ON YOUR MARK: WEEK 9 DAY 2

Mark 9:30-37

Jesus Again Foretells Death, Resurrection

30 They went on from there and passed through Galilee. And he did not want anyone to know, 31 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.” 32 But they did not understand the saying, and were afraid to ask him.

Who Is the Greatest?

33 And they came to Capernaum. And when he was in the house he asked them, “What were you discussing on the way?” 34 But they kept silent, for on the way they had argued with one another about who was the greatest. 35 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.” 36 And he took a child and put him in the midst of them, and taking him in his arms, he said to them, 37 “Whoever receives one such child in my name receives me, and whoever receives me, receives not me but him who sent me.”

Once, on a tour of a medieval village, we were taught the phrase “gardylou” which was the Gaelic slang for a French phrase that meant “mind the water.” The guide told us that in the small 10x10ft dirt floor home under the city streets, likely 16 people would have lived. There was a fireplace for meals and a bucket instead of a bathroom. Once a day the youngest member of the family would be in charge of carrying the heavy bucket up and out to the street, where the little one would shout “gardylou” before tossing out the contents. I don’t know what your least favorite childhood chore was, but this is definitely worse than any of mine! 

Throughout most of history, children were not highly regarded. Even if they were in the home of loving parents, culture dictated a standing that gave them the worst jobs, and the least comfort. This was no different in Jesus’ day. For Jesus to tell the disciples that they, grown men, should be a servant of all, even a child, would have been shocking.

How do you feel you do when answering a call to serve? Do you, like I have done, keep a nice public list of things you are willing to do, but a private list of the things you are not willing to do? Let God challenge that heart posture however He sees fit. Ask Him where you can do better at serving, or welcoming little ones.