Who is the Greatest?

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.”

Mark 9:33-37

29th November 2024: Horsham

First, I want to focus on the argument which had been going on as the disciples walked along the road. When Jesus asked what they had been talking about, they didn’t answer. We’ve seen this response from the disciples before. Maybe this time they were just embarrassed because of what they had been talking about. Perhaps they were anxious of an uncomfortable response from their teacher.

Jesus knew these guys well. He knew exactly what they were talking about.

When he has a lesson to deliver, a rabbi sits down. Jesus sits down.

“Anyone who wants to be first must be the very last, and the servant of all.” v35

In a world where power and strength rule, this is a paradox. ‘These words.. show that the maxims of the world are contrary to the mind of Christ.’ (JC Ryle,   p139). From the perspective of the world the very idea seems upside down. We need to remind ourselves that it is the world, rather than the gospel, which is upside down.

Wanting to be the greatest, wanting to be the best, is a prideful ambition. Jesus discourages pride and encourages humility. Scripture is big on humility. Moses was praised for his humility (Numbers 12:3). ‘What does the Lord require of you?’ asks the prophet Micah? ‘To act justly, love mercy , and walk humbly with God.‘ (Micah 6:8)

“He mocks proud mockers, but shows favour to the humble and oppressed.” Proverbs 3:34

Christ’s whole life is about humility. His attitude is to serve, not to have the place of honour and to be served. Not for nothing is he called the Servant King. Jesus knows that we all suffer from pride, but he encourages his followers to aim for humility.

Children have always been precious to their parents. However, we need to touch base with the fact that in ancient times, the view of small children was significantly different to ours. The risk of infant mortality was very high. Small children were seen as being of little value. The child has no rights. No possessions. They are a mouth to feed, yet they cannot contribute usefully to the family. Their value is lower than that of a servant. In context, pride looks at a child and says ‘this child is of no value at all.‘

I imagine that in the room or the yard in which Jesus was teaching, there may have been a couple of toddlers, playing in the corner. Jesus calls one of them over and sets it on his lap. ‘Look at this child,’ says Jesus, ‘If you welcome one who might seem worthless in my name, you welcome me.’  If we restrict our interpretation to a reaching out to small children we miss the point. Christ, the servant King, is showing us that His way is to look on the one who the world sees as having no value with the deepest compassion and love. In His sight they matter. He directs that the follower of Jesus should welcome them with an open heart.  ‘If you reject one like this,’ he continues, ‘you reject me.’

The End Piece..

‘Let your attitude be as that of Christ.’ Never forget that Christ is the Servant King. Aim to live in humility.

3 Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves, 4 not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of the others. 5 In your relationships with one another, have the same mindset as Christ Jesus:

(Philippians 2:3-5)

Now, just take a walk. Look around you. Look at the people you see or meet. Look for the one who is weak, vulnerable or alone in your town, your school, your workplace, your Church. Jesus says “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.” (v37)