Today in God's Word—May 2023
East Tallassee Church of Christ
May 19, Mark 9
Who’s the greatest? The twelve men upon whom the future of Jesus’ movement rested were quarreling among themselves like children on the playground about who would be greatest in the kingdom. I doubt they were saying things such as, “No, not me! Your faith is so much stronger than mine. You are the greatest!” I suspect the quarrel sounded more like, “Oh, yeah? Well, he called me first. I am so much more spiritual than you. Jesus likes me best. I’ll be sitting at the right hand, not you.” Like kids in the back seat of the car on a trip, the disciples had argued on the way back to Capernaum.
Jesus knew all about their quarrel when he asked what they had been discussing, just like God knew Adam and Eve were hiding in the bushes when he asked where they were. Even parents use this tactic, asking questions, not for their own information, but to confront their children about some situation where the kids need to face what they’ve said or done. The apostles didn’t really want to talk about it; it was humiliating for Jesus to know about their fuss. So the Son of God who emptied himself to come into the world as a servant and a sacrifice taught them the way to the front of the line was to go to the back, and the way to be counted great in his kingdom was to be a servant. He held a child and taught these men with visions of grandeur that how they received helpless people indicated whether or not they were receptive toward Jesus and God the Father.
The disciples’ desire to be great is alive and well in their modern spiritual descendants. The peace and unity of a body of believers
is often disrupted by brothers and sisters vying for prominence and recognition in God’s family. We are so much influenced by the world and the ways of the self-indulgent culture around us that we forget Jesus’ standard for true greatness, and chase instead after a glitzy counterfeit. Most of us would still rather be served than be a servant, except when we’re reading or singing about being servants like Jesus. Pride is the root of the selfish spirit, and I test positive for pride if I think others aren’t on a par with me or if I think simple tasks of humble service are somehow beneath me. Some are better suited to certain tasks than others because of certain gifts they’ve been given. But no one walking in Jesus’ footsteps can claim to be “too good” to render selfless service in his name to the least of those around us.
Let’s not let him catch us quarreling.
From The Abiding Companion: A Friendly Guide for Your Journey Through the New Testament, Copyright © 2010 by Michael B. McElroy. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
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