The Lesson Of True Greatness (9:33-37).
We are suddenly introduced here to a sad situation that Jesus had tried to guard against, but which was probably inevitable. The disciples were beginning to get too high an opinion of themselves. They were beginning to think in terms of their own greatness. After all, were they not the intimate servants and colleagues of the coming Messiah? Were they not acting ‘in His Name'? As far as they were concerned the only question now was how they stood as compared with each other. When Jesus did seize power which of them would take the most important positions and be held in the highest esteem? But this stands in stark contrast with the attitude of the One Who had come to serve and to Give His life a ransom for many (Mark 10:45). They were asking, ‘how far can we climb?' Jesus was asking, how far can I go down in order to save men? (Philippians 2:5-11). And He illustrates this firstly through a little child. True Messianic service, He stresses, is found in assisting the weak and lowly.
Analysis.
a And when He was in the house He asked them, “What were you discussing in the way?” But they did not answer for they had disputed with one another who was the greatest (Mark 9:33-34).
b And He sat down and called the twelve, and He says to them, “If any man would be first, he shall be last of all and servant of all” (Mark 9:35).
a And He took a little child and set him in the midst of them, and taking him in His arms He said to them, “Whoever shall receive one of such little children in My Name, receives Me, and whoever receives Me, receives not Me but Him who sent Me” (Mark 9:36-37).
Note that in ‘a' the disciples are concerned about who is the greatest, and in the parallel Jesus brings out who is really the greatest, the one who receives little children in His Name, for by doing so they receive both Him and His Father. Centrally in ‘b' He points out that to come first in the Kingly Rule of God it is necessary to seek to be the last and to be the servant of all.