Mark 9:33-50
Who Is the Greatest?
33 Then He came to Capernaum. And when He was in the house He asked them, "What was it you disputed among yourselves on the road?" 34 But they kept silent, for on the road they had disputed among themselves who would be the greatest. 35 And He sat down, called the twelve, and said to them, "If anyone desires to be first, he shall be last of all and servant of all." 36 Then He took a little child and set him in the midst of them. And when He had taken him in His arms, He said to them, 37 "Whoever receives one of these little children in My name receives Me; and whoever receives Me, receives not Me but Him who sent Me."
Jesus Forbids Sectarianism
38 Now John answered Him, saying, "Teacher, we saw someone who does not follow us casting out demons in Your name, and we forbade him because he does not follow us."
39 But Jesus said, "Do not forbid him, for no one who works a miracle in My name can soon afterward speak evil of Me. 40 For he who is not against us is on our side. 41 For whoever gives you a cup of water to drink in My name, because you belong to Christ, assuredly, I say to you, he will by no means lose his reward.
Jesus Warns of Offenses
42 "But whoever causes one of these little ones who believe in Me to stumble, it would be better for him if a millstone were hung around his neck, and he were thrown into the sea. 43 If your hand causes you to sin, cut it off. It is better for you to enter into life maimed, rather than having two hands, to go to hell, into the fire that shall never be quenched— 44 where
'Their worm does not die
And the fire is not quenched.'
45 And if your foot causes you to sin, cut it off. It is better for you to enter life lame, rather than having two feet, to be cast into hell, into the fire that shall never be quenched— 46 where
'Their worm does not die
And the fire is not quenched.'
47 And if your eye causes you to sin, pluck it out. It is better for you to enter the kingdom of God with one eye, rather than having two eyes, to be cast into hell fire— 48 where
'Their worm does not die
And the fire is not quenched.'
Tasteless Salt Is Worthless
49 "For everyone will be seasoned with fire, and every sacrifice will be seasoned with salt. 50 Salt is good, but if the salt loses its flavor, how will you season it? Have salt in yourselves, and have peace with one another."
Jesus taught His followers that true greatness is not as the world defines it but as God does in all humility which seeks holiness and is seasoned for the world (Colossians 4:5-6) to preserve the lost with the aroma of life (2 Corinthians 2:16) for eternity in Christ. When He heard the disciples arguing about who was the greatest among them, Jesus clarified that to seek to be number one put you in the last place, but to trust and follow Him as a little child by taking Him at His word and gladly being along with Him was true greatness in that humble outlook and pursuit. This was why they had to humbly accept these little children for their good in Christ’s name to honor Him and live in view of grace which is undeserved and unearned by their great deeds as they thought of their works in comparing themselves among themselves (2 Corinthians 10:12, 17-18). True humility is not striving for personal greatness through our works but perfecting holiness in the fear of God (2 Corinthians 7:1) which is humility in action. This is also why He then told a parable of sorts where causing offense in our pride is the cause of those unrighteous who do not humble themselves at the Lord’s feet and cause others to join them as they lead them away from holiness. These face the hellfire of eternal consequences, of never dying as they suffer for causing others to suffer in this life. As Isaiah 66:24 warned God’s people and was quoted here by Jesus, such who sin against the Lord will be abhorred forever, so the call to them is repentance by faith and following in humility with care instead of offense for one another. This is a hard saying but essential to understanding grace in humility and loving kindness and compassion for others. He ends these teachings by reminding them and us that it is necessary to season the world with His grace by not causing offense and instead leading others away from eternal suffering to never ending joy in the righteousness of Christ and not in boasting of dead works (Hebrews 6:1, 9:14) which cannot deliver us from our just due (Romans 3:23, 6:23). Let us then serve God (Hebrews 12:28) with reverence and godly fear in awe and knowing it is acceptable to Him (Romans 12:1-2) as living sacrifices like Isaac was in his father’s hand at God’s command (Genesis 22:2-3) that was answered by God providing His own Son to honor the trust of godly faith in the light of certain death (Genesis 22:8, 12). May we have that faith (Galatians 3:6, 9, 14) of Abraham and not rely on our own ineffective works of our pride and disobedience. May we also receive others without judgement as if they are little children who only want to hear and follow the truth of Ch and Him crucified which they hear from our lips and lives. True greatness does not seek or see greatness in ourselves but only in Christ with a humble servant heart which seeks personal holiness to conform to Christ and the good of others by seasoning them with truth and love in the name of Jesus Christ and not our own. Amen.
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