September
9, 2003
WHO
IS THE GREATEST?
"Then
He came to Capernaum. And when He was in the house He asked
them, 'What was it you disputed among yourselves on the road?'
But they kept silent, for on the road they had disputed among
themselves who would be the greatest" (Mark 9:33, 34,
NKJV).
On the
road through Galilee, Jesus had tried to prepare the minds
of His disciples for what was about to happen. He told them,
"The Son of Man is being betrayed
into the hands of men, and they will kill Him. And after He
is killed, He will rise the third day" (Mark 9:31).
But the disciples did not understand Him and were afraid to
ask Him questions regarding His betrayal and death. They could
not comprehend His words. They did not believe that Jesus
would actually die. The prophecies certainly foretold that
He would be the King of Israel.
Although
the shadow of a great foreboding fell on them, a spirit of
rivalry found a place in their hearts. They disputed among
themselves who should be the greatest in His kingdom. This
strife they attempted to conceal from Jesus, however, He read
their thoughts and planned to counsel and instruct them. He
waited for their hearts to be open to receive His words.
After
the journey, He sat down, called the disciples, and said to
them, " 'If anyone desires to be
first, he shall be last of all and servant of all.'
Then He took a little child and set him in the midst of them.
And when He had taken him in His arms, He said to them 'Whoever
receives one of these little children in My name receives
Me; and whoever receives Me, receives not Me but Him who sent
Me.' " (Mark 9:35-37). "Whoever
humbles himself as this little child is the greatest in the
kingdom of heaven. Whoever receives one little child like
this in My name receives Me" (Matthew 18:4).
At another
time Jesus said, "He who is greatest
among you shall be your servant. And whoever exalts himself
will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted"
(Matthew 23:11, 12). This is in line with the lesson Jesus
taught during His last meal with His disciples. After washing
their feet, He said, " 'Do you
understand what I have done for you?' He asked. 'You
call Me "Master" and "Lord", and rightly
so, for that is what I am. Then if I, your Lord and Master,
have washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another's
feet. I have set you an example: you are to do as I have done
for you. In very truth I tell you, a servant is not greater
than his master, nor a messenger than the one who sent him.
If you know this, happy are you if you act upon it"
(John 13:12-17, NEB). Our mission is the same as Christ's,
to serve one another as Jesus has served us.
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