DEVOTIOIN - FRIDAY, MARCH 16, 2012

DEVOTION – FRIDAY, MARCH 16, 2012

2010 Holy Land Devotionals

BY

Steve Herman, Richwood UMC, NJ

Read Matthew 18:1-6

¹At that time the disciples came to Jesus and asked, "Who is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven?"

²He called a little child and had him stand among them. ³And he said: "I tell you the truth, unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven. ⁴Therefore, whoever humbles himself like this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven.

⁵"And whoever welcomes a little child like this in my name welcomes me. ⁶But if anyone causes one of these little ones who believe in me to sin, it would be better for him to have a large millstone hung around his neck and to be drowned in the depths of the sea.

The church at Tabgha by the Sea of Galilee has a mosaic of fish and loaves that remind us of the miracle of the feeding of the multitudes. In the courtyard there is an ancient millstone (see picture) that also reminds us of a story from the life of Christ. One day his disciples were arguing about who would be the greatest in the kingdom of heaven. It has been suggested what they were really asking was who was the most insecure, for only an insecure person argues about their greatness. Jesus in his wisdom calls a child into their midst and offers the humble child as an example of greatness in his kingdom. Jesus then says, “Whoever welcomes one such child in my name welcomes me. If any of you put a stumbling block before one of these little ones who believe in me, it would be better for you if a great millstone were fastened around your neck and you were drowned in the depth of the sea.”

When I see this millstone at the sight of the miracle of the feeding of the multitude, I cannot resist the possibilities of combining the two stories. Jesus took the fish and the loaves from a child and fed the multitude (John 6). He also warned of the severity of consequences for anyone who causes a child to stumble in their faith. In both stories a child and God’s love for children are central. Let us look at children in the same way as did Jesus.