Who Is The Greatest?

 

  Mk 9:30-37

Jesus Predicts His Death a Second Time

³⁰ They left that place and passed through Galilee. Jesus did not want anyone to know where they were, ³¹ because he was teaching his disciples. He said to them, “The Son of Man is going to be delivered into the hands of men. They will kill him, and after three days he will rise.” ³² But they did not understand what he meant and were afraid to ask him about it.

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.”

Jesus again predicts the startling news of his impending condemnation and death, but the Apostles "don't get it". Later on we find them arguing about what's really on their minds: who was the greatest among them. Patiently, he tells them that whoever wants to be first must be the last and the servant of all.  As a good teacher, he illustrates his answer with a concrete example. He takes an innocent child into his arms and tells them and us to welcome one another as we would welcome a child into our arms. It seems easy, but when we think of  people who disagree, annoy,or try to control us, we see the challenge. Let's take some time today to examine and reflect on how we relate to people, especially those we find difficult and ask God to help us see and love them as he does.

Bro. Rene

Dear God, open my heart to welcome all who come into my life and love them as my sister or brother. Amen.