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Mark

Mark 
Day 
Day 211

2 Peter 2:20 "For if, after they have escaped the pollutions of the world through the knowledge of the Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, they are again entangled in them, and overcome, the latter end is worse for them than the beginning." 2 Peter 2:20"

Day 211 – Mark 9

“For if, after they have escaped the pollutions of the world through the knowledge of the Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, they are again entangled in them, and overcome, the latter end is worse for them than the beginning.” 2 Peter 2:20

WHOEVER DESIRES TO BE FIRST

Jesus did not decry the desire to be “first”. However, he emphasized that in order to achieve that, one must be prepared to be “last of all”. This was a paradox that must be thought through carefully.

SERVANT OF ALL

Jesus went on to add that the person who is truly great in God’s sight is necessarily a person who has the heart of a servant. To be “a servant of all” would be to describe a slave given the lowest level of functional importance!

A PROFOUND TRUTH

Did the Disciples understand what Jesus meant? Just in case they did not fully comprehend, Jesus gave them an illustration.


“Then He took a little child and set him in the midst of them.
And when He had taken him in His arms, He said to them,
‘Whoever receives one of these little children in My name
receives Me; and whoever receives Me, receives not Me
but Him who sent Me.'”
MARK 9:36-37

1. Many great tasks

What would some of the “great tasks” the Disciples imagined they could do for the Lord?

a) Preaching the Word of God powerfully and effectively to many people?
b) Making many disciples?
c) Healing people?

2. A humble task exemplified

Jesus took a little child and embraced him! The showering of love to the little child was anything but spectacular. It was one of the most ordinary things a person could do. Slaves were often employed to look after children. They tended them. Their task was to serve the little ones.

3. With the Lord Jesus in mind

If the humblest of tasks is done with the Lord Jesus in mind, then the receiving of a little child, would be the same as caring for the Master Himself. This figure may be extended further. The person who received Jesus, has done great service to God the Father. And he who is called to serve the Father will indeed be greatly honoured!