March 26, 2024
Read Numbers 15, Psalm 85, Mark 9
The religious leaders were not the only ones that didn’t completely understand Jesus’ mission. His disciples even though they spent time with him, they still had misunderstood his plans. The Jews, including the disciples, had been looking for a Mesiah that was coming to ride in on a white horse kick Rome out of the land and bring back the glory days for the nation of Israel. This being a couple of days past Palm Sunday reminds us that Jesus rode in on a donkey and his fist appearance was not like they thought it was. In Mark 9 we get a glimpse of their thoughts in this area. The disciples were arguing about something while they traveled. Jesus knew what it was and decided to make this a teaching moment. 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” vv. 33-34. Apparently, they had envisioned Jesus taking his throne after his great military conquest and the disciples were arguing for their seat at the table after it was all said and done. Like many statements of Jesus, he offered a counter-intuitive one for them to think over. “If anyone wants to be first, he must be the very last, and the servant of all” v. 35. Jesus would continue to work on this mentality for them later, most of all when He washed the disciples’ feet in John 13. To drive home the point even more he grabbed a little child that was nearby (in a safe and good way!) to use as an example. “Taking him 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” vv. 36-37. We must keep in mind that children did not hold anywhere near the power that they do today. In the biblical world, children were to be seen and not heard, they were considered useless until they reach the point where they could work and contribute to their society. Now Jesus was saying they had to value the things that culture did not. They had to serve and welcome in the “little children” to be great. Jesus was a great leader, the greatest of all time, but He was a servant leader and not one who led with an authoritarian hammer or as a dictator. How can you and I be more servant-minded?
What else do you see in these chapters? What stood out to you most?
Add your thoughts below.
DId God Really Say... 