The Key to Greatness (Mark 9:30-50)

In Mark 9:30-50 Jesus reveals the key to greatness in the Kingdom of God: humility. This truth flows from Jesus’ surprising mission of self-sacrifice.

• What do you believe is the key to greatness?

Mark 9:30-32 (NLT) Leaving that region, they traveled through Galilee. Jesus didn’t want anyone to know he was there, for he wanted to spend more time with his disciples and teach them. He said to them, “The Son of Man is going to be betrayed into the hands of his enemies. He will be killed, but three days later he will rise from the dead.” They didn’t understand what he was saying, however, and they were afraid to ask him what he meant.

• Mark Ch. 8 was the beginning of their training and preparation for the end of Jesus’ ministry here on earth. That was the first time Jesus brought up his death, a cross, and the cost of discipleship. They’re still not seeing things clearly. This shows us that faith is a progression from the initial truths of the gospel to learning how to apply Christ’s teaching to life and ministry.

Great Debate

The disciples were arguing about who would be the greatest in the Kingdom. Jesus uses their display of pride and ignorance to teach them the surprising pathway to greatness.

Mark 9:33-35 (NLT) After they arrived at Capernaum and settled in a house, Jesus asked his disciples, “What were you discussing out on the road?” But they didn’t answer, because they had been arguing about which of them was the greatest. 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.”

• They’re embarrassed about their argument, so they fell silent. But how did this come up? Let’s review:
  • (2 weeks ago) Jesus had taken three of them up on the mountain. Favorites? Or most in need of his attention? 
  • (last week) The other 9 were unable to cast out a demon (more on this later), so they were feeling a bit insecure. 
• As always, Jesus sat down and turned it into a teachable moment:  “Whoever wants to be first must take last place and be the servant of everyone else.” Then he used a prop to help them understand…

Mark 9:36-37 (NLT) Then he put a little child among them. Taking the child in his arms, he said to them, “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.”

• • (Pillar New Testament Commentary) We are mistaken if we imagine that Greek and Jewish society extolled the virtues of childhood as do modern societies in general. Societies with high infant mortality rates and great demand for human labor cannot afford to be sentimental about infants and youth. In Judaism, children and women were largely auxiliary members of society whose connection to the social mainstream depended on men (either as fathers or husbands). Children, in particular, were thought of as “not having arrived.” They were good illustrations of “the very last” (v. 35).
  • Humility and servanthood.
    • (Pillar New Testament Commentary) The conclusion Jesus draws from the child in his arms is subtle and surprising. The child is not used, as is often supposed, as an example of humility, but as an example of the “little” and insignificant ones whom followers of Jesus are to receive.

• 1 Peter 5:5 (ESV) Likewise, you who are younger, be subject to the elders. Clothe yourselves, all of you, with humility toward one another, for “God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.”

• The leaders should seek to be the most humble, the most unifying, the most empowering, the most loving, the biggest servant. The disciples had more training to do.
• It’s not about climbing the corporate ladder to become the one who has servants to do his bidding. 
• It’s about becoming the one who elevates others, lifts others (ideas, giftings, opportunities, opinions, vision, etc.) up above themselves and serves rather than the one who rules over.

Mark 10:42-45 (ESV) 42 And Jesus called them to him and said to them, “You know that those who are considered rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and their great ones exercise authority over them. 43 But it shall not be so among you. But whoever would be great among you must be your servant, 44 and whoever would be first among you must be slave of all. 45 For even the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.”

In The Name

The disciples were offended by an independent exorcist using Jesus’ name. They learned another humbling lesson: the Kingdom of God was larger than their experience of it.

Mark 9:38-41 (NLT) John said to Jesus, “Teacher, we saw someone using your name to cast out demons, but we told him to stop because he wasn’t in our group.”

“Don’t stop him!” Jesus said. “No one who performs a miracle in my name will soon be able to speak evil of me. Anyone who is not against us is for us. If anyone gives you even a cup of water because you belong to the Messiah, I tell you the truth, that person will surely be rewarded.”

• • (Pillar New Testament Commentary) In complete disregard of the lesson of the preceding story, John regards his call as a disciple not as a call to service, but as an entitlement of privilege and exclusion. John’s report that the independent exorcist “‘was not following us'” is depressingly ironic. We should expect him to say “‘because he was not following you.'” It is not a little presumptuous at this stage of discipleship for John to think himself and the other disciples worthy of being followed. This is yet another echo of their inflated self-importance.
  • The disciples were jealous of this man being able to do things that they were struggling with. Or maybe (worse yet) they thought it was illegitimate (he can do it but they can’t?!)
  • 1 Corinthians 12:4-6 (NLT) There are different kinds of spiritual gifts, but the same Spirit is the source of them all. There are different kinds of service, but we serve the same Lord. God works in different ways, but it is the same God who does the work in all of us.
  • Note: he goes from talking about someone doing miracles (greatness?) to someone giving his disciples a cup of water (humble service = true greatness). 
    • And we’re back to the idea of “belonging” to the group of Jesus followers. Interesting that someone is giving them the cup of water. Puts the disciples in the recipient role, like a child.
    • Matthew 25:40 (NLT) “And the King will say, ‘I tell you the truth, when you did it to one of the least of these my brothers and sisters, you were doing it to me!’
  • This does not mean that the unknown exorcist shouldn’t get more clarity about Jesus. It shows us that God is moving in the world through all levels of spiritual maturity. They don’t have the time to correct everyone. There’s a mission to be accomplished.

• Philippians 1:15-18 (ESV) Some indeed preach Christ from envy and rivalry, but others from good will. The latter do it out of love, knowing that I am put here for the defense of the gospel. The former proclaim Christ out of selfish ambition, not sincerely but thinking to afflict me in my imprisonment. What then? Only that in every way, whether in pretense or in truth, Christ is proclaimed, and in that I rejoice. Yes, and I will rejoice,

Little Ones

The reality of hell should humble anyone who thinks they’ve got it all figured out. Even those in the highest positions at church are susceptible to sin, especially pride.

Mark 9:42-48 (NLT) “But if you cause one of these little ones who trusts in me to fall into sin, it would be better for you to be thrown into the sea with a large millstone hung around your neck. If your hand causes you to sin, cut it off. It’s better to enter eternal life with only one hand than to go into the unquenchable fires of hell with two hands. If your foot causes you to sin, cut it off. It’s better to enter eternal life with only one foot than to be thrown into hell with two feet. And if your eye causes you to sin, gouge it out. It’s better to enter the Kingdom of God with only one eye than to have two eyes and be thrown into hell, ‘where the maggots never die and the fire never goes out.’

• (Pillar New Testament Commentary) The placement of the saying here applies its truth to the independent exorcist in v. 38 who was put down by John. It becomes an admonition not to discount the faith of another because he or she is not affiliated with an official Christian circle.
• The reality of hell should humble anyone who thinks they’ve got it all figured out! Even those in the highest positions at church are susceptible to sin, including pride.
• Jesus talked about hell more than anyone in the Bible. He even said more about it than he did heaven. 
  • (Pillar New Testament Commentary) The Gk. word for “hell” in vv. 43, 45, and 47 is Gehenna, from which the Hinnom Valley, the steep ravine to the southwest of Jerusalem (Josh 15:8) where human sacrifice had been practiced under Ahaz and Manasseh (2 Kgs 16:3; 21:6), derives its name.

Stay Salty

There are many different ingredients that make for true, authentic followers of Jesus. Humility is the seasoning that makes everything we do and stand for in the Christian faith more palatable for those around us.

Mark 9:49-50 (NLT) “For everyone will be tested with fire. Salt is good for seasoning. But if it loses its flavor, how do you make it salty again? You must have the qualities of salt among yourselves and live in peace with each other.”

• (Pillar New Testament Commentary) Israelite burnt offerings (an unblemished bull, ram, or bird) were required to be wholly consumed by fire in order to be acceptable. Smoke rising from the consuming fire was a pleasing incense to Yahweh (Lev 1). Salt too was not only a sign of the covenant (Num 18:19), but it was required to accompany all Israelite sacrifices (Lev 2:13).
• (Pillar New Testament Commentary) If fires of trials and adversity beset the faithful (1 Pet 1:7; 4:12), they do so because of a consequence of their following the Son of Man who must suffer. In costly discipleship to the Son of Man believers become salt and light to the world (Matt 5:13-16).
• Testing humbles us and refines us. The salt is humility! Having this will help us all to be tasteful in our relationships with others inside and outside the church.
• Have you ever cooked an elaborate meal and then went to enjoy it with your family only to realize it doesn’t taste as great as you thought it would? Maybe you forgot the salt!
  • (Application) Humility will make everything you do and stand for in the Christian faith more palatable for those around you. It is the ingredient that pulls it all together. It will help us to be teachable, which is to our benefit as we learn to be more like Christ.

Jesus wants his disciples to understand and follow his teachings. The gospel is of utmost importance. Our position or role in this life isn’t about self importance but rather humble obedience. We should major on the major doctrines and not concern ourselves with minor differences. Sin is the enemy. Hell is real. Let us fight for purity and unity while we give God the glory.