Greatest in the Kingdom: Lk 9,37-50
We have four scenes in these verses:
9,37-43 is the healing of the child
9,43b-45 is the 2nd prediction of Jesus' fate
9,46-48 concerns who is the greatest
9,49-50 is about an exorcism.
The theme running through them concerns discipleship and different aspects of being a disciple.
Luke begins by highlighting how Jesus and the disciples came down the mountain and how the special experience on the mountain led straight back into the everyday world (9,37).
There follows an episode with the theme of faith, the reason why the disciples were unable to cast out the demon (9,41). Luke has heavily edited Mark's story of the healing of the child, omitting the discussion with the father (Mk 9,22-24) and now with Jesus giving a simple rebuke to the demon. The implication is that the faith of the disciples was just not strong enough, despite the commission in 9,1.
The prediction of the passion (9,44) does not refer to the resurrection (Mk 9,31). The consequence is a failure to understand by the disciples which is more typical of Mark than Luke. As with Mark (Mk 10,33-34) so with Luke (18,31-34), the two predictions are at the beginning and end of the journey.
Like Mark, this second prediction leads into a discussion among the disciples about who is the greatest. Luke concludes with a comment special to him: "for the least among all of you is the one who is the greatest" (9,48). Another lesson in discipleship.
Yet the final comment is a declaration that discipleship must not be exclusive (9,49-50). This whole section of the ministry in Galilee concludes with the open comment by Jesus: " whoever is not against you is for you."
This seems a suitable moment for Luke to leave Mark's story and begin his account of Jesus's journey to Jerusalem
Back now to the main page so that we can begin following the journey.