Word Live: The Call To Serve
Pray today that God will give you understanding of what you read. Ask the Holy Spirit to make clear to you anything you don’t understand.
Bible passage
Mark 9:30–41
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.
Holy Bible, New International Version® Anglicized, NIV® Copyright © 1979, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
Explore
Here is a key lesson in the training of the 12 – the need to develop a servant heart. It is, in my opinion, perhaps the most crucial aspect of our character formation as disciples of Jesus.
The second reminder from Jesus that he will soon go to the cross, but rise again, once again falls on deaf ears (vs 30–32). Jesus will serve us all by laying down his life for us. He is a servant par excellence and has given us an example to follow.
In the light of this, any squabbles about who is the greatest seem out of place (vs 33–37). True greatness is seen in the way we serve others, even little children. In welcoming them we are welcoming Jesus himself. What does that say about children’s ministry?
Likewise, we should not worry about others serving God even if they are not ‘one of us’ (vs 38–41). They may not share all our views, but they can still do good. What matters is that the thirsty find refreshment and the needy are helped.
Seek to develop a servant-heart. How different our churches would be if we had more servants and fewer spectators.
Author
Tony Horsfall
Respond
What part does service play in your discipleship? How can you use your gifts, resources and time to bless others? Ask God for the grace to serve joyfully.
Deeper Bible study
‘He made himself nothing by taking the very nature of a servant … he humbled himself by becoming obedient to death’.1 Thank you, Jesus, for serving me.
Today’s reading recounts another discipleship lesson ‘on the road’ (v 33). This time, the disciples argue over who is most important among them. Jesus admonishes them and proposes a radical reversal of status and values: if you want to be first, you must become last and least. From God’s perspective, true greatness is found in putting others before yourself, in being content at the bottom of the pile, in becoming a servant of all – none of which comes naturally to any of us.
In verses 36 and 37, Jesus provides a lesson in the form of a child. In ancient times (perhaps today too), a child was the least in society. The child symbolises new believers who still have much to learn, and Jesus tells the disciples to accept and serve such believers.2 To be great means to accept and serve everyone – especially those who are vulnerable and new to the Christian faith. Remember, Jesus never asks anything from us that he has not done himself. John 13:1–20 and Philippians 2:5–8 remind us that Jesus was willing to welcome and serve sinful humanity, with no exceptions (he even washed Judas’ feet).
The incident in verses 38–41 highlights the need to serve all who follow Jesus. The disciples obstruct someone who is not following them, but is doing good in Jesus’ name, raising the issue, ‘Who is with us?’ Jesus’ generous response shows that we cannot have a narrow or sectarian understanding of who belongs to Jesus. Allegiance to Jesus takes priority over allegiance to a particular denomination, race or culture. Jesus challenges us to accept others who work in his name, because even the smallest service to any of his followers is significant.
Think about areas in life where you find it difficult to be last and least. Pray that God may help you to grow in openness and service to his people.
1 Phil 2:7,8 2 FJ Moloney, The Gospel of Mark, Hendrickson, 2002, p188–189
Author
Cor Bennema