Mark 9:33–37 (ESV)
Who Is the Greatest?
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.”
Confused by Jesus’ prediction of His death, the disciples return to a subject they know well,
their own greatness. Jesus shows them that true status is found in serving those whom God values. When we are tempted to debate who is the greatest, we should instead look to where the Master hangs on the cross. He represents us before the Father in order
to redeem us, and He leads us by the cross into a new life.
I pray: Lord, forgive
us for our battles over greatness. Remind us that You alone are great, for You have served the least among us. Amen.[1]