Mark 9: 30-50   Jesus revealed His glory to Peter, James, and John on the mountaintop.. then He told them that He would "rise from the dead". After healing the boy that the other disciples could not, He takes them all on a journey through Galilee.. "and He was unwilling for anyone to know about it. For He was teaching His disciples.. "  Jesus very clearly tells His disciples what is going to happen to Him... "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."  ( v31)

This is the third time in a short period of time that Jesus has made this proclamation to His disciples... and they still do not understand.  Instead, they have a discussion over which one of them was "the greatest."  Patiently, Jesus tells them again.. what it REALLY means to be great in the eyes of the Lord... "If anyone wants to be first, he shall be last of all, servant of all."  Or, as the NIV translates it.. ".. he must be the very last, and the servant of all." Or, as the CJV says it, ".. If anyone wants to be first, he must make himself last of all and servant of all." 

Jesus illustrates this truth by taking a small child into His arms and saying to them... "Whoever welcomes one such child in my name, welcomes Me, whoever welcomes Me welcomes not me but the One who sent Me." ( CJV)  Matthew makes it a little more specific.. "And whoever.. gives to one of these little ones even a cup of cold water to drink, truly I say to you he shall not lose his reward."  To be the servant.. to a child.. well that was stunning to men at that time!  It is, perhaps, stunning to us too.. but, Jesus says this is what we MUST do.. make ourselves servant of all... for His sake. 

Jesus is not finished with this lesson.. 

John tells about seeing someone using the name of Jesus to cast out demons.. and wanting to stop him.  But, Jesus tells him that "there is no one who shall perform a miracle in My name and be able soon afterward to speak evil of Me."  If that person is "not against" Jesus  ( or them) then he is for Him. 

Jesus switches His illustration from serving a child.. to someone serving the disciple.. "For whoever gives you a cup of water to drink because of your name as followers of Christ, truly I say to you, he shall not lose his reward." (v41)  To serve the servants of Jesus.. this is how one is "for Him". 

Those who are "against" Jesus are the ones who cause little ones to stumble.. who stumble.. when their hands, their feet, their eyes.. control them and bring them into temptations that lead to sin and death and hell... who do not surrender their lives.. their bodies... their positions.. their wills.. to the Lord.  They are like salt that is unsalty...and they will be "cast into hell". 

"Have salt in yourselves and be at peace with one another." (v50) The disciples needed to stop arguing..  to stop trying to be the greatest.. and to start serving.. to start being at peace with each other.  To preserve that unity, that humble, gentle, patient, loving relationship that should characterize the followers of Christ. 

Father God, let Your Word penetrate our hearts and minds and lead us into true surrender to Your will. May we serve one another.. love one another.. be at peace with one another as You command. Teach me.. reveal to me... the attitude of my own heart and lead me in Your ways of righteousness. I ask this in the Name of Jesus, Lord and King forever. Amen.