Mark 9:35-37 35And after he sat down he called the twelve and said to them, “If anyone wants to be first, he must be last of all and servant of all.” 36And taking a child he stood him in the middle of them, and hugging him, he said to them, 37“Whoever welcomes such children in my name welcomes me, and whoever welcomes me does not welcome me but the one who sent me.”
Jesus called his disciples together for huddle to give them the timeless truth of what it means to follow him. They were arguing over the pecking order of importance and had missed what he meant by walking the road of commitment to the cross. His statement reveals the paradox of kingdom living. Nothing stands in more contrast to the way of the world as his statement about serving others.
The highest value of the world is summarized in the phrase “survival of the fittest.” We are taught to be competitive from our youngest days. We are born with hands that grasp and cry “mine.” This innate instinct is not necessarily bad because it helps us to thrive and develop, but the problem is when it is combined with a fallen human nature of sin. The outcome can result in putting others down, abuse, fighting, and victimization.
Jesus set the example of servanthood when he went to the cross (Philippians 2:5-11). The placement of this story in its literary context is significant between Jesus was on his way to the cross and had recently taught his disciples that the cost of following him is to lay down their lives to his full control and sovereignty. The way of the cross will send someone down the path of servanthood. This journey is not a competition to the top but a desire to be last. Being last requires the deepest human love possible. This love is experienced most fully with completely sanctified faith in Jesus as Messiah and Lord.
Jesus uses a child as a personal illustration to teach the disciples an important lesson about humility and trust. A child has simple faith and trust and is open to being taught. A child also needs protection and love. By bringing a child into the midst of the disciples, Jesus challenges them to serve even the youngest and smallest among them, which would have been a shock in a culture of power and position. Human nature has not changed much because people still give attention to the glamorous wealthy and powerful. Millions of children around the world are neglected, overlooked, and even abused, including the unborn. The type of discipleship Jesus calls for looks out for the least, for in doing that, we are close to Jesus’ heart.
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