READ: Mark 9:30-37
Then He took a little child and set him in the midst of them. And when He had taken him in His arms, He said to them, “Whoever receives one of these little children in My name receives Me; and whoever receives Me, receives not Me but Him who sent Me.” – Mark 9:36,37
The disciples receive special teaching. Jesus chooses a quiet place where the crowd does not follow Him. He wants His message to sink in so that they will remember it after His resurrection.
Now, for the second time, they hear from Him that He will die and rise again. The disciples still do not understand it. They can’t make sense of it. But they dare not inquire further with Jesus. Perhaps they are afraid of a similar reaction from Jesus as after the first announcement to Peter. Their thoughts are more focused on His kingdom, where He reigns. Dying doesn’t fit into that. Didn’t He just say, “The kingdom of God will come with power” (9:1)?
They are so preoccupied with this in a human way that they even argue about who among them will be the greatest in that kingdom. Who will have a place of honor beside Jesus. This blocks them from accepting Jesus’ message of His death. Jesus knows their hearts and says that whoever wants to be the greatest in the kingdom must be willing to serve everyone as the least. God regards the humble, not the proud!
Jesus doesn’t rebuke His disciples but patiently instructs them by placing a child in their midst. He takes that child in His arms, tender and protective. Then He points out to the disciples that they should care for the humble in the same way and welcome them in His name. If they humbly and compassionately care for the children who belong to Jesus, they can expect the blessing of Christ, in whose name they do their work.
How important is it for you to be important?
Singing: Ps. 25:4