Scripture: Mark 9:30-37
Video Link: https://youtu.be/nnSSPJcgP10
Structure:
- Introduction
- The way up is down
- Conclusion
Introduction:
Good morning everyone.
If you watch Country Calendar then you will know how important soil is for farming. Soil filters the water we drink, it grows the food we eat and it captures carbon dioxide which would otherwise impact climate change.
We might not think dirt is worth much but taking care of the soil under our feet is an essential part of taking care of ourselves and the environment. When it comes to growing great crops, the way up is down, down in the dirt.
Today we continue our series in the gospel of Mark, based on the lectionary readings. Last week, in Mark 8, we heard how Jesus predicted his death and resurrection.
This week, we skip forward to the end of chapter 9, where Jesus talks about greatness. When it comes to greatness, the way up is down. From Mark chapter 9, verse 30, we read…
30 They left that place and passed through Galilee. Jesus did not want anyone to know where they were, 31 because he was teaching his disciples. He said to them, “The Son of Man is going to be betrayed into the hands of men. They will kill him, and after three days he will rise.” 32 But they did not understand what he meant and were afraid to ask him about it. 33 They came to Capernaum. When he was in the house, he asked them, “What were you arguing about on the road?” 34 But they kept quiet because on the way they had argued about who was the greatest. 35 Sitting down, Jesus called the Twelve and said, “Anyone who wants to be first must be the very last, and the servant of all.” 36 He took a little child whom he placed among them. Taking the child in his arms, he said to them, 37 “Whoever welcomes one of these little children in my name welcomes me; and whoever welcomes me does not welcome me but the one who sent me.”
May the Spirit of Jesus illuminate God’s word for us.
The way up is down:
Tomato plants grow a lot of branches and leaves. At least once a week you need to go through your tomato plants and break off all the laterals. This thins the foliage out, so more energy goes into producing the fruit. If you let the tomato plant grow wild, without pruning, you’ll get smaller fruit.
When it comes to growing tomatoes, the way up is down. You get bigger fruit and more of it, when you thin the foliage.
In verse 30, we read how Jesus didn’t want anyone to know he was passing through Galilee because he was teaching his disciples. Jesus was popular with the crowds, but that popularity was like excess lateral growth. It took away from the fruit.
When it comes to growing the kingdom of God, the way up is down. To grow a kingdom that would last, Jesus needed to bypass the crowds and give priority to teaching his disciples. He needed to go deep with a few committed souls.
R.A. Cole observes that Jesus had a ‘quiet purposeful selectiveness’ in the way he went about his work.[1] Jesus didn’t try to do everything. Jesus embraced the limitations of his humanity, carefully focusing on what God would have him do.
Sometimes our lives are characterized by a fevered rush to pack as much as possible into the day. While a certain amount of busy-ness and stress is unavoidable, we need to ask ourselves, what are God’s priorities for my time and energy? As Jesus said to Martha, ‘you are worried and upset about many things, but only one thing is needed’.
Verse 31 tells us Jesus wanted to talk with his disciples about his betrayal, death and resurrection. This is the second or third time Jesus has mentioned his passion. The way up is down. For Jesus, the way to resurrection and eternal life is by being betrayed and crucified.
Jesus refers to himself as the Son of Man. Jesus is probably drawing a connection with the Son of Man figure in Daniel 7 who endures great trial and suffering, but who emerges victorious in the end. This concept of suffering first, then glory later, is the picture Jesus wants his disciples to see.
But the disciples did not understand what Jesus meant and were afraid to ask him about it. The disciples are in denial; too afraid to face the truth.
They have hopes and plans for Jesus and for themselves too. They imagine Jesus to be a warrior king like David. The thought of Jesus being killed makes no sense to the disciples. How can you win by losing? How can you save us from our enemies and give us a place of power and prestige if you are dead?
And what’s this about Jesus being betrayed? If the disciples had found the courage to think it through, they would have realised Jesus was talking about them being disloyal to him. No one wants to believe they are capable of betrayal, even though we all are.
If you cut your hand while working in the garden or on a building site, you don’t just carry on as if nothing happened. You seek medical attention. You find someone who knows what they are doing to clean the wound, stitch it up and dress it so the cut doesn’t become infected.
It’s similar with our relationships. If you have a bad argument with someone and end up saying things that cut each other, then you need to clean and dress the wound, so your relationship doesn’t turn septic.
When they reach Capernaum and are in the house, away from the public, Jesus asks the disciples what they were arguing about on the road.
We see the grace and wisdom of Jesus here. It’s not that Jesus doesn’t know what they were arguing about. He knows alright. Jesus is asking because he wants to bring healing and reconciliation. If Jesus doesn’t clean and dress the wound properly, the argument will turn their relationships septic.
Notice the way Jesus does not confront the disciples while they are on the road having the argument. The way up is down. If you want to raise understanding in a relationship, then best to wait until tempers go down. Jesus waits until the heat has gone out of the argument and the disciples are calmer.
There is wisdom and grace too in the setting Jesus chooses for this restorative process. Jesus has the conversation in private, away from the crowds. Jesus only includes those who were involved in the argument. He doesn’t complain about the disciples’ behaviour to some third party.
Only after the disciples have calmed down and are all together in a relatively private setting, does Jesus seek to cleanse and dress the wound. Jesus does this by giving the disciples an opportunity to talk about what was troubling them.
But the disciples are silent, too embarrassed to admit they were arguing about who was the greatest. The disciples think the way up is up. They don’t yet understand the way up is down. In order to improve the quality of their relationships they need to humble themselves and confess the truth.
We shouldn’t look down on the disciples here. Better for us to stand alongside them, in solidarity.
At the beginning of Mark chapter 9, Jesus took three disciples up a mountain with him, where he was transfigured. Peter, James and John saw Jesus in his glory, talking with Moses and Elijah and they heard a voice from heaven saying of Jesus, ‘This is my Son, whom I love. Listen to him’.
The other nine missed out on this experience. Given how insecure and self-centred we human beings are, this was bound to make the disciples wonder what the pecking order was.
Probably also the disciples were thinking about how Jesus could benefit them. They believed Jesus was a great king and as king he might want them in his cabinet. The disciples’ argument probably came about from their illusions of grandeur.
They were right about Jesus being a great king. They just didn’t understand the path to greatness went through the valley of humble service. The way up is down.
In verse 35 we read that Jesus sat down. In our culture, teachers normally stand up the front when they are teaching. But in first century Palestine, Rabbis sat down when they had something important to say.
It soon becomes apparent that Jesus knew all along what the disciples had been arguing about. No one had the courage or humility to admit it, so Jesus shines his light on the situation saying: ‘Anyone who wants to be first must be the very last, and the servant of all.’ The way up is down.
The society in which Jesus’ disciples lived was an honour shame culture.
There was an honour ladder and most people tried their best to climb it.
The disciples wanted to climb the ladder. They wanted to piggy-back off Jesus’ power to gain prestige for themselves.
Jesus knew this and sought to correct their thinking. Greatness is not found by climbing the honour ladder or the social ladder or the career ladder or any other ladder. The path to greatness is humble service. The one who holds the ladder for others is greater than the one who climbs the ladder.
New Zealand society (generally speaking) is not an honour shame culture. We suffer from tall poppy syndrome. If someone rises above the rest or does well, we don’t normally honour them, at least not for long. More often, they become a target for criticism and getting mowed down.
Tall poppy syndrome is not a good thing. It comes from a spirit of insecurity and individualism. Tall poppy syndrome is the product of a false humility.
True greatness does not tear others down. A great person is not threatened by someone else’s success. A great person is a secure person. Great people are happy when others do well. True greatness lifts others up. And to lift others up you must have your feet on the ground, you must be humble.
By the same token, true greatness does not mean putting yourself down.
When we say the way up is down, we are not talking about being falsely self-deprecating or hiding your light under a bushel.
Do you remember the fable of the hare and the tortoise? The tortoise knew she wasn’t as fast as the hare, but she also knew she had stamina to go the distance. The tortoise did not diminish her own strengths. The tortoise was honest with herself in relation to others.
True greatness means being honest with yourself. Not entertaining illusions of grandeur. Not thinking it’s all about me or that it all depends on me. At the same time, a great person does not deny their strengths. Truly great people believe God, in his grace, has given them something to offer.
True greatness asks, how can I best serve this person? Not how can I use this person to advance myself?
For example, when your spouse or flatmate gets home after a long hard day, you think about what they need? Maybe a listening ear. Maybe for you to cook the dinner while they have a hot bath.
Or when someone criticises you or your faith, you think about how best to embody the grace and truth of Jesus for them. That usually involves seeking to understand where they are coming from, without letting go of what you believe. It’s not easy.
In the sermon on the mount, Jesus teaches us to do our good deeds on the quiet and not for show. That’s my paraphrase. If you help someone to make yourself look good, then you will probably end up humiliating them. That’s ugly in the sight of God.
Our church offering system is confidential. I don’t know what people give.
I don’t know who is generous and who is stingy. And I don’t want to know.
A confidential offering system sets us free from honour and shame. It allows us to worship God with a pure heart.
Now, in talking about motive, we need to acknowledge that sometimes serving others makes us feel good and sometimes it doesn’t. On those occasions when serving others does fill you with a warm glow, that’s okay, so long as you don’t make feeling good your primary reason for serving people. Our service needs to be motivated by what is best for the other person’s wellbeing.
Jesus aligns greatness with humility and unselfish service to others.
A few words of common sense here. Before you rush in to serve, stop and listen. Listen to what the Spirit might be saying in this situation. Listen to what the other person needs. And listen to what your own body and soul are telling you. Greatness does not mean making yourself a doormat for others. It is okay to say ‘no’ sometimes.
It’s okay to say ‘no’ if you are being asked to do something that you sense God does not want you to do. As I mentioned earlier, there were times in Jesus’ ministry when he intentionally avoided the crowds in order to spend time teaching his disciples or to be alone with God in prayer.
It’s okay to say ‘no’ if the person doesn’t really need your help. If someone is able to do something for themselves, let them. Allowing someone to discover they can do this or that for themselves might be the greatest service you can offer. A wise person empowers others.
It’s also okay to say ‘no’ if it is not in our power to help someone in need.
I’m not a doctor so I can’t offer medical advice. It’s not in my power to do that. If someone looks like they need a doctor urgently, then I call an ambulance.
In a similar vein, it’s okay to say ‘no’ if saying ‘yes’ would put yourself or others in harm’s way. For example, if you are not a strong swimmer, then it’s not in your power to dive into the ocean to save someone who is drowning.
If you are not the right person to help, then try to find the right person.
We should remember too that not everyone wants our help. We need to listen to what the other person is telling us and not just assume. If someone refuses our service, then we need to respect that. Much of Jesus’ service was rejected. Offering yourself is a vulnerable thing to do.
To make his point about service and greatness Jesus took a little child in his arms, and said to the disciples, 37 “Whoever welcomes one of these little children in my name welcomes me…”
In the culture of first century Palestine, children were somewhere near the bottom of the social ladder. It is significant then that Jesus stands in solidarity with those at the bottom. The way up is down. But there’s more going on here.
There are several places in the gospel where Jesus uses children to illustrate his point. Sometimes Jesus says, you need to be like little children. But this is not one of those times. Jesus is not saying here that children are great. Rather, those who serve people unselfishly are great.
You see, a child cannot do much to help you to get ahead in this life.
If anything, it’s the other way around. Children need our help.
Children are a labour of love. Children cost money, they rob you of sleep, they cause you worry, they need to be clothed and washed and fed and transported everywhere. Taking care of children is hard work, physically and emotionally.
Sometimes children make you feel good about yourself, but they can also make you feel stink. Children have a way of showing you your character flaws.
Kids are like sandpaper to your vanity.
Small children are, for the most part, ego centric. They think the world revolves around them. If they don’t get what they want, there’s a good chance they will throw a tantrum. That doesn’t make you a bad parent. They are simply being a child. They can’t help it. It’s hard wired into them. Hopefully, by God’s grace and your example, they will grow out of it one day, but it takes time.
If you become a parent, you are committed to a lifetime of humble service.
If you become a parent, you will often have to put what you want on hold, while you support your children in what they need. They will come first, and you will go last. On the bright side, you will grow closer to Christ.
Jesus is saying, when you welcome people who (like little children) cannot do anything to advance you in this life, you are welcoming me.
When you serve people who (like little children) cannot repay you, you are serving me.
When you love people who (like little children) do not always make you feel good about yourself, you are loving me.
As Jesus says elsewhere in the gospels …whatever you do for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you do for me.’
And whatever you do for me, you do for the one who sent me, that is God the Father.
Conclusion:
The way up is down. The path to greatness is humble service.
In some ways I’m preaching to the choir. I believe many of you are living a life of humble service. May you feel affirmed and encouraged to continue serving till that day when you hear the words, well done good and faithful servant.
But perhaps there are some here who feel guilty. Deep down you know your attitude has been wrong. Perhaps you are mainly interested in how others can serve your interests. Is the sting in your conscience a prompt to be less self-serving and more outward looking, more thoughtful of others?
Whatever you are feeling, remember this. It is only by God’s grace that we can serve. Grace must come first. Humble service is the product of grace.
Before we can give to others, we must receive from God. The way up is down.
May God bless you with a deeper awareness of his love. Amen.
Questions for discussion or reflection:
- What stands out for you in reading this Scripture and/or in listening to the sermon? Why do you think this stood out to you?
- Why did Jesus not want anyone to know he was passing through Galilee? How busy and stressed are you? Is your life over full? What are God’s priorities for you at this time?
- Why do the disciples avoid Jesus’ comments about his betrayal, death and resurrection? What parts of the gospel message do you tend to avoid and why?
- How does Jesus handle the disciples’ argument about who was the greatest? What can we learn from Jesus’ restorative approach?
- Discuss / reflect on what makes a person truly great.
- Why is it important to stop and listen before rushing in to serve? When is it okay to say ‘no’? When is it right to say ‘yes’?
- What does Jesus mean when he takes a little child in his arms and says, “Whoever welcomes one of these little children in my name welcomes me…”? How does this make you feel?
[1] R.A. Cole, Tyndale Commentary on Mark, page 149.
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