Mark 9:33-37,
And they came to Capernaum. And when he was in the house, he asked them, “What were you discussing on the way?” But they kept silent, for on the way they had argued with one another about who was the greatest. 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.” And he took a child and put him in the midst of them, and taking him in his arms, he said to them, “Whoever receives one such child in my name receives me, and whoever receives me, receives not me but him who sent me.”
Jesus usually tells parables, but here he acts one out.
The carnality of pride amidst His disciples calls for it. It’s not enough to speak. Jesus must act out an important lesson.
Taking the child into his arms, Jesus shows His disciples a perfect, real-life example of discipleship.
This young child has no pretension to greatness. In their society, this child is nothing more than a servant. In fact, the word used here for “child” (paidi,on/ pais) can also mean “servant.”
It’s not surprising that elsewhere Jesus has said,
“become like children in order to enter the kingdom of heaven,” and “whoever humbles himself like this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven” (Matt. 18:3-4).
Children exemplify the meaning of humble service. They are expected to do what they’re told. No questions asked. They are under the authority of parents and other adults.
But Jesus doesn’t leave it at that. He doesn’t just call His disciples to become like children, but also to “receive” children.
What does this mean? Whoever receives a child receives Jesus, and not just Jesus, but the one who sent Him?
It’s quite simple, really. Humbly caring for people of lowly status out of obedience to Christ (“in my name”) is the way we receive the standards of the Kingdom set in place by God the Father and carried out by Jesus the Son.
Receiving Jesus, and therefore receiving the Father, means that we renounce ourselves and our world’s definition of greatness, and instead put into practice all that Jesus did and taught.
The point is clear. Children are among the “all” of verse 35: “You must be the servant of all . . . ” Jesus took a child into his arms as an example to show us that if we would be great, if we would be first, we must be the servant of all, even children.
But Jesus isn’t just talking about children here. He’s also calling us to love and serving those who are socially unimportant in any way.
This includes not only children, but also the poor, the oppressed, and those who are physically handicapped and cognitively impaired.
Jesus calls you and me to abandon the world’s perspectives and standards regarding what it means to be great, and align ourselves with the perspectives and standards of the Kingdom.
What God values most is not necessarily the impressive speaker or church leader who has gained thousands of followers. Maybe it’s not that great Christian singer who’s on tour all over the world.
The great ones in God’s Kingdom are those who humbly serve. It’s those who renounce themselves and live for the service of the King by serving others “in his name.”
The great ones in God’s Kingdom are, for example, those stay-at-home moms who patiently change diapers, wipe noses, and do laundry day after day with little or no thanks.
They are the paraprofessionals who, out of obedience to Christ, faithfully serve the children in the special education program at the local school, making sure backpacks are zipped, restrooms are visited before accidents happen, shoes are tied, snacks are eaten, crumbs are swept up, and tears are wiped off.
It is in the most simple, day-to-day acts of service, if done in Christ’s name, where greatness in God’s Kingdom is found. Every act of service done out of obedience to Christ is valuable.
In the words of John Piper,
“Stop trying to receive praise in the service of men and start receiving God in the service of children (and other socially unimportant people).