Which Of His Disciples Is The Greatest?

Church History: Which Of His Disciples Is The Greatest? Luke 9:43-50; Matthew 18:2-5; Mark 9:33-38
It is hard to understand, that when our blessed Savior spoke so frequently with his disciples about his sufferings, that they should at the same time be disputing among themselves about precedence and pre-eminency, which of them should be the greatest, the first in place, and the highest in dignity and honor.
But from this instance we may learn, that the holiest and best of men are too prone to ambition, ready to catch at the bait of honor, to affect a precedence before, and superiority over others. Here the apostles themselves were touched with the itch of ambition; to cure this, our Savior sets before them a little child, as the proper emblem of humility; showing that they ought to be as free from pride and ambition as a young child.
What greater honor can any man attain to in this world, than to be received by men as a messenger of God and Christ; and to have God and Christ own themselves received and welcomed in him! If ever any society of Christians in this world, had reason to silence those not of their own communion, the twelve disciples at this time had; yet Christ warned them not to do it again. Those may be found faithful followers of Christ, and may be accepted of him, who do not follow with us.
What does it mean to become as little children?
1. Little children know not what dominion means, and therefore affect it not, are not ambitious.
2. They are not given to boast and glory, and to prefer themselves before others.
3. They are ready to be taught and instructed.
4. They live upon their fathers' providence, and are not over solicitous.
5. They are not malicious and vindictive. In malice (saith the apostle) be ye children.
If you are not therefore, like little children, you will be so far from being the greatest in the kingdom of God that you will never get there at all.
So this text teaches us:
1. The necessity of humility.
2. That even converted souls have need of a daily conversion. Sanctification is a process which will not be completed till we die.
3. How abominable in the eyes of God ambition and pride are in any of us, especially in ministers of the gospel.
4. That in the church the way to be great is to be humble.
5. That true humility lies in a mean opinion of ourselves, not minding high things, condescending to men of low estate, not being wise in our own conceits, Romans 12:16; in honor preferring one another, Romans 12:10.
The claim of the Catholic Church for the supremacy of the pope, rests in a great measure on the alleged official supremacy of Peter over the other apostles, the Roman pontiff, being considered his successor. But these verses indicate that no such preeminence of any one of their number was understood by the apostles themselves.