Humility and service in the Christian life

Wis 2:12.17-20; Psalm: 53; Jas 3:16—4:3; Mk 9:30-37

In Mark 9:30-37, Jesus is teaching his disciples about the importance of humility and service. The disciples were arguing amongst themselves about who was the greatest, but Jesus rebuked them and told them that the greatest among them must be the servant of all. This passage highlights the paradox of greatness in the kingdom of God, which is achieved through humility and service rather than seeking honor and recognition.

Humility is a virtue that Jesus emphasized throughout his ministry. In this passage, Jesus teaches his disciples that to be great in the kingdom of God, one must be willing to humble themselves and serve others. This goes against the cultural norms of the time, where greatness was often associated with power, authority, and wealth. Jesus challenges his disciples to redefine greatness in terms of selflessness and humility.

Service is another key aspect of the Christian life that Jesus emphasizes in this passage. Jesus himself exemplified the ultimate act of service through his sacrificial death on the cross. He calls his disciples to follow in his footsteps by serving others selflessly and without seeking recognition or reward. Service is an act of love and compassion towards others, and it is a way of imitating Christ in our daily lives.

The disciples’ argument about who was the greatest reveals their misunderstanding of Jesus’ teachings. They were more concerned with their own status and reputation than with serving others. Jesus sets them straight by telling them that true greatness is found in serving others and putting their needs above our own. This challenges us to examine our own attitudes and motivations towards serving others, and to prioritize humility and selflessness in all that we do.

Jesus uses a child as an example of humility and innocence in this passage. He tells his disciples that whoever welcomes a child in his name welcomes him, and whoever welcomes him welcomes the one who sent him. Children were often marginalized in ancient society, but Jesus elevates them as symbols of humility and openness to God. By welcoming a child, we are demonstrating our willingness to humble ourselves and serve others with childlike faith and trust.

The kingdom of God operates on a different set of values than the world around us. In the kingdom of God, greatness is measured by humility and service rather than by wealth, power, or status. Jesus calls us to be counter-cultural in our approach to greatness, by putting others first and seeking to serve rather than be served. This challenges us to reevaluate our priorities and to strive for a greater understanding of what it means to be truly great in God’s eyes.

Humility and service are essential characteristics of the Christian life, as exemplified by Jesus in Mark 9:30-37. Jesus challenges us to embody these virtues in our interactions with others, by humbling ourselves and putting their needs above our own. By following Jesus’ example of selfless service, we can truly become great in the kingdom of God and fulfill our calling as disciples of Christ.