Mark 9:30-37
The disciples don't get it, first Peter gets it, Jesus is the Messiah, then he doesn't because a Messiah can't die. Then we have this argument among the disciples. This is still thinking of Jesus as the political Messiah, but this isn't what Jesus is. So Jesus tries another way to get them to understand what this kindom, what this type of discipleship is and we can learn something from this even today.
Jesus takes a child and gives this as they way to welcome God.
Think about each other, about what we do to one another as a little child. Having just spent time with a new baby this little child really made me think. I was thinking about the toddler who loses it in the store and you as the mom or dad are just trying to leave the store with some kind of dignity. See we know enough about a child's development to know the child's emotions have overwhelmed them and the best course of action is to get them away from carrying on in public and to the place where they can calm down. Still we love that child. We may talk to them, we may admonish them but we still love them.
Think about this in relation to what Jesus is saying and all the sayings Jesus has on how we treat others. This image of a little child makes sense. Love your neighbor as you love yourself. Love God with all your heart, mind and strength. Love your enemies. Jesus welcomes the children when the disciples are trying to keep them away. He welcomes the sick, the leper, those women and many others. Whenever we welcome one we welcome God.
What if we treated each other as if we were welcoming a little child? Does this make a difference in how we treat one another? Think of the patience you have to have with a child, think of the underlying power of love that is there. One which makes sure it keeps a child safe. Think of all the things required of us when we welcome a child. We tie shoes, braid hair, wash, feed, nurture and care. What would it mean to do this to others?
See if falls right in line with all of the things Jesus teaches on how we treat others. It gives a whole other way of looking at being a servant, being a disciple. All of the wonderful gifts of teaching I have experienced in my life have come from teachers who had patience, endurance, and would forgive. It's one of the most important gifts we give to one another. It's a gift children give freely.
Putting the argument of who is the greatest in light of the children makes a difference and Mark is the writer to draw our attention to it. See we all fall short of being the greatest and that isn't ever the question we should be answering. The question we should be answering is how have we treated one another, those nearby and far away. Is it the example of Christ we emulate? Do we welcome God, the divine in each and every person we encounter, or do we fail to see it?
See the greatest doesn't matter in the scheme of things. So serve others as if you were serving Christ. Humble yourself, don't count yourself as more important than another. Maybe then we will see the kindom of God.
The disciples don't get it, first Peter gets it, Jesus is the Messiah, then he doesn't because a Messiah can't die. Then we have this argument among the disciples. This is still thinking of Jesus as the political Messiah, but this isn't what Jesus is. So Jesus tries another way to get them to understand what this kindom, what this type of discipleship is and we can learn something from this even today.
Jesus takes a child and gives this as they way to welcome God.
Think about each other, about what we do to one another as a little child. Having just spent time with a new baby this little child really made me think. I was thinking about the toddler who loses it in the store and you as the mom or dad are just trying to leave the store with some kind of dignity. See we know enough about a child's development to know the child's emotions have overwhelmed them and the best course of action is to get them away from carrying on in public and to the place where they can calm down. Still we love that child. We may talk to them, we may admonish them but we still love them.
Think about this in relation to what Jesus is saying and all the sayings Jesus has on how we treat others. This image of a little child makes sense. Love your neighbor as you love yourself. Love God with all your heart, mind and strength. Love your enemies. Jesus welcomes the children when the disciples are trying to keep them away. He welcomes the sick, the leper, those women and many others. Whenever we welcome one we welcome God.
What if we treated each other as if we were welcoming a little child? Does this make a difference in how we treat one another? Think of the patience you have to have with a child, think of the underlying power of love that is there. One which makes sure it keeps a child safe. Think of all the things required of us when we welcome a child. We tie shoes, braid hair, wash, feed, nurture and care. What would it mean to do this to others?
See if falls right in line with all of the things Jesus teaches on how we treat others. It gives a whole other way of looking at being a servant, being a disciple. All of the wonderful gifts of teaching I have experienced in my life have come from teachers who had patience, endurance, and would forgive. It's one of the most important gifts we give to one another. It's a gift children give freely.
Putting the argument of who is the greatest in light of the children makes a difference and Mark is the writer to draw our attention to it. See we all fall short of being the greatest and that isn't ever the question we should be answering. The question we should be answering is how have we treated one another, those nearby and far away. Is it the example of Christ we emulate? Do we welcome God, the divine in each and every person we encounter, or do we fail to see it?
See the greatest doesn't matter in the scheme of things. So serve others as if you were serving Christ. Humble yourself, don't count yourself as more important than another. Maybe then we will see the kindom of God.
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