Mark 9:33-37 A Lesson In Humility

Mark 9:33–37 NLT

33 After they arrived at Capernaum and settled in a house, Jesus asked his disciples, “What were you discussing out on the road?” 34 But they didn’t answer, because they had been arguing about which of them was the greatest. 35 He sat down, called the twelve disciples over to him, and said, “Whoever wants to be first must take last place and be the servant of everyone else.” 36 Then he put a little child among them. Taking the child in his arms, he said to them, 37 “Anyone who welcomes a little child like this on my behalf welcomes me, and anyone who welcomes me welcomes not only me but also my Father who sent me.”

What is it worth to me for me to be right? How hard am I gonna fight just to be right? Am I willing to risk someone turning away from Christ just so that I can prove how smart I am…How much I know about the Bible....How right I am verses how wrong they are? Jesus, in this passage, is teaching a class in humility to a bunch of guys who just want to be the boss. They want to be the greatest among the disciples. They want to be the favorite, but more than that they want to be in charge of everyone else. The world goes around and some things never change.

In verses 33 and 34 we see where there is a great misconception about what it means to be great…about what it means to be a servant and serve others. Look with me in verses 33 and 34 if you will.... Mark 9:33-34

Mark 9:33–34 NLT

33 After they arrived at Capernaum and settled in a house, Jesus asked his disciples, “What were you discussing out on the road?” 34 But they didn’t answer, because they had been arguing about which of them was the greatest.

So they get to the house and when Jesus asks this question its kinda like when you and your siblings were fighting about something and the adults heard you and asked what you were fighting about....they already knew they just wanted to hear you say it. They knew…don’t think they didn’t…its kinda like when your mom or dad walked in the living room and announced that someone was in trouble by asking a question....”Who broke that lamp?” Rest assured you knew they knew who broke the lamp..... the question was to set the tone for the rest of that conversation…this is what’s happening here. Jesus absolutely knew what they had been arguing about and He was about to clear the air…He wanted them to say it out loud.

Notice that they would not answer Jesus nobody said a word....just like you when the lamp got broke...everyone fell silent. The reason no one would answer is because they knew in their hearts that they were wrong to act that way. The issue is greater than just who wants to be in charge. Its not just about who gets to pick what we do or where we get to go…its so much more than that. This conversation shows what it looks like when someone is more concerned with personal power and recognition than they are with caring and being concerned for others. When they are self centered worried more about what they want than worrying about what others need. Brothers and sisters if this ain’t an issue in churches today I don’t know what is. If it were not the case then every time a church gets a new preacher there would be no need for him to be brought up to speed on who don’t get along with who and who does what and when they do it. There would be no need for them to school the preacher on “How we do things here.” I don’t care what church you go to we all ought to be doing the same thing in the same way. Humbly serving the Lord and making disciples. We are not in charge God is. That church asked God to send them a preacher but when he got there no one wants to change or listen to God we just want a new preacher to do the old stuff the old way.

It is rampant in life today. Everyone wants to be thought of as important but nobody wants to humbly serve anyone. Everybody wants it to go the way they want it to go but nobody wants to give at all. I was in a business meeting right after joining a Baptist Church that I won’t name…now I joke about this sometimes but the truth is it shows where our hearts are. I moved to adjourn a business meeting and a lady told me “That is my job I make that motion...” now its kinda funny how it happened but it is also sad that it was my first business meeting after becoming a member. I said “I withdraw my motion with extreme prejudice.” we all laughed . It was funny but that is true. This is my position in the church so don’t go getting ideas.

In the Kingdom of God not one of us is in charge. We don’t get to say what we like or don’t like or what we will or won’t do that spot is taken. We are not the boss we have no status except that status that is given us by Jesus…praise God He saved me and that is all the status I need. I am sanctified through the blood of the Lamb I have no right to say who does what or who gets to go. I’m following the example set by the real boss.

In verse 35 Jesus clears the air…no answer is provided so the lesson proceeds..Mark 9:35

Mark 9:35 NLT

35 He sat down, called the twelve disciples over to him, and said, “Whoever wants to be first must take last place and be the servant of everyone else.”

Jesus said if you want to be first then be last. Hold the door for someone else to walk through first. Smile with the joy you say you have and ask someone how they are doing and how you can pray for them. Do the little things that make someone feel loved and seen. Jesus made it clear that when you think your more than you really are…a sinner in need of a Savior…you are the last in the kingdom of heaven. There is no way you think of yourself more than others and say that you have a heart after God’s own heart. This means more than just giving to others…it means more than just going along to go along for the sake of someone saying how humble you are. A lion does not have to tell you its a lion. It acts like a lion and you know what it is capable of what it will do and what it won’t do. The same is true for following Christ, I do what a believer does and live the life a believer is supposed to live. I just have to live for Jesus and follow the example he set and everyone will see my heart.

To be truly humble is to pray for others that you don’t like or others that see things differently than you. You have to move yourself from a place of thinking what do “I” need or want to do....to a place of saying what would you have me do Lord. To be truly humble means that I don’t have to be right all the time. To be truly humble means that I am not angry at you for not seeing it my way. I am not a rug by any means but at the same time I am not a mean spirited person. I stand my ground when needed but not in such a way that you feel unloved or less than me. I make it clear you can’t take advantage of me but it also made clear that Jesus loves you just as much as He loves me. I set boundaries I don’t draw lines.

I have to serve others from my heart and not just when someone is looking. It has to be something I become not something that I do. Its not a life style its a life change. Humility is one of those things that takes a heart of surrender to master because it is against human nature.

In verses 36 and 37 Jesus finishes up this lesson in humility with the example of a child. Mark 9:36-37

Mark 9:36–37 NLT

36 Then he put a little child among them. Taking the child in his arms, he said to them, 37 “Anyone who welcomes a little child like this on my behalf welcomes me, and anyone who welcomes me welcomes not only me but also my Father who sent me.”

Jesus puts a child in the middle of the group and then takes the child in His arms and says, V37 ...Jesus is using the child as an example. How many believers, which by the way is who he is talking to, would harm a child or not welcome a child? I can’t think of any true believer who would not welcome a child or help a child.

Babies are so special because they are so vulnerable. Jesus is saying anyone who can’t do for themselves are the ones that you have to welcome and care for. Notice the “like this” in this passage of Scripture. Jesus is using the child as an example of who we are to help and care for He does not mean that we are only to help children. How many children can care for themselves as a small child? How many children can pay you back for helping them? How many of them can do anything for you for helping them? What about the lost or new believers? (the young new believer story)

See the point that Jesus is driving at here? You have to help those who can do nothing to help you back. Luke 6:33

Luke 6:33 NLT

33 And if you do good only to those who do good to you, why should you get credit? Even sinners do that much!

Jesus always stressed helping those who need it most even if there is no gain in it for you…especially if there is no gain in it for you. Why would we not? How much did Jesus do for you and how much can you do to repay what He did on that cross? Matthew 10:8

Matthew 10:8 NLT

8 Heal the sick, raise the dead, cure those with leprosy, and cast out demons. Give as freely as you have received!

There was no charge for what was done for us. Jesus is saying by using the child the people you help cannot be evaluated to see if it is worth helping them. You treat them just as you would one of these little ones. You stay humble and understand that what I did for you…you can’t pay back and you could not earn it to start with. Why would you use gain as a gauge for who you help. Whether or not you think they are worthy of being helped. Let me just say this if someone takes advantage of you helping them…they are not taking advantage of you they are taking advantage of God. Some of you just smiled in you heart a little because you feel like that person is gonna be in trouble with the Lord. What you should have said in your heart “Brother Steve I would rather the Lord punish me for helping them than have them be in danger of God’s wrath…I am afraid for what God will do to someone who takes advantage of Him.” See the difference now. Humility is not something we are real good at. When Jesus went to the cross for us that is why He did it so that we would not be at odds with God any longer.

What’s the takeaway here today…Live a life of service to others walking humbly with the Lord understanding that we were all once sinners and only through Jesus could we be set free..so only through Jesus can someone else truly be set free.

True greatness is not about personal gain or status in God’s kingdom. It is about embracing a servant’s heart and loving like Jesus by welcoming the least among us into the house of God with no judgement. Be humble enough to change when the Holy Spirit leads you to conviction. Don’t think your better than others help them be even better than you.

Invitation.....