What Jesus Did

[After being asked who is greatest in the Kingdom,] Jesus called a little child to him and put the child among them. Then he said, "I tell you the truth, unless you turn from your sins and become like little children, you will never get into the Kingdom of Heaven. So anyone who becomes as humble as this little child is the greatest in the Kingdom of Heaven.

—Matthew 18:2-4 NLT

Key Thought​

Without being syrupy or sappy, Jesus' words hit us like a cold slap in the face. "Unless...

 

About that time the disciples came to Jesus and asked, "Who is greatest in the Kingdom of Heaven?"

—Matthew 18:1 NLT

Key Thought​

In our dreams as children, we are the greatest. In our professions, we may entertain illusions of our greatness. Even when we approach what is greatness in the eyes of others, we know that we have not arrived and we may dream of even greater things to do and greater heights to climb.

The longing for greatness is a strong motivator. But Jesus said...

 

On [Jesus and the disciples'] arrival in Capernaum, the collectors of the Temple tax came to Peter and asked him, "Doesn't your teacher pay the Temple tax?"

"Yes, he does," Peter replied. Then he went into the house.

But before he had a chance to speak, Jesus asked him, "What do you think, Peter? Do kings tax their own people or the people they have conquered?"

"They tax the people they have conquered," Peter replied.

"Well, then," Jesus said, "the citizens are free! However, we don't...

 

After [Jesus and the disciples] gathered again in Galilee, Jesus told them, "The Son of Man is going to be betrayed into the hands of his enemies. He will be killed, but on the third day he will be raised from the dead." And the disciples were filled with grief.

—Matthew 17:22-23 NLT

Key Thought​

Spiritual truth is in short supply in our era of politically correct speech, carefully crafted answers, and plain old stretching and hedging the truth. Jesus, however, is very plain...

 

Afterward the disciples asked Jesus privately, "Why couldn't we cast out that demon?"
"You don't have enough faith," Jesus told them. "I tell you the truth, if you had faith even as small as a mustard seed, you could say to this mountain, 'Move from here to there,' and it would move. Nothing would be impossible."


—Matthew 17:19-20 NLT

Key Thought​

Small mindedness is pretty bad, but small faith is much worse. Small mindedness keeps us from seeing the grandeur, the expanse...

 

At the foot of the mountain [after the Transfiguration], a large crowd was waiting for [Jesus and the disciples]. A man came and knelt before Jesus and said, "Lord, have mercy on my son. He has seizures and suffers terribly. He often falls into the fire or into the water. So I brought him to your disciples, but they couldn't heal him."
Jesus said, "You faithless and corrupt people! How long must I be with you? How long must I put up with you? Bring the boy here to me." Then Jesus rebuked...

 

Then [Jesus'] disciples asked him, "Why do the teachers of religious law insist that Elijah must return before the Messiah comes?"
Jesus replied, "Elijah is indeed coming first to get everything ready. But I tell you, Elijah has already come, but he wasn't recognized, and they chose to abuse him. And in the same way they will also make the Son of Man suffer." Then the disciples realized he was talking about John the Baptist.


—Matthew 17:10-13 NLT

Key Thought​

The great Old...

 

As [Jesus, Peter, James, and John] went back down the mountain [after the Transfiguration], Jesus commanded them, "Don't tell anyone what you have seen until the Son of Man has been raised from the dead."

—Matthew 17:9 NLT

Key Thought​

Once again, Jesus cautions his disciples about not sharing what they have seen until they have the key to telling this incredible truth!

How can they explain what they have seen? They don't even understand it themselves. Like so many things...

 

As [Peter, James, and John] watched, Jesus' appearance was transformed so that his face shone like the sun, and his clothes became as white as light. Suddenly, Moses and Elijah appeared and began talking with Jesus.

Peter exclaimed, "Lord, it's wonderful for us to be here! If you want, I'll make three shelters as memorials — one for you, one for Moses, and one for Elijah."

But even as he spoke, a bright cloud overshadowed them, and a voice from the cloud said, "This is my dearly loved Son...

 

Six days later Jesus took Peter and the two brothers, James and John, and led them up a high mountain to be alone.

—Matthew 17:1 NLT

Key Thought​

Soul mates. Bosom buddies. Accountability group. No matter what you call it, we all need it. Jesus clearly had a closer relationship with Peter, James, and John than he did with the other apostles. He invested himself more in them. He revealed more of himself to them. They became the key leaders of the disciples when Jesus returned to...