HOW'S YOUR ATTITUDE? (Mark 9:30-41)
INTRODUCTION:
During the time that Jesus was with His disciples in Caesarea-Philippi much had happened. It was here that Peter had proclaimed that Jesus was the Messiah, the Son of God. Jesus had for the first time plainly told them that He must suffer many things and be rejected by the religious leaders and be killed and three day later rise from the dead. Peter had taken Jesus aside and rebuked Him for talking this way, and Jesus had in turn rebuked Peter by saying, “Get behind Me, Satan; for you are not setting your mind on God’s interests, but man’s.” (Mark 8:33b, NASB95)[1] Then Peter, James, and John witnessed the transfiguration of Jesus on the mountain and had seen Elijah and Moses talking to Jesus and had heard the voice of God the Father. Arriving again at the foot of the mountain they witnessed the dramatic miracle as Jesus cast a deaf/mute demon out of a child. This morning’s passage we find Jesus and the twelve heading south back into Galilee. Remember Jesus’ ministry in Galilee is over and we will see them moving south on their way to Jerusalem. Jesus’ major focus now is teaching His disciples and preparing them for His death, resurrection, and ascension. In this passage Jesus is going to teach His disciples the important lesson of humility. This is an important truth not only for the disciples but for us as well. Humility is not considered a virtue in our proud, self-centered world, nor was it in the world and culture in which Jesus lived. Even though humility is not looked upon as a desirable trait by fallen human nature, it is foundational to the Christian life. God speaking through the prophet Micah in Micah 6:8 says, “He has told you, O man, what is good; And what does the Lord require of you But to do justice, to love kindness, And to walk humbly with your God?” (Micah 6:8, NASB95)[2] Jesus in Luke 14:11 declared, “For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted.” (Luke 14:11, NASB95)[3] This theme is then carried throughout the New Testament as our Scripture reading this morning attests.
Like each of us, the disciples needed to learn humility because like us they battled pride too, and this was intensified by their position as the Messiah’s closest and chosen followers. Jesus in this passage wants His disciples to look at their attitudes and He does this as He models humility and as He teaches and admonishes them concerning humility. Let’s pray and get into our passage for this morning.
--PRAY--
SCRIPTURE:
Turn in your Bibles this morning to Mark 9:30-41. Please if you are able, stand in honor of the reading of God’s Word, and follow along as I read.
Mark 9:30-41,
“From there they went out and began to go through Galilee, and He did not want anyone to know about it. For He was teaching His disciples and telling them, ‘The Son of Man is to be delivered into the hands of men, and they will kill Him; and when He has been killed, He will rise three days later.’ But they did not understand this statement, and they were afraid to ask Him. They came to Capernaum; and when He was in the house, He began to question them, ‘What were you discussing on the way?’ But they kept silent, for on the way they had discussed with one another which of them was the greatest. Sitting down, He called the twelve and said to them, ‘If anyone wants to be first, he shall be last of all and servant of all.’ Taking a child, He set him before them, and taking him in His arms, He said to them, ‘Whoever receives one child like this in My name receives Me; and whoever receives Me does not receive Me, but Him who sent Me.’ John said to Him, ‘Teacher, we saw someone casting out demons in Your name, and we tried to prevent him because he was not following us.’ But Jesus said, ‘Do not hinder him, for there is no one who will perform a miracle in My name, and be able soon afterward to speak evil of Me. For he who is not against us is for us. For whoever gives you a cup of water to drink because of your name as followers of Christ, truly I say to you, he will not lose his reward.’ ” (Mark 9:30–41, NASB95)[4]
CHRIST’S EXAMPLE (Mark 9:30-32)
Jesus Christ described Himself in Matthew 11:29 as “gentle and humble in heart.” Throughout His earthly ministry He demonstrated this humility, this was especially demonstrated when He washed the feet of His disciples on the night He was betrayed. Jacob read for us this morning Paul’s summary of the humility of Jesus Christ seen in His incarnation. Listen to these words again in Philippians 2:5-8, “Have this attitude in yourselves which was also in Christ Jesus, who, although He existed in the form of God, did not regard equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied Himself, taking the form of a bond-servant, and being made in the likeness of men. Being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross.” (Philippians 2:5–8, NASB95)[5] Nothing expresses the humility of Christ like His “death on the cross,” and this is the theme of these opening verses in our passage today. As Jesus and His disciples traveled from Caesarea Philippi to Capernaum, which had been Jesus’ headquarters during His ministry in Galilee.
Now that His ministry in Galilee was over, we read that as He and His disciples traveled through Galilee, Jesus did not want anyone to know about it. He did not want to attract crowds; He wanted to use this time to teach His disciples. Later there would be some brief ministry in Judea and Perea, but the ministry in Galilee was over and would no longer be His base of operations. Jesus’ teaching as they traveled was again concerning the fact that the Son of Man was to be delivered into the hands of men, and those men would kill Him, and when He had been killed, He will rise three days later. This truth was the main truth that the disciples needed to understand but they could not grasp this truth, nor were they willing to accept it. Just as it was for the majority of the Jews, a crucified Messiah was a stumbling block for the disciples; a dying Messiah did not fit into their Messianic theology, it was simply incomprehensible and unacceptable to them.
The word translated “delivered” in verse 31 is a Greek word that literally means “to hand over.” It is used repeatedly in a legal sense to describe Jesus being handed over for judgment and punishment. In human terms, the elders, chief priests, scribes, and people, Judas, and Pilate all were guilty of delivering Jesus to judgment and death. But as Peter later preached, “…this Man, delivered over by the predetermined plan and foreknowledge of God, you nailed to a cross by the hands of godless men and put Him to death.” (Acts 2:23, NASB95)[6] According to Peter, God delivered Jesus over to death, this was His plan to bring redemption to mankind.
The struggle to comprehend the reality that the Jews and Romans would kill Jesus, but on top of that Jesus declared that once He had been killed, He would rise three days later. They understood Jesus’ power over death, they had seen Him raise the dead to life again. But what troubled them was that if He died, who would raise Him? Mark writes that the disciples did not understand this statement. This uncertainty about Christ’s death and resurrection, along with their grief, caused the disciples to be afraid to ask Him about it. Also, they remembered the rebuke that Peter received when He tried to stop Jesus from talking this way. Jesus compassionately chose not to reveal information to His disciples that He knew would devastate their faith. In the parallel passage in Luke, it tells us that this information was concealed from them so that they would not perceive it. (Luke 9:45) At the right time it would be revealed to them, and they would understand.
CHRIST’S TEACHING (Mark 9:33-37)
Mark informs us that they arrived in Capernaum, they went into a house, possibly Peter and Andrew’s home where Jesus stayed in Capernaum. Peter and Andrew had moved to Capernaum from Bethsaida, and this was also the hometown of their fishing partners James and John. We also know that Matthew was from Capernaum. The trip from Caesarea Philippi had been long and they had time to talk as they were traveling when Jesus wasn’t teaching them. Even though Jesus was teaching them again about His death and resurrection, the disciples got into an argument, and of all things they could have talked about, they began to argue and debate which of them was the greatest. This is unbelievable! Jesus knew exactly what was going on even though the disciples thought He was beyond earshot when they we talking about this among themselves. What must have the Lord thought, they had been with Him almost three years, and He was about to face the ultimate humiliation of all time, and they were arguing about who was the greatest.
Mark writes, “They came to Capernaum; and when He was in the house, He began to question them, ‘What were you discussing on the way?’ ” (Mark 9:33, NASB95)[7] Jesus knew what they were discussing, and He gave them the opportunity to own up to it. He was going to use this to teach them to check their attitudes, to teach them about humility. Mark tells us that the disciples kept silent, they probably hung their heads in shame, because they had been debating about which of them was the greatest. The Lord Jesus had spoken to them about His humiliation but all they could think about was their exaltation.
There is no real unity among proud people, because only humble people love. Jesus had to deal with this pride because if they continued to focus on their own personal glory the consequences would be devastating. These men were to be the ones who preached the gospel, and they would be the leaders of the church that would be founded after Jesus ascended into heaven. With the opposition they would face and the hostility from the religious establishment, they would need to be unified and supportive of each other. But as seen in this argument about who is the greatest, pride destroys unity because it ruins relationships. Pride is self-focused and because it is it does not care about others. Pride is also judgmental and critical, and this causes division. Pride is the most common destroyer of both relationships and churches. Satan uses our pride as a wedge to split churches and splinter relationships. Jesus knew this and used this opportunity to stress to the disciples the crucial necessity of humility. Paul exhorted the church in Philippi of the importance of being unified when He wrote in Philippians 1:27, “Only conduct yourselves in a manner worthy of the gospel of Christ, so that whether I come and see you or remain absent, I will hear of you that you are standing firm in one spirit, with one mind striving together for the faith of the gospel.” (Philippians 1:27, NASB95)[8]
What is it that prideful people want most? They want to be noticed, they want to be honored, but pride keeps people from obtaining the very honor that they seek. Honor is reserved for the humble. But just as we view spiritual pride as something normal, desirable, and legitimate, the disciples did also. Look at who they had as examples. Pride characterized the most revered men in Israel, the religious leaders. Listen to Matthew’s words that expresses this pride that characterized them. Matthew 23:5-7 says concerning the religious leaders, “But they do all their deeds to be noticed by men; for they broaden their phylacteries and lengthen the tassels of their garments. They love the place of honor at banquets and the chief seats in the synagogues, and respectful greetings in the market places, and being called Rabbi by men.” (Matthew 23:5–7, NASB95)[9] As I already stated, Jesus knew what the disciples had been discussing even if they refused to tell Him. Sitting down, as rabbis commonly did when they taught, Jesus called the twelve and began to teach them. He said, “If anyone wants to be first, he shall be last of all and servant of all.” (Mark 9:35b, NASB95)[10] Pursuing honor, affirmation, and exaltation from men forfeits the true reward that comes to those willing to be the last, not to those who always have to be first. (Matthew 6:1-5)
Next Jesus took a child and had him stand among them, and I love that Mark brings out Jesus’ compassion and love when he writes that Jesus took the child in His arms, Jesus embraced him. Who was this child? Possibly one of Peter or Andrew’s children if they were in their house. Jesus used this child He was embracing as an object lesson to further teach them about humility. A small child has not yet accomplished or achieved anything; they have no power or honor but are weak, dependent, and ignored. The rabbis of Jesus’ day considered it a waste of time to teach the Torah to a child under the age of twelve.
Jesus uses this child to represent believers, those who have put their faith in Jesus. He said to the disciples, “Whoever receives one child like this in My name receives Me; and whoever receives Me does not receive Me, but Him who sent Me.” (Mark 9:37, NASB95)[11] In other words, Jesus is saying that how Christians treat fellow Christians is how they treat Jesus, and not only Jesus but also the One who sent Him, God the Father. The truth that Jesus is teaching is that those who reject other believers reject Jesus, and the One who sent Him. Matthew gives more detail in the parallel passage to this one. In Matthew 18:1 the disciples hoping that Jesus could settle this dispute about which of them would be the greatest asked Him, “Who then is greatest in the kingdom of heaven?” (Matthew 18:1, NASB95)[12] Jesus’ reply was shocking, “Truly I say to you, unless you are converted and become like children, you will not enter the kingdom of heaven.” (Matthew 18:3, NASB95)[13] In other words, those proud religious overachievers, who expected to receive the highest places of honor in the kingdom, will not even enter it. But those with humble, childlike faith will be the greatest in the kingdom of heaven. Matthew continues to elaborate on what Jesus said, and what He said next was even more sobering and startling. Jesus said, “…but whoever causes one of these little ones who believe in Me to stumble, it would be better for him to have a heavy millstone hung around his neck, and to be drowned in the depth of the sea.” (Matthew 18:6, NASB95) It would be better to die a horrible death than offend a fellow believer, one who is joined to Christ by salvation, one who has the Spirit of God living in him. Jesus went on, reinforcing God’s care for those who belong to Him, who have become His children, Jesus in verse 10 of Matthew 18 warned His disciples, “See that you do not despise one of these little ones, for I say to you that their angels in heaven continually see the face of My Father who is in heaven.” (Matthew 18:10, NASB95)[14] All heaven is watching to see how God’s children are treated.
CHRIST’S ADMONISHMENT (Mark 9:38-41)
Jesus’ words stirred John’s conscience. Suddenly he spoke, half confessing and half asking. He said, “Teacher, we saw someone casting out demons in Your name, and we tried to prevent him because he was not following us.” (Mark 9:38, NASB95)[15] John, a disciple who had been with Jesus for three years, an apostle of the Lord Jesus gives us an example of ministerial intolerance and jealousy. John’s words reveal the origin of so much of the exclusivism and narrowness we experience. This man that John refers to was a believer in Jesus, but certainly not as informed as the disciples—they told him repeatedly to stop what he was doing, but he would not. But what is particularly annoying was his success. He really was experiencing power through Jesus’ name which is ironic in light of the disciples’ recent powerlessness. Remember they had failed to cast the deaf/mute demon out of the boy brought to them by his father.
This reminds me of another incident in the Old Testament, Joshua was also upset when he found Eldad and Medad prophesying in the camp and he called Moses to stop them (Numbers 11:26-28). John the Baptist’s disciples had done almost the same thing when they saw Jesus’ becoming more popular and John popularity beginning to wane. They came to John and said to him in John 3:26, “Rabbi, He who was with you beyond the Jordan, to whom you have testified, behold, He is baptizing and all are coming to Him.” (John 3:26, NASB95)[16] Chuck Swindoll observed, “It is a curious fact that jealousy is a tension often found among professionals, the gifted, and the highly competent. You know, doctors, singers, artists, lawyers, business men and women, authors, entertainers, preachers, educators, politicians, and all public figures. Strange, isn’t it, that such capable folk find it nearly impossible to applaud others in their own field who excel a shade or two more than they? Jealousy’s fangs may be hidden, but take care when the creature coils…no matter how cultured and dignified it may appear.”[17] It does not have to be that way, if each of us would learn to humble ourselves there would be more tolerance, more fellowship. Listen to these proper responses. First, from Moses in response to Joshua, “Are you jealous for my sake? Would that all the Lord’s people were prophets, that the Lord would put His Spirit upon them!” (Numbers 11:29, NASB95)[18] Second, listen to John the Baptist’s response to his disciples, “A man can receive nothing unless it has been given him from heaven. You yourselves are my witnesses that I said, ‘I am not the Christ,’ but, ‘I have been sent ahead of Him.’ He who has the bride is the bridegroom; but the friend of the bridegroom, who stands and hears him, rejoices greatly because of the bridegroom’s voice. So this joy of mine has been made full. He must increase, but I must decrease.” (John 3:27–30, NASB95)[19] In other words, John the Baptist said regarding Jesus’ growing popularity, that he was like the friend of the bridegroom, who on the wedding day stood guard over the bridal chamber, waiting to rejoice over the voice of the bridegroom and to open the bridal chamber door. John found joy in Jesus’ ascendance!
Jesus reply to the disciple John in Mark 9 gives guidance for all time. “But Jesus said, ‘Do not hinder him, for there is no one who will perform a miracle in My name, and be able soon afterward to speak evil of Me. For he who is not against us is for us. For whoever gives you a cup of water to drink because of your name as followers of Christ, truly I say to you, he will not lose his reward.” (Mark 9:39–41, NASB95) When we suppress our pride and humble ourselves then the important thing about ministry is not style or tradition or denomination, but that Jesus’ name be lifted up and glorified. Like John the Baptist, we are to rejoice in this! Jesus’ point is that with humility comes unity, honor, and in the end reward that cannot be lost or forfeited.
CONCLUSION:
When we consider Christian ministry and living the Christian life, it is no exaggeration to say that attitude is everything. As Jesus observed the prideful, jealous, grasping attitude of His disciples, He knew this to be true. There is no place in the church for seeking dominance and first place. Imagine Jesus saying to you, “If anyone wants to be first, he shall be last of all and servant of all.” (Mark 9:35b, NASB95)[20]
How’s your attitude? Are you seeking to be served and to be first? Or have you embraced the radicalness of servanthood that comes when we humble ourselves. Imagine Jesus Christ “Taking a child, He set him before them, and taking him in His arms, He said to them, ‘Whoever receives one child like this in My name receives Me; and whoever receives Me does not receive Me, but Him who sent Me.’ ” (Mark 9:36–37, NASB95)[21] How’s your attitude? Are your arms open to others among God’s people, just as you open them to your children? Finally, hear Jesus call John to loving tolerance to others in ministry. “But Jesus said, ‘Do not hinder him, for there is no one who will perform a miracle in My name, and be able soon afterward to speak evil of Me. For he who is not against us is for us.’ ” (Mark 9:39–40, NASB95)[22] Is your attitude exclusive or narrow? Or do you have the informed tolerance that comes when we humble ourselves before Christ, which rejoices when the name of Jesus is glorified?
[1]New American Standard Bible: 1995 Update. 1995. La Habra, CA: The Lockman Foundation.
[2]New American Standard Bible: 1995 Update. 1995. La Habra, CA: The Lockman Foundation.
[3]New American Standard Bible: 1995 Update. 1995. La Habra, CA: The Lockman Foundation.
[4]New American Standard Bible: 1995 Update. 1995. La Habra, CA: The Lockman Foundation.
[5]New American Standard Bible: 1995 Update. 1995. La Habra, CA: The Lockman Foundation.
[6]New American Standard Bible: 1995 Update. 1995. La Habra, CA: The Lockman Foundation.
[7]New American Standard Bible: 1995 Update. 1995. La Habra, CA: The Lockman Foundation.
[8]New American Standard Bible: 1995 Update. 1995. La Habra, CA: The Lockman Foundation.
[9]New American Standard Bible: 1995 Update. 1995. La Habra, CA: The Lockman Foundation.
[10]New American Standard Bible: 1995 Update. 1995. La Habra, CA: The Lockman Foundation.
[11]New American Standard Bible: 1995 Update. 1995. La Habra, CA: The Lockman Foundation.
[12]New American Standard Bible: 1995 Update. 1995. La Habra, CA: The Lockman Foundation.
[13]New American Standard Bible: 1995 Update. 1995. La Habra, CA: The Lockman Foundation.
[14]New American Standard Bible: 1995 Update. 1995. La Habra, CA: The Lockman Foundation.
[15]New American Standard Bible: 1995 Update. 1995. La Habra, CA: The Lockman Foundation.
[16]New American Standard Bible: 1995 Update. 1995. La Habra, CA: The Lockman Foundation.
[17]Hughes, R. Kent, Mark: Jesus, Servant and Savior (Preaching the Word). Wheaton, IL : Crossway, 2015.
[18]New American Standard Bible: 1995 Update. 1995. La Habra, CA: The Lockman Foundation.
[19]New American Standard Bible: 1995 Update. 1995. La Habra, CA: The Lockman Foundation.
[20]New American Standard Bible: 1995 Update. 1995. La Habra, CA: The Lockman Foundation.
[21]New American Standard Bible: 1995 Update. 1995. La Habra, CA: The Lockman Foundation.
[22]New American Standard Bible: 1995 Update. 1995. La Habra, CA: The Lockman Foundation.