Mark 9:30-37 NIV
30 They left that place and
passed through Galilee. Jesus did not want anyone to know where they were, 31 because
he was teaching his disciples. He said to them, “The Son
of Man is going to be delivered into the hands of men. They will kill
him, and after three days he will rise.” 32 But
they did not understand what he meant and were afraid to ask him about it.
33 They came to
Capernaum. When he was in the house, he asked them, “What were
you arguing about on the road?” 34 But
they kept quiet because on the way they had argued about who was the greatest.
35 Sitting down, Jesus called
the Twelve and said, “Anyone who wants to be
first must be the very last, and the servant of all.”
36 He took a little child
whom he placed among them. Taking the child in his arms, he said to them, 37 “Whoever
welcomes one of these little children in my name welcomes me; and whoever
welcomes me does not welcome me but the one who sent me.”
Get Over Yourself!
In this passage of Scripture, begins the final trip south, for Jesus and
His disciples, to Jerusalem and the passion, suffering, death and the
resurrection of Jesus. Jesus has now told his disciples five times that He
would be killed and rise from the dead. And the disciples don’t seem to get it.
I think you and I, many times, fall into the same group of people that really
don’t get it.
Why don’t the disciples get it? Why don’t we, at times, seem to get it? I
think we all fall into the same trap that has been set since the Fall of Man in
the Garden of Eden.
We don’t get it. We don’t get Jesus. Why? We are convicted by the Law
here. We, and I’m making a call here to include all mankind, but can really
only speak for myself; we think, way too much about upward prestige and power.
We think, like the disciples, here, about the greatest. But, look at Jesus! As
Jesus tells the disciples in the beginning of this passage, of his suffering,
death and resurrection; Jesus gives Himself up to die and rise again. And that’s
NOT the Jesus we want!
We look for a Jesus that is an inspiring example of worldly success. We
attempt to avoid death on the cross and go around the entire suffering and
death stuff, for Jesus, and for ourselves.
So, when we hear the words of Jesus that He will die, fear enters our
thoughts. This death stuff is just a step too far. Yet, God calls us to accept
the cross as part of life. Doesn’t seem to make much sense, does it? Laying
down our life to sacrifice, we lay down our selfish desire of prestige and
greatness, honor and glory. And add to that, we lay down our “greatness” FOR
the “other!” How will this action satisfy our desire to be the greatest?
So, are we too afraid to ask Jesus what He really means about being
delivered to the hands of men that will cause His own torture, suffering and
death? Maybe so, but the resurrection part, by this fear, passes right in one
side of my ears and out the other. I can’t even hear, let alone, fully
understand this horrible prophecy of Jesus. Yes, I’m convicted of letting my
selfishness, and my own sin, get in the way of Jesus message here.
It's easy to fall into confusion and fear, when an important message,
that strikes just the opposite of what you expect is honestly told to you.
Especially when your mind is occupied upon yourself.
The disciples, I think, were afraid to ask Jesus what He means of His
suffering and death. After all, they had the political power of themselves on their
mind at the time.
Who IS greatest? This is a BIG, yet tragic question for mankind and man
individually throughout all time.
Hear these words of Jesus…
Matthew 6:25 NIV
25 “Therefore I tell you, do
not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body,
what you will wear. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothes?
Is our core concern
for ourself? Are we all infected with selfishness?
Hear these words of
Jesus…
Matthew 6:32 NIV
32 For the pagans run after all
these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them.
What are we really
talking to one another about in life? Is it ourselves and our own needs and
desires?
Or maybe, we too,
like the disciples, are talking about, which one of us is the greatest?
Pride is a huge sin.
But Jesus teaches us that it’s humility that God wants for the fruit we are to
bear in our life. Pride is the deformity of the devil. Pride is the gift the
devil gave us in the Garden of Eden, and now throughout time.
Greatness?
Let’s skip ahead and
hear these words of Jesus, about “greatness.”
Mark 10:43-44 NIV
43 Not so with you. Instead,
whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant, 44 and
whoever wants to be first must be slave of all.
This “Greatness” is
in the Kingdom of God. And, to be in that Kingdom of God, we are turned into “little
children.” And to be a Child of God we are given the free gift of Baptism by
God. Now as a little child of God, we can’t do one speck of one little thing to
earn our Baptism. We can’t even walk down the aisle to receive our baptism. God
comes to us and takes us in to Himself, in the name of the Father, Son and Holy
Spirit. God provides just what we need. Even as we are little children, or are
like a little child, helpless in the arms of Jesus. In Baptism, God forgives us
and delivers us from death and the devil, and gives everlasting life to all who
believe what God promises. God gives the gift and develops the faith we need to
believe. Nothing of this is of our own effort.
You see, in baptism,
my life is NOT about me! It’s all turned topsy turvy.
What? You mean, to
be great, or first, we must be last, least, and servant of all?
Stop! Serving is to
be the normal thing? Not rank, power, prestige or greatness?
That’s the message
and hard teaching of Jesus here. Become a servant of ALL. Become a slave to
ALL. Society is reversed in this teaching of Jesus.
We are called to be
slaves or servants, the lowliest and least respected people in the society in
which we live in this world of the here and now.
Yes! Forget yourself.
Give yourself to someone that is no benefit to yourself.
The charity of
humility rules out your own greatness and personal ambition of pride and
prestige and power.
Stop and think, what
did Jesus do?
Jesus welcomes ALL
people to Himself in what He did in His suffering, death and resurrection.
Only those who
accept the powerless and vulnerable, will receive Jesus… God… AND… must become
a child to enter God’s Kingdom.
And there we are
again. The greatest achievement is to receive the least as the most and to
serve. Yes, as I “Point To Jesus,” This IS the Greatest. This IS Jesus. Follow
Him and learn from His teaching.
After all we stand
in need ourselves. We NEED God’s protection. We NEED God’s grace and love. We
NEED God’s help, as a Child of God, we NEED God. So, follow Jesus… today…
tomorrow… and forever. --- Amen
I invite you to listen to this YouTube music video that inspired me during the writing of this reflection.
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