Continuing in a study from Mark 9, verses 30-32 sound similar to a passage from the previous chapter (see Mark 8:31-38), where Peter rebuked Jesus for talking about His upcoming sacrifice of Himself.
Perhaps it was Jesus’ response to Peter’s earlier protests that led the disciples to not ask questions this time. (See also Mark 9:9-10.) Regardless, I think that we should cut the disciples some slack, since not only was what they were hearing something dramatically different from what at least some people expected (or hoped) that the Messiah would do, but also the understanding of these facts may have been hidden from them at this time. I’ve had plenty of times where I just didn’t “get” what was being said, but it later became much clearer.
However, as Matthew Henry wrote, “Many remain ignorant because they are ashamed to enquire.” Don’t be afraid to ask God (or fellow Christians) if you have questions.
Continuing in Mark 9, Jesus asks His disciples a question.
They came to Capernaum. When he was in the house, he asked them, “What were you arguing about on the road?” But they kept quiet because on the way they had argued about who was the greatest.
Mark 9:33-34 NIV
https://bible.com/bible/111/mrk.9.33-34.NIV
Do you suppose that Jesus knew the answer to the question He asked His disciples? I suspect that He did, but this was what we might call a “teachable moment” these days? And, to their credit, the disciples at least knew well enough to not answer Jesus’ question. To paraphrase the common maxim, “Better to have your rabbi think you to be immature than to open your mouth and remove all doubt” (I just wish that I remembered that advice all the time!)
Rather than arguing about who was the greatest (kind of like today when people argue about who is the GOAT – the “greatest of all time”), Jesus showed His disciples a better way.
Sitting down, Jesus called the Twelve and said, “Anyone who wants to be first must be the very last, and the servant of all.”
He took a little child whom he placed among them. Taking the child in his arms, he said to them, “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.”
Mark 9:35-37 NIV
https://bible.com/bible/111/mrk.9.35-37.NIV
For the disciples of Jesus, being great in the Kingdom of God wasn’t going to be about telling people what to do for them, or bossing them around. Even though the apostles received authority, their walk with God in the early church wasn’t about accumulating worldly power so that others would serve them. Instead, it was about serving others. And, this service wasn’t merely about getting on someone’s good side so that they would give you a raise or a promotion, or even so that they would vote for you. Instead, while not necessarily mentioned here, service in God’s kingdom includes helping out those who have no reasonable way of returning the favor, like little kids. And, the apostle’s service was to be done in Jesus’ name, honoring His Father as they honored Jesus.
So, who in our lives can we serve in Jesus’ name, without it being a selfish act? There are still plenty of children around, although serving them so that someone else will notice (maybe another parent at the playground) isn’t the same as serving them in Jesus’ name. In addition, I think that there are plenty of others who an overly ambitious world ignores – those who can’t help selfish people climb the so-called “ladder of success”. These outcasts and ignored people are human beings who God loves, and welcoming them in Jesus’ name is to welcome God the Father, too. I think that, when we abandon our selfishness and our pride to serve those who need it, we are embracing the heart of God and humbling ourselves enough to listen to Him, rather than seeking the attention of the world or merely serving ourselves.
Today is also a good day to consider who is most important in our lives. If you said that Jesus or God is first, that’s great – you’re off to a good start. However, perhaps a harder question is, “Who is next in our lives after God?” Is our service to others out of love for them, love for God, and obedience to God as we follow Jesus’ example? Or, is our service to others about what they can do for us in return? Do we eat with “sinners” and welcome little children, like Jesus did?
When we serve those who cannot – or will not – do anything for us in return, we start to look more and more like our Savior, who died to save us when we were otherwise hopelessly lost because of our sins [see Romans 5:6-8]. Let’s look for opportunities to live like He did today.
From Sunday School lesson prepared for November 2, 2025
References:
- Scripture taken from the Holy Bible, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION®, NIV® Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
- The College Press NIV Commentary – Mark, by Allen Black. © 1995 College Press Publishing Co.
- Matthew Henry Commentary on the Whole Bible (Complete). Matthew Henry. 1706, via BibleGateway.com.
Those Who Sin Differently 