Proper 11 (G)

Mark 9:30-37

³⁰ They went on from there and passed through Galilee. And he did not want anyone to know, ³¹ for 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.” ³² But they did not understand the saying, and were afraid to ask him.

³³ And they came to Capernaum. And when he was in the house he asked them, “What were you discussing on the way?” ³⁴ But they kept silent, for on the way they had argued with one another about who was the greatest. ³⁵ And 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.” ³⁶ And 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.”

The Son of man is supposed to be rejected. The child is supposed to be received. People will welcome the Child but they will not welcome their Savior. People do not want to hear the Word of the LORD both the good and the bad. People do not want to hear they need a Savior. People do not even want to believe they could be in the Last Days (even with the popularity of Movies).

Jesus Christ is going to be handed over into the hands of sinners. These sinners will not want to hear the truth. These people will not understand that they are sinners. The result of their lack of faith and understand is the crucifixion of our Lord Jesus Christ.

The real issue becomes that the disciples want to be the greatest. The people following Jesus want to become like Jesus. They want his power and strength. They want his authority. They want his glory and honor.

But Jesus Christ reminds them it is not about their glory or honor. It is the glory of God. It is the Power of God. It is the grace of God. It is the Love of God. God so Loved the world that he handed his own Son over to Sinners so that he could die for those sinners. So that he could die for you. This is the Love of God that he is the Greatest and anyone who he calls Children of God carries Christ with them.