Mark 9:35

By Anonymous -

Jesus' life is a demonstration of what he teaches. This is nowhere more evident than in his teaching about greatness. As followers of Jesus, we are never greater than when we surrender our rights and our position and serve others. No one demonstrated this better than the Lord Jesus Christ, our Lord and teacher.

“Sitting down, Jesus called the twelve and said, “Anyone who wants to be the first must be the last, and the servant of all.” -Mark 9:35
  
“Sitting down, Jesus called the twelve
All the disciples, who though they might not be all engaged in this dispute, nor equally criminal, yet were all, possessed of the same notion; and therefore Christ calls them all unto him, what he had to say, being pertinent unto them all.
and said, “Anyone who wants to be first must be the last, and the servant of all.”
his pride and vanity shall be checked; his ambitious views shall be frustrated; instead of being first, he shall be last; and instead of having superior reverence and respect, he shall be debased, and treated with neglect and contempt; and instead of being the master over others, shall be the servant of all. Some copies read, "let him be"; and "let him be last, and minister to everyone"; and "let him subject himself to all, and be servant to all"; for the only way to preferment in Christ's kingdom, or in the Gospel dispensation, is humility and meekness, and performing the lowest services to all, with diligence and cheerfulness.
Jesus thought it was important to get all twelve disciples together because what he had to say was relevant and important to all of them. Being a servant meant that each disciple would do good things without receiving credit for their actions or expecting credit to be given. Jesus taught these principles to the disciples so that they would know the kind of ambition they should have. An ambition to be approved by God. So you want to be first in something? Great but you must first feel what it is like to be last. You must feel like what it means to be a servant to all no matter where they fall.
Reflection
What does it mean to you when Jesus says “Anyone who wants to be first must be the last”?
What does it mean to you when Jesus ended the previous statement with “and the servant of all.”?


Adapted from: http://www.biblestudytools.com/commentaries/gills-exposition-of-the-bible/mark-9-35.html ; discussed by Natasha Lyons

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