Last of all and servant of all
A Gospel Enquiry
Introduction
Jesus is like a superhero in Mark’s Gospel, a man of action who performs amazing miracles. And yet, there is this contradiction between who he is and what his followers expect him to be.
When Israel lost its kings and Jerusalem was destroyed, the people looked for a messiah, the visible sign of God’s power at work in their favour. He would oversee the restoration of the Davidic line of kings, Israel would once again be a prosperous nation and peace would reign throughout the world.
There were many in Israel at the time of Christ, who saw him as the promised messiah. They witnessed his many miracles and were amazed at his teaching. Yet, some would have been disturbed by the sight of their messiah entering Jerusalem on a donkey. And when Pilate presented him as a prisoner of the people, they called for his crucifixion.
Jesus never intended to be the sort of messiah they looked for in him. The kingdom of God could only be entered through repentance and through humbly acknowledging the reign of God like a child. His view of the world was formed out of his desire to always do his Father’s will. As we pray in the Lord’s Prayer: “Our Father … your Will be done on earth as it is in heaven“.
The Gospel
Jesus and his disciples made their way through Galilee; and he did not want anyone to know, because he was instructing his disciples; he was telling them, ‘The Son of Man will be delivered into the hands of men; they will put him to death; and three days after he has been put to death he will rise again.’ But they did not understand what he said and were afraid to ask him.
They came to Capernaum, and when he was in the house he asked them, ‘What were you arguing about on the road?’ They said nothing because they had been arguing which of them was the greatest. So he sat down, called the Twelve to him and said, ‘If anyone wants to be first, he must make himself last of all and servant of all.’ He then took a little child, set him in front of them, put his arms round him, and said to them, ‘Anyone who welcomes one of these little children in my name, welcomes me; and anyone who welcomes me welcomes not me but the one who sent me.’ (Mark 9:30-37)
The Enquiry
See
What happens in this Gospel event? What do you learn about the Messiah from this Gospel?
How do the disciples respond to Jesus’ teaching about what will happen when they enter Jerusalem?
Why do the disciples not understand what Jesus tells them about the Messiah?
Judge
What do you think about the interaction between Jesus and his disciples?
What does your faith tell you about Jesus as your leader? Does this Gospel challenge your beliefs? In what way?
What is the challenge we face if we want to be counted as a follower or Jesus?
Act
What are you prompted by this Gospel to want to change in the world? How will this change impact your life and the lives of others?
What small action can you take that will contribute to bringing about this change
Who can you involve in your action and how, when and how often will you get them to participate in your action?
Author: Pat Branson
Image Source: Fr Lawrence Lew, OP (Creator) Crucifixion scene outside Fatima. Flickr, CC BY-NC 2.0