Crumbs 116

 

Crumbs 116

True Power

Scripture Mark 9:30-37 New International Version 30 They left that place and passed through Galilee. Jesus did not want anyone to know where they were, 31 because he was teaching his disciples. He said to them, “The Son of Man is going to be delivered into the hands of men. They will kill him, and after three days he will rise.” 32 But they did not understand what he meant and were afraid to ask him about it. 33 They came to Capernaum. When he was in the house, he asked them, “What were you arguing about on the road?” 34 But they kept quiet because on the way they had argued about who was the greatest. 35 Sitting down, Jesus called the Twelve and said, “Anyone who wants to be first must be the very last, and the servant of all.” 36 He took a little child whom he placed among them. Taking the child in his arms, he said to them, 37 “Whoever welcomes one of these little children in my name welcomes me; and whoever welcomes me does not welcome me but the one who sent me.”

Crumbs

We now have a glimpse of Jesus teaching his disciples privately and it brings us to a clash between twenty first century values and Jesus. In verse thirty four we see the disciples as embarrassed as they argue about power. They still think of the kingdom in terms of political and physical might. They know that it is not quite right for Jesus has already told them His struggle does not end in a physical trial of strength but in a sacrificial death.

In the world positions of leadership bring esteem and respect. In the Kingdom it brings servitude.

A child is an example of, humility. simplicity and faith. Some of us possess the illusion that our view of reality is the right one. We must drop the idea that we are arbiters of all things to do with life. But instead we try thinking our way through the most difficult questions of life. We find ourselves tied up in complexities of our own making when the challenge of Christ is plain in its simplicity. Dare we change? The child grasps the hand of Christ knowing with Him all will be well,

When I hold my thought and life style against the teaching of Jesus, I am deeply ashamed.

Questions

1. How does Jesus’ values differ from the values held by our society ?

2. How do modern Christian values differ from Jesus’ values ?.

3. What is it about a small child that her or him a good model of what should be our approach to Christ?