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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.” (Mark 9:30-37 NIV Bible)
If you could take all the cars in the world and line them up from end to end, there would still be a guy from Houston or Austin trying to pass them all. And, if ever you find yourself in a line for your favorite ride at your favorite theme park, there will be some who will try anything to cut line, including faking being handicapped.
This is a passage about being first in the kingdom of God. Interesting that Jesus begins by again preparing His disciples for His death. Jesus is last week's gospel lesson talked about that, and today's passage repeats the gruesome details that are very specific: "They will kill Him, and after three days He will rise." And not surprising, the disciples did not fully understand what He was talking about. And along the way, instead of trying to make sense of Jesus' declaration, they were arguing amongst themselves about who among them was the greatest. Think about it; these were hand-picked men to walk alongside the One who was called the Messiah. Before they fully understood that title, there were military and political implications about what the Messiah would ultimately do. Among the greatest hope was that He would rid the country of the invaders, the Romans, and establish a new kingdom and as the 12 hand-picked followers, guess what they wanted: To be the greatest among the inner circle of the new emperor. Jesus sits them down and begins to teach them; "Anyone who wants to be first must be the very last, and the servant of all." Gulp. Not what the world defines as success. We know better; me, me, me! We work so we can have people serve us, not for us to serve others. And, taking a child into His arms, He says, "Whoever welcomes one of these little children in my name welcomes me; and whover welcomes me does not welcome me but the One who sent me."
Their argument reveals a common human struggle—the desire for status and recognition. Jesus, however, redirects their focus from self-importance to servanthood. He teaches that true greatness in the Kingdom of God is not about power or prestige but about humility and service.
By placing a child among them and embracing the child, Jesus illustrates the importance of welcoming and valuing those who are often overlooked and marginalized. In the Kingdom of God, greatness is defined by how we serve others and how we embrace those who are vulnerable and insignificant in the eyes of the world.
PRAYER: Loving God, we thank You for the example of humility and servanthood that Jesus set for us. Help us to embrace His teachings in our daily lives. Open our hearts to recognize and serve those around us with genuine love and compassion. Guide us away from the pursuit of personal greatness and toward the path of selfless service. May we find joy in welcoming the vulnerable and valuing every person as You do. Empower us to live out Your truth and reflect Your love in all that we do. This we pray in Christ Jesus' strong name, amen.
Have a great and blessed day in the Lord! YOUR CALL TO ACTION: This week, seek out opportunities to serve those around you who may be in need or feel marginalized. It could be a kind word to someone struggling, offering your time to help a friend, or simply showing patience and understanding to those who are often overlooked. Reflect on how you can embody the humility and servanthood Jesus calls us to, and let your actions be a testament to His love and grace.
I love you and I thank God for you!
Pastor Eradio Valverde, Jr.
