They now left that district and made a journey through Galilee. Jesus wished it to be kept secret; for he was teaching his disciples, and telling them. "The Son of Man is now to be given up into the power of men, and they will kill him and three days after being killed, he will rise again." But they did not understand what he said, and were afraid to ask.
So they came to Capernaum; and when he was indoors, he asked them, "What were you arguing about on the way?" They were silent, because on the way they had been discussing who was the greatest. He sat down, called the Twelve, and said to them, "If anyone wants to be first, he must make himself last of all and servant of all." Then he took a child, set him in front of them, and put his arm around him. 'Whoever receives one of these children in my name", he said "receives me; and whoever receives me, receives not me but the One who sent me." Mark 9: 30-37
For he was teaching his disciples. Now the teaching is not public, but private. The time is short, and Jesus has much to tell them about the Kingdom of God. Jesus, in the privacy of my heart, teach me what I have yet to learn of God's rule.
But they did not understand. This "not understanding" is a repeated theme in the Gospels. Sometimes we're so very busy in our religious lives and someone might ask legitimately, "What does this have to do with Jesus and the Kingdom of God he proclaimed?" Fair enough. We should care, and take the question to heart, rather than defending ourselves so quickly.
They were afraid to ask. Why would the disciples be afraid to ask Jesus anything? Maybe because Jesus' answer would require a change of mind. Many people resist (even bitterly) changing their minds. When was the last time you heard someone say, (even yourself), "You know, you're right; I never thought of it that way before," or "Wow, I was really wrong about that!"
They were silent. Jesus has heard the disciples arguing on the road, and he calls them out on it. But they are like children who have been caught in a lie, or something shameful and embarrassing.
If anyone wants to be first, he must make himself last of all and servant of all. This is a central piece of Jesus' teaching. Think of bad-tempered athletes who let their unhappiness be known because they don't come in first place. Or someone who is all put out because he/she didn't get the desired position. Spoken or unspoken, the cultural thinking is something like this: How can I win? What's in it for me? How can I get out of this? Let me know what's expected before I commit. Instead of looking to control and dominate, Jesus asks us to put ourselves at the service of others. My goal should be: How useful can I be?
I know a family who have recently bought a motel. When I asked the mother (who is also the oldest) "And what are you going to do in the new business?" she immediately answered and laughed, "I don't know; clean toilets?" Jesus would be sooo un-impressed with stardom!
I know a family who have recently bought a motel. When I asked the mother (who is also the oldest) "And what are you going to do in the new business?" she immediately answered and laughed, "I don't know; clean toilets?" Jesus would be sooo un-impressed with stardom!
Then he took a child. In the ancient world, no other philosopher or guru or religious teacher ever featured children so importantly as did Jesus. There's a lot to learn from children spiritually. French author, Arnaud Desjardins, wrote: Mindful and creative, a child who has neither past, nor examples to follow, nor value judgments, simply lives, speaks and plays in freedom.
