Mega Versus Micros

In Men in Black, Frank the Pug (a dog) scolds the agents, “You humans! When will you learn size doesn’t matter? Just because something’s important doesn’t mean it’s not very small.” Those agents couldn’t believe a universe could be as small as a pendant hanging on a cat’s neck. But it was (of course, fictionally).

One day, Jesus’s disciples engaged in an important discussion – who among them was the greatest (mega). Knowing their dialogue, Jesus took a child, stood him/her in their midst, and said,

“He if he receives this child, in my name, receives me, and by receiving me, he receives him who sent me because he remains the smallest (micro) among you – he is the greatest (mega).” (Luke 9:48)

The way English translations translate this passage gives the impression that Jesus was giving a generic principle – “whoever.” But in Greek, Jesus used “he” (a definite article) and “this one” (a demonstrative pronoun). In other words, Jesus was pointing to a person among the disciples.

Sadly, we are left without a clue of his name without being there and the disciples not telling us who that person was. But we know his identity – a child was given to him (by someone – perhaps an illegitimate child or a poor child), and he was having difficulty accepting that child. But Jesus told him that if he accepted that child, he accepted him and God who sent him. Further, for some reason, the disciples considered him “the least” among them, meaning they didn’t consider him an important disciple. Perhaps because he had an illegitimate child or was small in stature. Whatever it was, Jesus said to him that although everyone thought of him as the least (micro), he didn’t. Jesus considered him the greatest (mega), provided he accepted that child as his own.

Some scholars say as many as 69 million children are orphans today. That’s sad to hear, especially with 2.38 billion Christians worldwide. If half of us will adopt one of those children, there’ll be no orphan children. If we want to be the greatest, the formula is simple: adopt a child. Then, the Lord will see us as the greatest.