"Meditation – 60 Days of Prayer" for Friday, 27 May 2016 The Upper Room from Nashville, Tennessee, United States
FRIDAY, MAY 27
READ MARK 9:33-37
MARK 9:33 They arrived at K’far-Nachum. When Yeshua was inside the house, he asked them, “What were you discussing as we were traveling?” 34 But they kept quiet; because on the way, they had been arguing with each other about who was the greatest. 35 He sat down, summoned the Twelve and said to them, “If anyone wants to be first, he must make himself last of all and servant of all.” 36 He took a child and stood him among them. Then he put his arms around him and 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.”
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We know Mark as the freight train evangelist. Just reading his first chapter without pause can leave us nearly breathless. By the time we get to this point in the Gospel, not only have many actions been recorded but the wordimmediately has been peppered throughout. This is no sit-down story. Jesus is on the move—healing, teaching, exorcising demons, feeding the hungry, and on and on.
Then something happens to bring it all to a halt. Is it a run-in with Pharisees? A scrape with the Sanhedrin? Is it fatigue or weariness or disillusionment? It is none of these things. In the middle of chapter 9, the center of the Gospel, everything comes to a halt because Jesus perceives that his disciples are talking about their own greatness. Jesus sits down—one of the few times in the entire Gospel—and teaches his disciples.
It is very important to notice that the one thing that slows down the pace of this Gospel is the evidence of selfish ambition on the part of Jesus’ disciples. Who is the greatest? Who is the best? Who is on top? Who is more special? When Jesus sensed that this was the subject of their conversation, he sat down.
Think for a moment about what makes you “sit down.” What leads you to set aside whatever you are doing and look the other person in the eye? For Jesus, it may have been his concern that the very heart of his teaching and witness might be misunderstood, overlooked, or forgotten.
Jesus sat down, called the Twelve, and said to them, “Whoever wants to be first must be last of all and servant of all.” This is important; this is critical. In a nutshell, this is discipleship.
O God, grant me ears to hear this word of Jesus. Beginning now and throughout this day, give me courage to live it! Amen.[Paul l. Escamilla]
Our mailing address is:
The Upper Room Strategic Initiatives
PO Box 340007
READ MARK 9:33-37
MARK 9:33 They arrived at K’far-Nachum. When Yeshua was inside the house, he asked them, “What were you discussing as we were traveling?” 34 But they kept quiet; because on the way, they had been arguing with each other about who was the greatest. 35 He sat down, summoned the Twelve and said to them, “If anyone wants to be first, he must make himself last of all and servant of all.” 36 He took a child and stood him among them. Then he put his arms around him and 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.”
-------
We know Mark as the freight train evangelist. Just reading his first chapter without pause can leave us nearly breathless. By the time we get to this point in the Gospel, not only have many actions been recorded but the wordimmediately has been peppered throughout. This is no sit-down story. Jesus is on the move—healing, teaching, exorcising demons, feeding the hungry, and on and on.
Then something happens to bring it all to a halt. Is it a run-in with Pharisees? A scrape with the Sanhedrin? Is it fatigue or weariness or disillusionment? It is none of these things. In the middle of chapter 9, the center of the Gospel, everything comes to a halt because Jesus perceives that his disciples are talking about their own greatness. Jesus sits down—one of the few times in the entire Gospel—and teaches his disciples.
It is very important to notice that the one thing that slows down the pace of this Gospel is the evidence of selfish ambition on the part of Jesus’ disciples. Who is the greatest? Who is the best? Who is on top? Who is more special? When Jesus sensed that this was the subject of their conversation, he sat down.
Think for a moment about what makes you “sit down.” What leads you to set aside whatever you are doing and look the other person in the eye? For Jesus, it may have been his concern that the very heart of his teaching and witness might be misunderstood, overlooked, or forgotten.
Jesus sat down, called the Twelve, and said to them, “Whoever wants to be first must be last of all and servant of all.” This is important; this is critical. In a nutshell, this is discipleship.
O God, grant me ears to hear this word of Jesus. Beginning now and throughout this day, give me courage to live it! Amen.[Paul l. Escamilla]
Our mailing address is:
The Upper Room Strategic Initiatives
PO Box 340007
Nashville, Tennessee 37203, United States
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