In Mark9:30-37 the disciples continue to be confused
with Jesus’ message partly because their burning question was not “How can I live my
life as Jesus?”, but rather, “How can I be seen as the greatest?”
Their self-centered thoughts were barriers to their
understanding of what Jesus was telling them. In addition, their “arrogance,” reminiscent
of Adam and Eve, breached the lines of communication with Jesus and their
relationship with Him. They were unsuccessful in their attempt to heal the child
because they were more intent on impressing the crowd; competing with each
other and vying for Jesus approval rather than serving as instruments of God’s Peace.
In citing the child, Jesus is telling us
that we have to welcome those “non-persons”
who occupy the lowest rung of society’s ladder: "whoever welcomes one such
child in my name welcomes me, and whoever welcomes me welcomes not me but the
one who sent me."
Once again Jesus is challenging us to
reverse long-standing, ingrained, human habits and to set aside our common
human understanding of how to win fame and glory, and instead learn from Jesus,
God's way.
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