Mark 9:30-41English Standard Version (ESV)
Jesus Again Foretells Death, Resurrection
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.
Who Is the Greatest?
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.”
Anyone Not Against Us Is for Us
38 John said to him, “Teacher, we saw someone casting out demons in your name, and we tried to stop him, because he was not following us.” 39 But Jesus said, “Do not stop him, for no one who does a mighty work in my name will be able soon afterward to speak evil of me. 40 For the one who is not against us is for us. 41 For truly, I say to you, whoever gives you a cup of water to drink because you belong to Christ will by no means lose his reward.
Accompanying John MacArthur sermon: The Virtue of Being Last
Accompanying David Legge sermon: True Greatness
Accompanying Robert Rayburn sermon: Hoping to Be Last
MacArthur notes that this whole passage ties together under the theme of humility.
Jesus starts by speaking again about His death and resurrection. The disciples just can't grasp it. They can't grasp His death because they're expecting a conquering Messiah. And they can't grasp His resurrection, even though they've seen Him raise other people from the dead, because they don't understand where the power to raise the dead will come from if Jesus Himself is dead. And Jesus spares them a bit by not revealing everything to them - just like it is merciful for us not to be able to see the full future. But even though they couldn't understand it now, Jesus' death would the great illustration of humility.
Then Jesus gives the disciples a lesson in humility. MacArthur: Pride is devastating. It devastates others because it destroys unity. It devastates self because it forfeits honor. And it devastates God because it rejects Him when He comes to us in other believers whom we belittle.
Pride is also exclusive, but Jesus reminds His disciples that as long as someone else is a true believer, their methods don't have to be exactly the same as their own. Diversity is good! (Note: He is NOT talking about false teachers here!).
The fear of humility is that if you humble yourself you will lose, but the truth is, it is only when we humble ourselves that we are rewarded.
The greatest way to work on humility is to take our eyes off of ourselves, and focus them on Christ. When we serve Him for His glory, and not our own, we display humility.
Monday's scripture focus: Mark 9:42-50
Sunday's passage: Jeremiah 33-34
Monday's passage: Jeremiah 35-36, Ecclesiastes 7, Hebrews 5
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