There is something in most people which craves status and recognition. We want to be first. We want others to acknowledge our importance. We often think we are better than other people. Jesus’ disciples were no different. They, too, wanted to put themselves first.
However, Jesus taught that true greatness is measured by service and by putting others first. The disciples had a hard time comprehending this, let alone accepting it. When Jesus spoke of His own coming sacrificial death, they did not understand.
In chapter 9, verses 33 through 37 of the Gospel which bears his name, Mark writes, “He came to Capernaum, and when he was in the house he asked them, “What were you arguing among yourselves on the way?” But they were silent, for they had disputed with one another on the way about who was the greatest. He sat down, and called the twelve; and he said to them, “If any man wants to be first, he shall be last of all, and servant of all.” He took a little child, and set him in the middle of them. Taking him in his arms, he said to them, “Whoever receives one such little child in my name, receives me, and whoever receives me, doesn’t receive me, but him who sent me.””
Why did the disciples keep quiet when Jesus asked them what their argument was about? Perhaps they were afraid Jesus would not select them if they asked Jesus to settle the argument of who was greatest. Perhaps they felt guilty or embarrassed. They might have sensed that Jesus would not approve of their worldly, selfish desires. Though they kept silent, Jesus knew their ambition and so He explained the principle of greatness to them: It is service which makes one great. The more one serves, the greater he is. This principle is diametrically opposed to what the world teaches. Many believe that in order to advance it is necessary to put other people down. They measure how important they are by how many people serve them. This may be true in the eyes of society. It is not true in the Kingdom of God. God measures how great someone is by how well and how many other people they serve.
To illustrate His point, Jesus took a little child in His arms. Those who are truly great pay attention to the concerns of those the world considers unimportant or insignificant. If we are Jesus’ disciples we will care about the people He cares about. By extension, the same people Jesus is concerned about are the same as those God cares for. By welcoming them in Jesus’ name, we not only show them Christ’s love, but also the love of God.
There is another way in which people try to show that they are greater than others. In verses 38 through 50 Mark writes, “John said to him, “Teacher, we saw someone who doesn’t follow us casting out demons in your name; and we forbade him, because he doesn’t follow us.” But Jesus said, “Don’t forbid him, for there is no one who will do a mighty work in my name, and be able quickly to speak evil of me. For whoever is not against us is on our side. For whoever will give you a cup of water to drink in my name, because you are Christ’s, most certainly I tell you, he will in no way lose his reward. Whoever will cause one of these little ones who believe in me to stumble, it would be better for him if he were thrown into the sea with a millstone hung around his neck. If your hand causes you to stumble, cut it off. It is better for you to enter into life maimed, rather than having your two hands to go into Gehenna, into the unquenchable fire, ‘where their worm doesn’t die, and the fire is not quenched.’ If your foot causes you to stumble, cut it off. It is better for you to enter into life lame, rather than having your two feet to be cast into Gehenna, into the fire that will never be quenched— ‘where their worm doesn’t die, and the fire is not quenched.’ If your eye causes you to stumble, cast it out. It is better for you to enter into God’s Kingdom with one eye, rather than having two eyes to be cast into the Gehenna of fire, ‘where their worm doesn’t die, and the fire is not quenched.’ For everyone will be salted with fire, and every sacrifice will be seasoned with salt. Salt is good, but if the salt has lost its saltiness, with what will you season it? Have salt in yourselves, and be at peace with one another.””
In this incident the disciples made a common mistake. In their pride they thought that since Jesus had chosen them, they were above everyone else who followed Jesus. They forgot that Jesus is the Master and it is He who assigns each person his task. It was not the disciples’ place to tell someone else that he could not serve in Jesus’ name. Do we, like the disciples, become a hindrance to Christ’s work because we refuse to recognize the role He has assigned to others?
Jesus went on to say that any service, no matter how humble is worthwhile. We tend to think that only the highly visible and prominent things are worth doing – most likely because we think that doing the so-called ‘big’ things shows how great we are. However, giving even a simple cup of water for the sake of Jesus will be rewarded. Are we willing to do the humble tasks which receive no public recognition?
Jesus next discussed influence. What we say and do has an impact on those around us. In their desire to prove how great they were, the disciples had not considered how they were affecting others. Their example in seeking to become number one might cause an innocent child to sin. In such case, instead of obtaining the high position they lusted after, drowning would be better than what would happen to them. What is more important – obtaining worldly position or having a place in God’s Kingdom? We should be willing to pay any price to enter the Kingdom of God – even a part of our bodies if that is necessary to prevent us from sinning. It is better to be crippled or maimed and have a place in the Kingdom than to remain whole and be thrown into the eternal fire of hell. If we should be willing to give up a part of our body in order to obtain God’s Kingdom, then how much more should we be willing to let go of status or position to obtain it!
To make His point even more clear, Jesus referred to the sacrifices God required in the Law of Moses. God instructed the people to, “Season all your grain offerings with salt. Do not leave the salt of the covenant of your God out of your grain offerings; add salt to all your offerings.” (Leviticus 2:13 NIV) By telling His disciples that “Everyone will be salted with fire.” (verse 49) Jesus was saying that just as salt accompanied the sacrifices, His disciples would experience trouble, persecution and hardship. Instead of putting themselves first they should sacrificially serve others. Salt also preserves and brings out the flavor of food. However, it is useless if it loses it’s saltiness. By seeking to be first the disciples could lose their saltiness. Instead of arguing about who was greatest, the disciples were to be at peace with one another.