Luke 9:46-62

Knowing Their Thoughts

The disciples were arguing about who was the greatest. It’s a safe bet they weren’t deferring to each others saying, “No, really, you are the greatest.” Jesus knew their thoughts. This may have been by revelation, or it may have been by observation. Most anyone paying attention could have figured this out. But Jesus didn’t rebuke them.

In his personal memoirs General William T. Sherman of the Union Army remarks that Abraham Lincoln would often answer a situation with a story that illustrated his answer. Near the end of the Civil War in addressing the question of what to do with Jefferson Davis Mr Lincoln told about a man who swore off drinking. A friend offered him a drink but he refused because of his oath. The friend then offered lemonade which was accepted. The friend then suggested that the lemonade might taste better with a little brandy in it to which the man replied, “It might, but only if I don’t know about it.” Mr Lincoln was saying it would be best if Jefferson Davis escaped, but only if he didn’t know about it.

Jesus took a little child and told them that they had to welcome him in Jesus’ name and become the least in order to be great. Nobody got it. The immediate reply concerned how they had not welcomed a man casting out demons in Jesus’ name. Then they went to a Samaritan village where, because of a slight, they wanted to call down fire upon them. Jesus rebuked them in both cases.

Here’s the real point. God knows our thoughts. Often He will bring object lessons into our lives, often very obvious ones, to help adjust our thinking. We are usually about as oblivious to these lessons as the disciples. Today, look for lessons.