Path to Greatness - March 7 Readings: Numbers 8-9, Mark 9:30–50, Psalm 33:1–10, Proverbs 6:24–25

Links to March 7 Readings:  Numbers 8-9, Mark 9:30–50, Psalm33:1–10, Proverbs 6:24–25

It was a moment of buffoonery that equaled or surpassed all others among the disciples of Jesus. Unfortunately, such moments were not rare, but few rivaled this shameful episode, Jesus had begun to speak more often of his impending death and that never went down well with the disciples. As they wandered through Galilee Jesus told them, 

“The Son of Man is being betrayed into the hands of men. They will kill Him, and after He is killed, He will rise three days later.” Mark 9:31

Such talk confused the disciples, so they said nothing to Jesus about it. But as their journey continued, they got into an argument, out of the hearing of Jesus, about who among them would be the greatest in Jesus' political revolution. Jesus was planning his sacrifice for the sins of the world and the disciples were arguing about their personal ambitions and glory.

Jesus confronted them about this silly confrontation when they arrived in Capernaum. Embarrassed, they would not admit what they had been arguing about, but up course Jesus knew. And he revealed to them the real secret of life in Mark 9:35 when he said,

“If anyone wants to be first, he must be last of all and servant of all.”

Jesus turned the whole world upside down. No, it was not enough to simply follow God's law externally, but the disciples of Jesus had to work about lust and hate in their hearts as well. They could no longer hate their enemies as is natural and normal. No, they were called to love their enemies. Love! Their enemies! Everything was upside down. But now, Jesus turned the verycourse of life on its head.

Life was about trying to get ahead, trying to advance yourself, looking out for #1. But Jesus had a different way. In his kingdom, those who wanted to be first had to be last, had to exhaust themselves in the service of others, had to live to make others successful.

The disciples were slow to get this message and Jesus had to repeat it several times over the last weeks of his life on earth. They did not ever grasp the message until Pentecost when the Spirit spoke it to their hearts. But the message Jesus spoke that day has not changed in 2000 years.

It is still God's will that we live our lives for the sake of others. As Jesus died for the lost world, we must lay down our lives in service to mankind in the name of Christ. And in the light of the death of Christ on our behalf it is just as inappropriate for us to live for ourselves, to strive for supremacy and to pursue our own ambitions as it was for the disciples of Jesus.

Lord, save me from myself and my self-centeredness. Grant me the Spirit of your Son who gave himself for others. May I live for you and for your kingdom, not for me and my ambitions.