24.159 | WHO IS THE GREATEST? | Mark 9:33-37 | God’s Word for Today with Pastor Nazario Sinon

God’s Word For Today

God’s Word for Today 3 Jul, 2024 33 And they came to Capernaum. And when he was in the house he asked them, “What were you discussing on the way?” 34 But they kept silent, for on the way they had argued with one another about who was the greatest. 35 And he sat down and called the twelve. And he said to them, “If anyone would be first, he must be last of all and servant of all.” 36 And he took a child and put him in the midst of them, and taking him in his arms, he said to them, 37 “Whoever receives one such child in my name receives me, and whoever receives me, receives not me but him who sent me.” -Mark 9:33-37 ESV WHO IS THE GREATEST? Jesus heard the disciples discussing about something on their way to Capernaum. He waited for the right time to address it when they settled in a house. He asked, “What were you discussing on the way?” His question doesn't reflect a lack of knowledge but provides an opportunity for them to take responsibility for their actions. One of the biggest mistakes we tell ourselves is that God either doesn't know or doesn't care about what we do and say. We do think that we're too unimportant or that He isn't interested in us, don’t we? They kept it by themselves. They were too ashamed to tell Him about their arguments. We will learn in Luke 14:7-11 that the disciples are displaying the same prideful assumptions as the Pharisees. Jesus tells the Pharisees a story about a guest at a wedding feast who faces a choice to take an honorable seat commensurate to his position or to sit in a lowly spot. However, in a show of great tenderness, Jesus sat down and called the twelve. Instead of rebuking, he taught them a paradoxical truth. He said, “If anyone would be first, he must be last of all and servant of all.” To be great in God's kingdom is to realize that we are not great, is it not? We are not worthy of forgiveness or consideration or position. God's notice of us and blessings for us are because of His love, not our effort (Eph 2:8–9). And so the "greatest" in Jesus' kingdom is the person who acknowledges this by seeking God, rather than seeking themselves. And as an object lesson, He took a child in his arms and said, “Whoever receives one such child in my name receives me, and whoever receives me, receives not me but him who sent me.” Jesus is not saying that they should accept the child because he is innocent or blessed with secret wisdom. No. It is because he is of the lowest social status and completely without power. And as a note, during this time household servants had authority over children. Jesus, surely, is pleased when we take care of the kids in our Sunday School and other activities, not because of what we can get but in what we can give to them. This is the essence of greatness – to give away our lives for the least and lost. Listen and FOLLOW us on our podcast Spotify: http://bit.ly/glccfil_spotify Apple Podcast: http://bit.ly/glccfil-applepcast Google Podcast: http://bit.ly/glccfil-googlepcast Audible Podcast: http://bit.ly/glccfil-audible Follow us on various media platforms: https://gospellightfilipino.contactin.bio #gospellightfilipino #godswordfortoday #bookofMark