Serving Others

³³ After they arrived at Capernaum and settled in a house, Jesus asked His disciples, “What were you discussing out on the road?” ³⁴ But they did not answer, because they had been arguing about which of them was the greatest. ³⁵ He sat down, called the Twelve disciples over to Him, and said, “Whoever wants to be first must take last place and be the servant of everyone else.” ³⁶ Then He put a little child among them. Taking the child in His arms, He said to them, ³⁷ “Anyone who welcomes a little child like this on My behalf welcomes Me, and anyone who welcomes Me welcomes not only Me but also My Father who sent Me.” Mark 9:33-37 (NLT)

As Jesus made His final trip to Jerusalem, Jesus and His disciples traveled through Galilee (Mark 9:30; see Matthew 17:22). Jesus’ public ministry in and around Galilee was completed, and He was on His way to Jerusalem to become the sinless and once-for-all sacrifice for the sake of others (Mark 10:32-34, 45; see also Romans 3:25). Jesus tried to avoid all publicity to spend more time with His disciples, teaching and equipping them (Mark 9:30-31). As he had been doing for several months, Jesus continued to focus His teaching ministry on the Twelve disciples (Mark 9:31). These disciples would carry out Jesus’ Great Commission following His death, resurrection, and ascension to preach repentance and forgiveness through faith in Jesus (see Matthew 28:18-20; Mark 16:15-16; Luke 24:46-49; John 20:21-23; Acts 1:8).

During His teaching session, Jesus said once again to His disciples, “I, the Messiah, am going to be betrayed and killed, and three days later I will return to life again” (Mark 9:31, TLB; see also Matthew 17:22; Luke 9:44). Jesus’ statement was His second Passion prediction of His coming betrayal, death, and importantly His resurrection in Jerusalem (see Mark 8:31; Mark 10:33-34). However, Jesus’ disciples did not understand Jesus’ Passion statement and were afraid to ask Him what He meant, perhaps because of Peter’s prior rebuke by Jesus (Mark 9:32; see also Mark 8:32-33; Luke 9:45). However, Matthew’s Gospel indicated Jesus’ disciples were filled with grief (Matthew 17:23). In this scene, the Gospel writers paint a portrait of Jesus’ disciples struggling with Jesus’ service to help others by giving His life as a ransom to save many (Mark 10:45; see also Matthew 20:28). Jesus’ disciples did not fully understand the purpose of His death and resurrection until Pentecost (Acts 2). After Pentecost, Jesus’ death and resurrection were the centerpiece of the disciples’ teaching and preaching (e.g., see John 12:16; Acts 2:23; Acts 3:13; Acts 5:42; Acts 10:39-43).

Later, Jesus and His disciples arrived at Capernaum (Mark 9:33; see also Matthew 17:24). When Jesus and His disciples settled in the house where they were to stay, He asked them, “What were you arguing about on the road?” Mark 9:33, NIV; see also Luke 9:46). However, Jesus’ disciples were silent and ashamed to answer, for they had been arguing about which of them was the greatest (Mark 9:34; see also Matthew 18:1; Luke 9:46). Jesus knew His disciples’ thoughts for personal success and promotion (Luke 9:47). Sadly, when believers are selfishly living for themselves and not for others, then there is bound to be conflict and arguing (see Romans 12:3; Philippians 2:1-4; James 4:1-3).

Jesus sat down and called the Twelve around Him and said, “Anyone wanting to be the greatest must be the least — the servant of all!” (Mark 9:35, TLB). The disciples looked to earthly power and influence. However, Jesus looked at service for others as signs of God’s Kingdom. Essentially, Jesus overturned the value structure of the world. In Jesus’ teaching, the concept of selfless service for others grown out of His concept of love for one’s neighbor (John 13:34-35; see also Matthew 22:37, 39; Mark 12:31; Luke 10:27; 1 John 3:23; 1 John 4:7-8, 11-12, 19-21). The life of discipleship must be characterized by humble and loving service (Mark 10:43). In Jesus, all people – servants and bosses – are equal before the Master, God the Father (Ephesians 6:9; Colossians 4:1).

Then, Jesus placed a little child among His disciples (Mark 9:36; see also Matthew 18:2; Luke 9:47). Taking the child in His arms, Jesus said to His disciples, “Anyone who welcomes a little child like this in My Name is welcoming Me, and anyone who welcomes Me is welcoming My Father who sent Me!” (Mark 9:36-37, TLB; see also Luke 9:48). During Jesus’ times, the Greco-Roman world treated children as second-class citizens. Children were powerless, unimportant, and dependent on others for life and support. Jesus made a radical statement of linking a child to God's Kingdom. Jesus’ statement did not mean accepting the Kingdom of God as a child but one who is willing to serve in an unimportant role and one who performs lowly service. Jesus' teaching corresponded with the second Passion prediction where He will go to Jerusalem, and He would willingly give His life in service for the sake of others good (see Isaiah 52:13-53:12).

With gentleness, Jesus taught His disciples that anyone who wants to be first had to be the servant of all (Matthew 18:4; Mark 10:43-45; Luke 22:26). During His public ministry, Jesus not only encouraged service but also exemplified service for the good of others (e.g., see Mark 10:45; Luke 22:27; John 13:5; Philippians 2:2-11; see also Isaiah 52:13-53:12). Jesus came into this world as a servant – indeed, the Servant – who would suffer and die for our sins (Isaiah 52:13-53:12; see also Matthew 20:28; Philippians 2:7). Service to others is the primary way in which believers imitate and fulfill the mission of Jesus (Mark 10:43-45). Jesus willingly gave His life to release us from bondage to sin and death (Mark 10:45), and Jesus taught His disciples humbly to serve others too (Mark 9:35; Mark 10:43; see also Matthew 5:14-16; 1 Peter 4:10). Jesus used a little child to help His self-centered disciples get the true meaning of discipleship. Jesus did not ask His disciples to be childish (e.g., envious, selfish, boastful, unforgiving, and prideful) but rather childlike (e.g., humble, faithful, forgiving, eagerness to learn, and sincere hearts towards God) (Matthew 18:4; see also 1 Corinthians 13:4-5).

In God’s Kingdom, humble service towards others and God takes priority over recognition and status (Matthew 18:4; see also Romans 12:10; 2 Corinthians 5:14-15; Galatians 5:13; Ephesians 5:21; James 4:6, 10; 1 Peter 5:5). The Holy Scriptures do not discourage anyone from being industrious, ambitious, and hardworking (e.g. see Proverbs 12:24, 27; Proverbs 13:4, 11; Proverbs 14:23; Proverbs 31:17). Rather, when one’s ambition and work pushes obedience and service towards other aside, then these actions become sinful. In God's Kingdom, such selfish motives are destructive. The only safe ambition in God’s Kingdom is an attitude of faithfulness, humility, and obedient service towards others and not pride, self-ambition, and self-centeredness (see Matthew 18:1-5; Luke 9:46-48). Greatness in God’s Kingdom is judged by how we humbly serve God and others, particularly the weak and powerless (Mark 9:35; see also Matthew 20:20-28; Matthew 23:11-12; 1 Corinthians 10:24).

¹ Does your life in Christ give you strength? Does His love comfort you? Do we share together in the spirit? Do you have mercy and kindness? ² If so, make me very happy by having the same thoughts, sharing the same love, and having one mind and purpose. ³ When you do things, do not let selfishness or pride be your guide. Instead, be humble and give more honor to others than to yourselves. ⁴ Do not be interested only in your own life, but be interested in the lives of others. ⁵ In your lives you must think and act like Christ Jesus. ⁶ Christ Himself was like God in everything. But He did not think that being equal with God was something to be used for His own benefit. ⁷ But He gave up His place with God and made Himself nothing. He was born to be a man and became like a servant. 8 And when He was living as a man, He humbled Himself and was fully obedient to God, even when that caused His death —death on a Cross. ⁹ So God raised Him to the highest place. God made His Name greater than every other name ¹⁰ so that every knee will bow to the Name of Jesus — everyone in heaven, on earth, and under the earth. ¹¹ And everyone will confess that Jesus Christ is Lord and bring glory to God the Father. Philippians 2:1-11 (NCV)

References

Disciple's Study Bible (Nashville, TN: Holman Bible Publishers, 1988).

Life Application Study Bible (Carol Stream, IL: Tyndale House Pub., 2005).

Ryrie Study Bible (Chicago, IL: Moody, 1995).

Zondervan NIV Study Bible (Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan, 2008).

Loyd, Melton, Ph.D., Professor of New Testament (Due West, SC: Erskine Theological Seminary, 2015).

Wiersbe, Warren W. Bible Exposition Commentary – New Testament (Victor Books, 1989).