Mark 9:30 After leaving that place, they went on through the Galil. Yeshua didn’t want anyone to know, 31 because he was teaching his talmidim. He told them, “The Son of Man will be betrayed into the hands of men who will put him to death; but after he has been killed, three days later he will rise.” 32 But they didn’t understand what he meant, and they were afraid to ask him.
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.” (Complete Jewish Bible).
***You can find a thousand articles online of people ranking other people from worst to best in different categories. Some will tell you that one person is more attractive than another because they're brainy, physically attractive or kind looking. All these rankings stem from vapid comparisons between human beings, who are all beloved children of God. We all want to think we're better than someone else. I'm certain that it took a good five minutes for the disciples to move again after Jesus told them that the "first must be last"--as they immediately wanted to start competing to be last. The foolishness is not in the categories of comparison, but in the comparison itself. The being last that Jesus talks about is to not be concerned with comparisons. Instead, it is to welcome those who are outside of our own group. When we put aside comparisons and welcome others as beloved children of God, we live into God's call.
Dear God, help us to avoid always wanting to be first or comparing ourselves to others. Help us instead to welcome others as your children and, like us, heirs of your mercy and love. Amen.
Peter Clark, '16
Pastor, Our Savior Lutheran Church, Aurora, Ill.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."
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." (New Revised Standard Version).
The Luther Seminary
2481 Como Avenue
Saint Paul, Minnesota 55108, United States
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