BLUF: A Paradox of Leadership
Text: 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.” (Mk 9:33-37, ESV)
Context, Context, Context: In Mark’s account of this event, it follows immediately after Jesus’s transfiguration (Mk 9:2-23), and Jesus’ healing of the boy with an unclean spirit (Mk 9:14-29), and Jesus’ foretelling of his soon-to-occur death, burial, and resurrection (Mk 9:30-32). Events in Mark’s gospel occur quickly. John Mark loves the adverb immediately. He’s a plot-driven writer, if you will, who keeps it moving. But we see in the snippet above Jesus’ penetrating question to some of his disciples: “What were you discussing on the way?” Hmmm, why would the omniscient God the Son ask questions of his students? Well, for the same reason any master teacher might query his students–namely, to get them to dive deeper into the wisdom that’s about to be revealed.
The Disciples Didn’t Answer the Question: Why didn’t they? Because they were too consumed with jockeying for position and power. They’d argued with one another about their status. They were, well, a lot like people today. Why? Well, because human nature’s a constant. Pride is just part of the program. Find people and you’ll find pride—lots of it. But Christianity turns everything upside down, doesn’t it? It says if you want to be first, you must serve. It’s not about being at the head of the table; it’s about setting the table. It’s not about being served, but about serving. It’s not about you or me being the greatest, because if we’re honest, we know we’re debtors to grace.
Encouragement: Biblical leadership’s difference is that it’s known for its selflessness. It’s a pouring out for others. It’s self-denial for the sake of the greater mission. The Christian gospel is the greatest true story ever told because it’s about the only holy and righteous Leader (God) becoming a slave and being a rejected and despised lamb for slaughter. Why? For the sake of puffed-up, prideful sinners who were jockeying to see if they were the greatest? Yes. Because as prideful as those disciples were in that scene, they’re a lot like we are. Again, it’s that constant of human nature. Here’s the great news: Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners. Prideful disciples, skeptical Pharisees, and more. Broken sinners. In other words, fellow sinners who are a lot like the man or woman you see in your mirror each day.
