Be As Open As a Child

 Mark 9: 30-37

Jesus Again Foretells His Death and Resurrection

³⁰ They went on from there and passed through Galilee. He did not want anyone to know it; ³¹ for he was teaching his disciples, saying to them, “The Son of Man is to be betrayed into human hands, and they will kill him, and three days after being killed, he will rise again.” ³² But they did not understand what he was saying and were afraid to ask him.

Who Is the Greatest?

³³ Then they came to Capernaum; and when he was in the house he asked them, “What were you arguing about on the way?” ³⁴ But they were silent, for on the way they had argued with one another who was the greatest. ³⁵ He sat down, called the twelve, and said to them, “Whoever wants to be first must be last of all and servant of all.” ³⁶ Then he took a little child and put it among them; and taking it in his arms, he said to them, ³⁷ “Whoever welcomes one such child in my name welcomes me, and whoever welcomes me welcomes not me but the one who sent me.”

I took awhile before the apostles understood that Jesus was serious about his predicted suffering and death, as it took time to realize that humility was one of the key virtues he expected of his followers.  Using the example of welcoming a child wholeheartedly and lovingly is the kind of humble welcoming he expects of his followers: a genuine, loving, unselfish acceptance untainted by suspicion, or restraint. It's not easy to be so open in a culture dominated by selfish, "what's-in-it-for-me" attitudes. Children are usually not wired that way, but are genuinely innocent, happy and open to everyone and everything.  May we learn from them.

Bro. Rene