No Jesus didn’t pull his disciples into him like Scorpion pulls in his victims…but he wasn’t far off.

I have read this verse time and again, I have always heard or thought the purpose of the verse was simply talking about humility and being humble…you know the way of the kingdom.

It is and it isn’t. I think…I think this is one of those stories that is simple and beautiful and often missed because we are looking for something more.

Jesus is sitting with his disciples and they are discussing the kingdom and “who is the greatest in the kingdom”. You know that Matthew softened this right? He was part of the conversation…it was a group of Jesus’ followers and they wanted nothing more than to debate and get ahead of the others around them…it was about positioning themselves.

Remember me Jesus…I did XYZ

Remember my contribution to the kingdom…I talked to ABC

Don’t forget about that time….

Yeah but you know you also said this….

True but he did that….

Discussion. Debate. Deliberation. Diluted…they missed it.

In the midst of this conversation, I imagine Jesus looking around and shaking his head in frustration. It seems that the disciples missed the point more often than not and it was time for another lesson; he had to make this simple and he had to make this sting…

In the midst of the noise, Jesus looks up and “Hey child, come here for a moment.” And the child came…

I think THAT is the point of this verse…Jesus called and the child answered. No pomp. No circumstance. No debate. No discussion. No doubt, fear, hesitation, second guessing, or questions. It was simply this - Jesus called and the child answered. Period.

And THAT my friends is what greatness in the kingdom looks like - the faith of a child, the humility of a child, a simple response to a simple request.

When Jesus calls, do I answer? Or do I continue to discuss, debate, deliberate and dilute the experience with my own pomp and circumstance? Do I make the call about me?

The answer - often, more often than I care to admit, I make the call about me and miss the point of the call altogether. Jesus is calling out - get over here and he is patiently waiting for us to respond with the faith of a child.