33 They came to Capernaum; and when He was in the house, He began to question them, “What were you discussing on the way?” 34 But they kept silent, for on the way they had discussed with one another which of them was the greatest. 35 Sitting down, He called the twelve and *said to them, “If anyone wants to be first, he shall be last of all and servant of all.”
Message: Who is the Greatest
Time: Mark's personal connection with Peter gave him the source material for this book. This book was composed probably between AD 57 and AD 59. It's a book that is on the move, leading to the cross. 39 times is the word 'immediately' used. Mark reveals Jesus as God's servant, reaching into the lives of people and effecting physical and circumstantial change.
What the Lord is Saying:
Preface - Jesus continues his time in Galilee but he now has a new destination as he continues the message of the Son of Man going to die and rise again.
As the disciples and Jesus continue on their journey, Mark records that Jesus continues to help the disciples better understand his message. Jesus uses every opportunity to teach them. At this point, it was men talking about who is the greatest among them. Jesus mentioned previously that he was going to die and rise again. And now in this discussion the disciples are talking about being great, and Jesus reminds them If anyone wants to be first, he shall be last of all and servant of all. Thus, Jesus flies in the face of the words of the day that speak of being great based upon personal accomplishment, and remarks that greatness is found in being a servant. It is putting yourself out there without the need to be on top.
While this is a simple message it has far-reaching applications. In life we all have a goal to be first or to be closest to those in power. We desire to be identified with the best. Even in my work, there is something about being near the director, the mayor. There is this thought that if those individuals recognize you as someone important then others will see you as the same. People often in these positions put forth an agenda that it is never about them. And it is possible, but the way we view those people remains lofty.
So Jesus in his words reminds his disciples that in your desire to be first, you should really want the reverse. For where God is concerned, the desire to be a servant of all is key. Even in the 2 greatest commandments - love God and love one another - the focus on self is not the priority. Instead there is a focus on God and others. Yet, even as Jesus makes this distinction he acknowledges that people do desire to be great when he says If anyone wants to be first, The issue is what we define as being first.
Spurgeon remarked that, "In Christ's kingdom, the way to go up is to go down. Sink self and you shall surely rise.
Summary - As they arrive in Capernaum, the disciples have already been discussing about who would be the greatest and Jesus quickly steps in to tell them that the desire to be great is normal, but defining greatness is different with Jesus. It is about being a servant and thus being last or not first.
Promise: Greatness if found in thinking of others before ourselves. It is to not think we are every above any task that might seem to be trivial or lowly. It is achieved through humility, through thinking of others first and ourselves last.
Prayer: Lord, you are holy. You are great. Thank you for showing me that greatness is not part of what I can achieve on my own, but it is being there for the little person and helping those in need. I pray that this would be what I want each day. I pray that I wouldn't mind getting myself dirty but would be willing to do whatever. Just help me to understand this because often I end up doing things rather than asking others to do them. I think I'm being a servant when I'm actually not training others. There is a difference. Help me to see it each day. Thank you for your example of service though.
Time: Mark's personal connection with Peter gave him the source material for this book. This book was composed probably between AD 57 and AD 59. It's a book that is on the move, leading to the cross. 39 times is the word 'immediately' used. Mark reveals Jesus as God's servant, reaching into the lives of people and effecting physical and circumstantial change.
What the Lord is Saying:
Preface - Jesus continues his time in Galilee but he now has a new destination as he continues the message of the Son of Man going to die and rise again.
As the disciples and Jesus continue on their journey, Mark records that Jesus continues to help the disciples better understand his message. Jesus uses every opportunity to teach them. At this point, it was men talking about who is the greatest among them. Jesus mentioned previously that he was going to die and rise again. And now in this discussion the disciples are talking about being great, and Jesus reminds them If anyone wants to be first, he shall be last of all and servant of all. Thus, Jesus flies in the face of the words of the day that speak of being great based upon personal accomplishment, and remarks that greatness is found in being a servant. It is putting yourself out there without the need to be on top.
While this is a simple message it has far-reaching applications. In life we all have a goal to be first or to be closest to those in power. We desire to be identified with the best. Even in my work, there is something about being near the director, the mayor. There is this thought that if those individuals recognize you as someone important then others will see you as the same. People often in these positions put forth an agenda that it is never about them. And it is possible, but the way we view those people remains lofty.
So Jesus in his words reminds his disciples that in your desire to be first, you should really want the reverse. For where God is concerned, the desire to be a servant of all is key. Even in the 2 greatest commandments - love God and love one another - the focus on self is not the priority. Instead there is a focus on God and others. Yet, even as Jesus makes this distinction he acknowledges that people do desire to be great when he says If anyone wants to be first, The issue is what we define as being first.
Spurgeon remarked that, "In Christ's kingdom, the way to go up is to go down. Sink self and you shall surely rise.
Summary - As they arrive in Capernaum, the disciples have already been discussing about who would be the greatest and Jesus quickly steps in to tell them that the desire to be great is normal, but defining greatness is different with Jesus. It is about being a servant and thus being last or not first.
Promise: Greatness if found in thinking of others before ourselves. It is to not think we are every above any task that might seem to be trivial or lowly. It is achieved through humility, through thinking of others first and ourselves last.
Prayer: Lord, you are holy. You are great. Thank you for showing me that greatness is not part of what I can achieve on my own, but it is being there for the little person and helping those in need. I pray that this would be what I want each day. I pray that I wouldn't mind getting myself dirty but would be willing to do whatever. Just help me to understand this because often I end up doing things rather than asking others to do them. I think I'm being a servant when I'm actually not training others. There is a difference. Help me to see it each day. Thank you for your example of service though.
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