Greatness Like Jesus

Receiving God

(Mark 9:30-37, Preaching: Pastor Stephen Magee, June 9, 2019)

[30] They went on from there and passed through Galilee. And he did not want anyone to know, [31] for he was teaching his disciples, saying to them, “The Son of Man is going to be delivered into the hands of men, and they will kill him. And when he is killed, after three days he will rise.” [32] But they did not understand the saying, and were afraid to ask him.

[33] And they came to Capernaum. And when he was in the house he asked them, “What were you discussing on the way?” [34] But they kept silent, for on the way they had argued with one another about who was the greatest. [35] And he sat down and called the twelve. And he said to them, “If anyone would be first, he must be last of all and servant of all.” [36] And he took a child and put him in the midst of them, and taking him in his arms, he said to them, [37] “Whoever receives one such child in my name receives me, and whoever receives me, receives not me but him who sent me.”

What will happen to the Son of Man?

Jesus said some things to his disciples that he did not explain to the general crowds. In particular, in today's passage he repeated what he had said to them on an earlier occasion regarding his suffering, death, and resurrection.

Calling himself by the messianic title of “Son of Man,” Jesus first said that he was going to be “delivered into the hands of men.” The central idea contained in this phrase is betrayal. Jesus did not say that he would be captured by his enemies without the involvement of any of his disciples. Nor did he say that he would voluntarily turn himself over to the Jewish and Gentile authorities. He would be handed over to those who hated him by one of his own associates. To submit to this was an act of service.

Jesus also asserted that the men who would gain control of him as a result of this sad betrayal would kill him. Again, this was not a prophesy that he would be harassed and then released, or alternatively that no one would trouble him at all. The prediction was very specific: “They will kill him.” Once more, a supreme gift of suffering love for us.

Even more surprisingly, the “Son of Man,” after he was killed, and after the passage of some period of three days (Friday night, all day Saturday, and very early Sunday morning) would “rise” from the dead. This was, of course, a shocking prophecy. A person could perhaps get himself killed, but no one, after being dead for days, can fulfill his own plan to rise from mortal death to the new condition of immortal life. That was impossible. Jesus spoke these words by faith, and his resurrection was his vindication.

The disciples: confused, afraid to ask, and seeking their own greatness

We are told that, for the second time now, the disciples did not understand what Jesus was plainly seeing. Furthermore, they were intimidated by him or overwhelmed by the situation, and they “were afraid to ask him.”

They walked on through the region of Galilee until they came to the Sea of Galilee, and to Capernaum, the small town at the very northern tip of that body of water where Jesus and some of his friends had a simple place they called home.

Since Jesus knew what was on their minds, he was able to question about their recent private conversation on the road to Capernaum. They kept silent despite his inquiries, because they knew that the Master would not approve of their discussion topic: “On the way they had argued with one another about who was the greatest.” Their silence was an indictment against them showing that they knew that this was not the Jesus way of life.

Want to be first? Want to receive God? Be a servant of all.

So how did our Lord handle this disappointing situation? He taught his close circle the truth—honestly, patiently, and lovingly.

First he gave them the general principle that should govern the church in every age: “If anyone would be first, he must be last of all and servant of all.” Christians are called to follow Jesus. That means sacrificial service. Why would this surprise anyone?

But we are slow to pick up on this. We still assume that our association with Jesus is for our own immediate comfort and happiness—for our goals, rather than for his eternal glory and our good as he defines it and according to his own perfect timing.

To help the disciples eventually get the point, which they would later remember when they communicated the gospel including this story, he “took a child and put him in the midst of them.” What was he doing? We have to pay close attention to the general point we just discovered about service, and then look again at what he says about the child that he takes in his arms.

Jesus said, “Whoever receives one such child in my name receives me.” What does it mean to “receive” a child in Jesus' name? When you look into the eyes of a child who needs your help and protection and you see Jesus, you have entered upon holy ground. Marriage and family life are wonderful opportunities to fulfill the words of the Lord.

We give our lives for a spouse, a child, a grandchild, or a friend, and we serve the Lord who served us through his life and death. When we serve him, we serve the Father who sent the Son. But what if all we see is our own grievances for our troubles rather than the opportunity to love and serve? We need a better perspective (See Job 19:23-27)

The providence of God is full of opportunities for us to learn to serve with joy. This is not just for those who are married and who have little ones like the child Jesus embraced in front of the disciples. Single men and women are called to be disciples too. We can be strengthened by God's word to Jeremiah's scribe so long ago when he was so tempted to feel sorry for himself in Jeremiah 45:5 “And do you seek great things for yourself? Seek them not, for behold, I am bringing disaster upon all flesh, declares the LORD. But I will give you your life as a prize of war in all places to which you may go.”

The truth about what would happen to Jesus was shocking and confusing to his disciples. They were still thinking that it made sense to seek their own greatness first. The Lord took a child in his arms and showed them a new way of winning. The gospel of the death and resurrection of Jesus has ministry implications for his followers. But will we listen to the Son of God? Will we receive God?

Remember the point of the Transfiguration: “This is my beloved Son. Listen to him.”

Old Testament Reading—Psalm 112 – The generation of the upright

New Testament Reading—James 4:11-12 – One lawgiver and judge