Most of us know someone who always wants to be the head, the leader, the “top dog” in the group. This is particularly seen in the office. Though ambition is sometimes good, these folks go overboard. Their ambition knows no bounds. We all know people who also want to be the center of attention. They aren’t content to be just one of the group. They want the spotlight always on them. Neither person shows much, if any, humility. They want to be on top, front and center. In our Gospel reading today from the Gospel of Mark, Jesus responds to some of the disciples who wanted to be considered the greatest. Let’s look at our Scripture and see what the Lord can teach us.
As our passage opens, Jesus and His disciples are making their way south through Galilee, on towards Jerusalem. This will be His final journey into Jerusalem, for Jesus knows that this time He will be betrayed and crucified. Jesus wanted this time to be a separate time, just Him and His disciples, so that He could teach them privately about the crucifixion, and His sacrifice for sin (vs. 30-32). However, every time Jesus spoke to them about His approaching death, His words did not sink in. Their eyes and ears were closed to what Jesus was saying. When His crucifixion, and then later the resurrection happened, they were all surprised, as if they had never heard anything about it. Are there some lessons that the Lord is trying to teach you, but the message just doesn’t seem to sink in? We need to be open and really listen to His Words to us.
Instead of listening to what Jesus was teaching, the disciples were instead arguing among themselves as to which of them were the greatest (vs. 33-34). Not only weren’t they paying attention to what Jesus was trying to teach them at that moment, but they hadn’t really learned or applied any of His teachings on humility, or considered patterning their behavior to His example.
Having some personal ambition isn’t wrong in and of itself. Making goals to better oneself is not wrong. There is nothing wrong with getting a job within a company, and then desiring and seeking to advance to a better or more important position. That is normal. However, if we do that at the expense of others and treat others wrong, or seek to lord our promotion over others, that is when there is a problem. What is important is God’s Kingdom, along with humility and service to others. In God’s Kingdom, those who lord themselves or their positions over others are not considered great. Rather, God considers the greatest those who humbly serve others.
Jesus knew, without even needing to ask, exactly what the others were arguing about. In response, He proceeded to tell the disciples that if they wanted to be considered great in God’s Kingdom, they need to be a servant to the others, to not seek to be the head, but rather show lowly humility (vs. 35). Do simple, humble acts that show compassion towards other people, acts which display the character of Jesus Christ. Do acts of service that are not done for personal gain, but are done out of an overflow of His love in us, and are done for His glory, not our own.
Jesus then took a little child and stood him in the middle of the group. In that day children were the lowest on the totem pole. They were considered second or third class citizens, and had no rights like they do today. Yet Jesus, the Son of God, received them, showing them love and care (vs. 36-37), and He wants His followers to do the same.
Jesus is our perfect example of humility and service, rather than pomp and grandeur. He left His throne of glory in heaven to come to earth, live a humble life, and die a tortuous death on the cross. Even on His last night before His death, Jesus took the role of the humblest of servants, and on His knees He washed the disciples feet (John 13:1-17). Rather than insisting on being treated as the greatest, which the disciples were doing, Jesus became our servant. With Him as our example, we should do the same.
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