“They went on from there and passed through Galilee. And he did not want anyone to know, for he was teaching his disciples, saying to them, “The Son of Man is going to be delivered into the hands of men, and they will kill him. And when he is killed, after three days he will rise.” But they did not understand the saying, and were afraid to ask him.
And they came to Capernaum. And when he was in the house he asked them, “What were you discussing on the way?” But they kept silent, for on the way they had argued with one another about who was the greatest. 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.” And he took a child and put him in the midst of them, and taking him in his arms, he said to them, “Whoever receives one such child in my name receives me, and whoever receives me, receives not me but him who sent me.”
John said to him, “Teacher, we saw someone casting out demons in your name, and we tried to stop him, because he was not following us.” But Jesus said, “Do not stop him, for no one who does a mighty work in my name will be able soon afterward to speak evil of me. For the one who is not against us is for us. For truly, I say to you, whoever gives you a cup of water to drink because you belong to Christ will by no means lose his reward.
“Whoever causes one of these little ones who believe in me to sin, it would be better for him if a great millstone were hung around his neck and he were thrown into the sea. And if your hand causes you to sin, cut it off. It is better for you to enter life crippled than with two hands to go to hell, to the unquenchable fire. And if your foot causes you to sin, cut it off. It is better for you to enter life lame than with two feet to be thrown into hell. And if your eye causes you to sin, tear it out. It is better for you to enter the kingdom of God with one eye than with two eyes to be thrown into hell, ‘where their worm does not die and the fire is not quenched.’ For everyone will be salted with fire. Salt is good, but if the salt has lost its saltiness, how will you make it salty again? Have salt in yourselves, and be at peace with one another.””
The disciples have finally confessed that Jesus is the Christ. But they still don’t understand what kind of Christ He is.
As they travel through Galilee, Jesus tells them again that He will be betrayed, killed, and rise on the third day. They don’t understand what He means, and they are afraid to ask.
Instead, they begin arguing about something entirely different.
Which one of them is the greatest?
It is a painful contrast. While Jesus is speaking about His coming sacrifice, the disciples are thinking about status.
Jesus patiently teaches them that His kingdom works differently.
“If anyone would be first, he must be last of all and servant of all.”
Then He places a little child in their midst.
In the ancient world, children were not viewed the way they often are today. They had no position, influence, or status. Yet Jesus welcomes the child and says that receiving one such child in His name is receiving Him.
Greatness in God’s kingdom is not measured by how many people serve you, but humble faith that serves others.
Jesus continues by warning His disciples not to become obstacles to faith. He uses striking language about cutting off a hand or a foot or tearing out an eye if it causes someone to sin. Jesus is not calling us to harm ourselves physically. He is emphasizing how serious sin really is.
We often treat sin lightly because we compare ourselves to other people. Jesus reminds us there are eternal consequences and we need to keep that in mind.
Anything that draws us away from Him needs to be abandoned.
Jesus finishes with what is a rather confusing statement to modern ears and I think it’s worth taking a minute to understand it.
“For everyone will be salted with fire. Salt is good, but if the salt has lost its saltiness, how will you make it salty again? Have salt in yourselves, and be at peace with one another.”
Jesus had just said how sin leads to hell where there is unquenchable fire, unending suffering. He had also recently taught the disciples that He must suffer and die (and rise again). Everyone will face suffering. For the unbeliever in their sin, that fire of suffering will be eternal. They chose temporary pleasure for eternal suffering. For the Christian who has been forgiven their sins by faith, the suffering is temporary and heaven is eternal. They chose temporary suffering for eternal joy.
In that sense, salty suffering is good for the Christian, as it purifies and preserves.
“Not only that, but we rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, and endurance produces character, and character produces hope, and hope does not put us to shame, because God’s love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who has been given to us.” – Romans 5:3-5
The suffering of a Christian is good for him or her and they can find joy in their suffering because they suffer with Christ who sacrificed all for them. But if they lose the joy of their salvation, that suffering is only misery. We endure the suffering because of the salt of Christ’s suffering for us which preserves and saves us.
Jesus finishes with,
“Have salt in yourselves, and be at peace with one another.”
The disciples had been arguing about who was the greatest. Now, Jesus shows them how it should be. Rather than arguing about greatness, they should be willing to suffer for each other, just as Jesus would suffer for them, and have peace amongst each other.
Throughout this chapter, Jesus keeps overturning the world’s definition of success.
The way of His kingdom is different because the King Himself is different.
And as we continue following Mark’s Gospel, we will soon see just how far Jesus is willing to go to serve those He loves.
Let’s pray…
Lord Jesus,
Forgive me for the pride that so easily grows in my heart. Teach me to follow Your way of humility and service. Keep me from anything that would draw me away from You, and help me live as a faithful citizen of Your kingdom.
Amen.
As part of your devotion time, I encourage you to also pray for at least some of the following:
After praying for these people, you may want to finish your devotion time with the Lord’s Prayer…
Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come. They will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread and forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us. Lead us not into temptation but deliver us from evil. For Thine is the kingdom and the power, and the glory, forever and every. Amen.
In Christ’s Service,
Pastor Kurt
