign of weakness; it’s a declaration of humility—that our wisdom is limited, our strength is finite, and our hope rests in the hands of a faithful God.”
Prayer reminds us of our dependence on God.
Yet so often people wait until the very last moment to pray—after every other resource has been exhausted.
Why not begin there?
Conclusion
As we close, remember the words of 1 Peter 5:
“God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.”
Peter understood this deeply because he experienced it personally. The man who once denied Jesus was transformed by the Holy Spirit into a humble servant leader.
The same transformation is available to us.
Let us recognize our need for God.
Let us depend fully on Christ.
And let us be willing to become the least, so that Christ alone receives the glory.
