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March 13/14 – Mark 9:30-50

Jesus called [the disciples] together and said, “You know that the rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and their high officials exercise authority over them. Not so with you. Instead, whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant, and whoever wants to be first must be your slave—just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.” ~ Matthew 20:25-28 (NIV)


Jesus’ way is not the world’s way. For Him, the way up is the way down—only through service and humility do you become great in His Kingdom. His death on the cross is the ultimate example of this; He gave up His life, tortured and exposed like a criminal, so that God’s beloved children might live. And because He humbled Himself in this way, the Father “exalted him to the highest place and gave him the name that is above every name…” (Philippians 2:9).


As His followers, we must take this lesson to heart. We are being conformed to the image of Christ (see Romans 8:29), so like Him, we should become loving servants. In today’s passage, the disciples still had not learned this lesson. After Jesus explains (for a second time) that He would die and rise again, they begin arguing about who among them is greatest (v. 34). Though they don’t understand Jesus’ teaching on His death, they don’t bother to ask Him about it because they don’t want to admit they don’t understand. So, they are proud as well as ambitious. (They are also insensitive to Jesus’ pain because they don’t seem to notice the gravity of what Jesus has just shared about His death.)


Rather than become frustrated with them, Jesus simply asks what they were arguing about. They remain silent because they are embarrassed by their pride, but Jesus already knows their topic. He just wants them to notice how it would feel to admit to it. Instead of reprimanding them, though, Jesus takes this opportunity to teach them a lesson: “Anyone who wants to be first must be the very last, and the servant of all” (v. 35). The way up is the way down. And welcoming a child—an innocent who cannot offer you anything but gratitude—is the way to welcome God (v. 37). Worldly people welcome those who can help them get ahead, those who can give them something valuable in return. Followers of Christ welcome the children, the poor, the widows, the outcasts… This is the way to be great in the Kingdom.


The disciples’ lesson in Christlike living continues as John tells Jesus that they stopped a man from casting out demons in Jesus’ name “because he was not one of [them]” (v. 38). But Jesus lets them know that anyone who does something for His Kingdom is part of it and will be rewarded. His Kingdom is not an exclusive club—it is wide open for all who would accept Him and enter it. His love extends to all who will receive it, and that love is a saving love.


Without Christ, we perish. We are lost. He saves us from hell. The rest of this passage is about the frightening alternative to choosing Christ because, while there are those who are working for the Kingdom, there are also those who work against it. They try to cause “little ones [Jesus’ children] to stumble” (v. 42). And they will be lost because of their hardness of heart. Jesus then goes on to stress how important it is to enter the Kingdom. The images of physical mutilation are graphic, but they are meant to show how crucial it is to enter the life God offers us through Christ. And the amputation of hands, feet, and eyes is symbolic of spiritual surgery. We must amputate the worldly ambitions and sinful desires of this world as the Spirit conforms us to Christ’s image, for loving servants know that the way to be great in the Kingdom is through service and humility. In this way, we become salt—we bring the flavor and purity of the Kingdom to the world and peace to our churches (v. 50).


As you go before the Lord today, share your gratitude with Him for humbling Himself and becoming obedient to death on the cross—for you. Ask how you can become a better reflection of His humility and obedience to others. And offer your heart up for any “spiritual surgery” the Holy Spirit would like to do. You are His beloved child, and you can trust Him to work in and through you. You are included in the Kingdom. He wants you to joyfully enter it—made new in His image.

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My name is Melissa Anderson. I'm a spiritual director and ordained pastor who loves God, people, and words. You can read more about me by clicking the button below.

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