:: in.a.mirror.dimly ::

Continuing my series on the Gospel of Mark…

After another powerful miracle that drew crowds at the mid-point of chapter nine, Jesus once again withdrew to teach his disciples about his upcoming betrayal, death, and resurrection. They didn’t understand his death and resurrection yet, but were afraid to ask due to their grief and possibly because Jesus called Peter Satan the last time one of them talked back at Jesus about this topic.

We don’t know how soon the disciples’ debate over who will be greatest followed the discussion about Jesus’ death and resurrection, but regardless, it’s hard to fathom why the disciples were so consumed with their own positions while their teacher bore such a heavy burden. They were consumed with their own advancement while their teacher suffered greatly—they had grown so accustomed to taking from him that they failed to help him.

Since three disciples were separated from the rest at times, it’s not out of the question to imagine them splitting into factions, arguing over a new leader since Jesus had predicted his own death. We learn in chapter ten that such treatment may have gone to the heads of James and John.

Jesus immediately undercut any such plans by challenging his disciples to become more like children than savvy, power-hungry leaders. He could have compared them based on their acts, their beliefs, or even the amount of faith they displayed. Instead, he boiled greatness down to hospitality, service, and humility.

Greatness in the Kingdom is decided by trust, service, and humility, the kind of humility that accepts and values a small child. In fact, Jesus challenged them to receive children because such an act meant they would be receiving Jesus himself. They needed to see such acts as the equivalent of ministering to Jesus.

While it may be one thing to welcome children, the disciples made it clear that they were uneasy with humbly sharing the spotlight of the ministry. Perhaps they could welcome children, but they didn’t want competition from those who drove out miracles in the name of Jesus. For people who were just arguing over who was the greatest, they seemed stuck in their notions of exclusivity and greatness.

Jesus responded by telling them to never hinder anyone who was receptive to the name of Christ or who did good works in his name. The problem wasn’t the person casting out demons in the name of Jesus but rather the disciples’ willingness to keep others away from the way of Jesus. This was not about them.

Jesus would not tolerate such pride or exclusivity, as he warned them that causing an innocent such as a child to fall away from him would carry grave consequences. If their sinful desires or conduct kept another person from embracing Jesus, they would be in deep trouble.

The words of Jesus here are a particularly strong warning to not only cut off sin, but to take tremendous care in interpersonal interactions. The disciples were responsible for humbly drawing others to Christ, not for protecting their own positions. The Pharisees protected their positions to the point that they cut themselves and others off from the Messiah.