Article for September 15, 2024
Mark 9:30–34 30[The disciples] went on from there and passed through Galilee. And [Jesus] did not want anyone to know, 31for 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.” 32But they did not understand the saying and were afraid to ask him. 33And they came to Capernaum. And when he was in the house, he asked them, “What were you discussing on the way?” 34But they kept silent, for on the way they had argued with one another about who was the greatest.
Who is the greatest among us? This should be a fun debate. Which of us in this room is the greatest? What qualifications do you perceive to be the right definition of one who is great, or at least the one in this room who is great? Please, as you look around do not put that label on me. I don’t want to be the greatest, I want Jesus Christ to be the greatest among us.
Some of you because you sit in a pew and believe this is a sermon about Jesus would say’ Jesus.” You look for the answer you think I want to hear. But what if you were sitting elsewhere in a group that had nothing to do with church, God, or even listening to a sermon? What would your answer be in that situation?
Actually, the question is whom do you think is the greatest among us not counting Jesus? Could you select one, would you select one? You might answer no one, unless you were in a different setting not dealing with God, our congregation, or a sermon you are trying to keep up with.
You would think that the disciples’ discussion would have been on what they just heard Jesus tell them. Jesus said He will be delivered up to be killed on a criminal’s cross. That’s kind of a startling statement, isn’t it? The disciples seem to brush off this revelation that their leader who declares to them that He would be taken away and killed. Instead, they argue about who would be the greatest among them. People are sinful and we all want to be the greatest.
John, “I’m the greatest because I am the closest to Jesus.” Peter, “not so, I’m the greatest because I am the rock.” James and John, the sons of Zebedee, “our mother is going to asked Jesus if we could sit one at His right, and one at His left, so we should be the greatest.” And all in one voice, “I don’t think so.” And what did Judas say? I might not be famous, but I’ll sure be infamous. Most likely Judas just kept silent. Thomas might have said, “I’m the greatest because I question everything. And Nathanael might have said, “I’m the greatest because Jesus said,” Behold an Israelite indeed, in whom there is no deceit!””
Did Jesus ask what they were talking about just maybe to shut them up? I could almost see Jesus asking His Father, and why again did I pick these as the twelve?” He just told them of His pending demise as a man to be crucified and of the good news of His resurrection.
Nevertheless, they all want to argue about who’s the greatest among them. Maybe they were trying to avoid the embarrassment of not understanding Jesus. I’m not sure what would be less embarrassing, not understanding, or being told they’re foolish to fight over who’s the greatest.
Mark 9:35–37 35And 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.” 36And 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.”
In essence Jesus, told them that He was the greatest among them. If anyone would be first, then they should be last. Jesus who made Himself last as He took upon His shoulders all our sin. If anyone would be first, he would be the servant of all. Who can say they are a servant to all except Jesus Christ. Jesus who not only bore all sin but also died for all sin to set us free of the bonds of punishment. We are convicted by the law because law demands death for all sin.
Christ serves us all through suffering and dying on the cross to bring us forgiveness, which is the mercy, grace, and love of God for all believers. So, Jesus becomes first when He is the first to be raised from the dead and begin a new life in the new heavens and earth.
Christ had answered the confusion of the apostles, and who was greatest among them. Christ is greatest among all. Then Christ shows us those whom He serves, the children of God. We are the children of God whom Christ served on the cross. Amen.
Written by Pastor Curtis May
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