Mark 9:30–37

Today’s reading will show us the fear and uncertainty the disciples experienced when Jesus shared of His impending death. To be first you must be last. The Kingdom of God is always upside down. Jesus welcomes us in our lowly condition. Jesus served to the point of death. When we humble ourselves and welcome others in their humble state, we welcome the Kingdom of God.

³⁰[The disciples] went on from there and passed through Galilee. And [Jesus] did not want anyone to know, ³¹for he was teaching his disciples, saying to them, “The Son of Man is going to be delivered into the hands of men, and they will kill him. And when he is killed, after three days he will rise.” ³²But they did not understand the saying, and were afraid to ask him.

³³And they came to Capernaum. And when he was in the house he asked them, “What were you discussing on the way?” ³⁴But they kept silent, for on the way they had argued with one another about who was the greatest. ³⁵And he sat down and called the twelve. And he said to them, “If anyone would be first, he must be last of all and servant of all.” ³⁶And he took a child and put him in the midst of them, and taking him in his arms, he said to them, ³⁷“Whoever receives one such child in my name receives me, and whoever receives me, receives not me but him who sent me.”