Servant of All

What the Prophets Foretold
Jesus and the Davidic Covenant
From Suffering to Glory

Mark 9:30-37

The Message

^30-32 Leaving there, they went through Galilee. He didn’t want anyone to know their whereabouts, for he wanted to teach his disciples. He told them, “The Son of Man is about to be betrayed to some people who want nothing to do with God. They will murder him. Three days after his murder, he will rise, alive.” They didn’t know what he was talking about, but were afraid to ask him about it.

So You Want First Place?

³³ They came to Capernaum. When he was safe at home, he asked them, “What were you discussing on the road?”

³⁴ The silence was deafening—they had been arguing with one another over who among them was greatest.
³⁵ He sat down and summoned the Twelve. “So you want first place? Then take the last place. Be the servant of all.”
^36-37 He put a child in the middle of the room. Then, cradling the little one in his arms, he said, “Whoever embraces one of these children as I do embraces me, and far more than me—God who sent me.”

For Reflection

Even the disciples didn't get it!  They did not understand that the death and resurrection of Christ would put an end to the common understand of power.  The way was not about power, but rather, control --control of one's self in ways that would avoid being seduced by power, in service to the Kingdom of God and as dependent on God as a child is dependent.  Nurturing as one would nurture a child.

Pray

pray that you will not seek power and position to enhance your vision of who you think you are.  Pray, rather, that you will humble yourself in service to the living God, seeking peace compassion and justice.