Day 12 of Journey through Mark: SERVANTS OF ALL

COMMENTARY Today, Jesus continues to teach His disciples what it means for Him to be the Messiah, and just as we’ve seen in the past, His disciples are confused by His message. Their confusion takes on a variety of forms. One way it manifests itself is through an argument they have among themselves on the road. After hearing Jesus make another prediction of His death, they get into an argument over who among them is the “greatest” (Mark 9:34). This argument might have been provoked by Jesus inviting Peter, James, and John to witness His transfiguration (Mark 9:2). It almost certainly was grounded in a belief that the kingdom of God would have a rank and file hierarchy like the kingdoms of this world (Mark 10:35-37). Jesus responds to their argument in two ways. First, He teaches them about the upside-down nature of His kingdom. In Mark 9:35, Jesus says, “Anyone who wants to be first must be the very last, and the servant of all.” In Jewish society, the word translated here as “first” referred to those who had “leading” roles in society (e.g., Mark 6:21). By teaching that those who aspire to be “first” (i.e., leaders) should take the position of those who usually come “last” (i.e., servants), Jesus flipped the social structures of the day on their head. In the kingdom of God, being a leader looks like being a servant. Second, Jesus responds to them by embracing a “child in his arms” (Mark 9:36). This might seem like an endearing gesture to us, but in Jesus’ day, it would have been radical for a person of Jesus’ prominence to embrace a child that wasn’t His. At that time, children had little to no status. Socializing with them was thought to be detrimental to one’s well-being. One rabbi even compared “chatting with children” to “drinking wine at noon.” By welcoming a child into His arms, Jesus symbolically conveyed yet again that the kingdom of God knows no class distinctions. The kingdom of God welcomes those who are rejected because Jesus Himself was also rejected (Mark 8:31; 9:12; 37, 12:10). On this side of the cross, it can be easy for us to wonder how the disciples could be so confused about Jesus. Look at our culture. We have our own titles, ranks, honors, and hierarchies. Just like the disciples, it can be easy for us to misconstrue what life is like in the kingdom of God. Like the disciples, we desperately try to climb the social ladder. For what? If we want to live lives that really, truly matter, we have to live as Jesus did, embracing people regardless of status and being servants of all. SCRIPTURE MARK 9:14–9:50 JESUS HEALS A BOY POSSESSED BY AN IMPURE SPIRIT 14 When they came to the other disciples, they saw a large crowd around them and the teachers of the law arguing with them. 15 As soon as all the people saw Jesus, they were overwhelmed with wonder and ran to greet him. 16 “What are you arguing with them about?” he asked. 17 A man in the crowd answered, “Teacher, I brought you my son, who is possessed by a spirit that has robbed him of speech. 18 When- ever it seizes him, it throws him to the ground. He foams at the mouth, gnashes his teeth and becomes rigid. I asked your disciples to drive out the spirit, but they could not.” 19 “You unbelieving generation,” Jesus replied, “how long shall I stay with you? How long shall I put up with you? Bring the boy to me.” 20 So they brought him. When the spirit saw Jesus, it immediately threw the boy into a convulsion. He fell to the ground and rolled around, foaming at the mouth. 21 Jesus asked the boy’s father, “How long has he been like this?” “From childhood,” he answered. 22 “It has often thrown him into fire or water to kill him. But if you can do anything, take pity on us and help us.” 23 “ ‘If you can’?” said Jesus. “Everything is possible for one who believes.” 24 Immediately the boy’s father exclaimed, “I do believe; help me overcome my unbelief!” 25 When Jesus saw that a crowd was running to the scene, he rebuked the impure spirit. “You deaf and mute spirit,” he said, “I com- mand you, come out of him and never enter him again.” 26 The spirit shrieked, convulsed him violently and came out. The boy looked so much like a corpse that many said, “He’s dead.” 27 But Jesus took him by the hand and lifted him to his feet, and he stood up. 28 After Jesus had gone indoors, his disciples asked him privately, “Why couldn’t we drive it out?” 29 He replied, “This kind can come out only by prayer.” 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.” WHOEVER IS NOT AGAINST US IS FOR US 38 “Teacher,” said John, “we saw someone driving out demons in your name and we told him to stop, because he was not one of us.” 39 “Do not stop him,” Jesus said. “For no one who does a miracle in my name can in the next moment say anything bad about me, 40 for whoever is not against us is for us. 41 Truly I tell you, anyone who gives you a cup of water in my name because you belong to the Messiah will certainly not lose their reward. CAUSING TO STUMBLE 42 “If anyone causes one of these little ones— those who believe in me—to stumble, it would be better for them if a large millstone were hung around their neck and they were thrown into the sea. 43 If your hand causes you to stumble, cut it off. It is better for you to enter life maimed than with two hands to go into hell, where the fire never goes out. [44] 45 And if your foot causes you to stumble, cut it off. It is better for you to enter life crippled than to have two feet and be thrown into hell. [46] 47 And if your eye causes you to stumble, pluck it out. It is better for you to enter the kingdom of God with one eye than to have two eyes and be thrown into hell, 48 where“ ‘the worms that eat them do not die, and the fire is not quenched.’ 49 Everyone will be salted with fire. 50 “Salt is good, but if it loses its saltiness, how can you make it salty again? Have salt among yourselves, and be at peace with each other.” REFLECTION 1. In Mark 9:24, the father of the suffering boy desperately cries, “I do believe; help me overcome my unbelief.” This plea reflects a great truth about faith: we can still believe even when we don’t have it all figured out. What is the status of your faith today? How do you need help through unbelief? 2. Today’s reading ends with a collection of strong warnings about wrongdoing. These warnings are hyperbolic. Jesus doesn’t mean that we should actually lop off limbs or stab out our eyes if we struggle with sin. After all, sin has its roots in the heart (Mark 7:21-23). But Jesus does intend that we understand the gravity of sin and take action to repent when we’re in the wrong. What wrongdoing do you personally struggle with? What steps can you take to help you through your struggles?