Who's On First?

31 for he was teaching his disciples, saying to them, "The Son of Man is to be betrayed into human hands, and they will kill him, and three days after being killed, he will rise again." 32 But they did not understand what he was saying and were afraid to ask him. 33 Then they came to Capernaum; and when he was in the house he asked them, "What were you arguing about on the way?" 34 But they were silent, for on the way they had argued with one another who was the greatest. 35 He sat down, called the twelve, and said to them, "Whoever wants to be first must be last of all and servant of all."

(Mark 9:31-35)

The disciples continued to be confused about Jesus' understanding of his ultimate purpose, and they were afraid to ask Jesus to explain. Maybe they were afraid to see the weariness in Jesus eyes when he realized that they still didn't get it. Maybe they were also afraid that Jesus really would suffer and die, and that the same would be expected of them.

Regardless of their fear, the disciples' argument about which of them was the greatest (perhaps: who's closest to Jesus, who healed the most people, etc.) revealed their lack of understanding loud and clear. With infinite patience, Jesus explained AGAIN that the one who wants to be first must be last of all and servant of all. It took the resurrection, and several after-death encounters with Jesus for the disciples to finally understand. What will it take for us to get it?

Batter up!

36 Then he took a little child and put it among them; and taking it in his arms, he said to them, 37 "Whoever welcomes one such child in my name welcomes me, and whoever welcomes me welcomes not me but the one who sent me."

(Mark 9:36-37)