By: Pastor Rick Smith

On our way to Calvary we need to draw closer to Jesus. After all that happened on the Mount of Transfiguration the road for Jesus was headed to the cross. Jesus’ time with His disciples was running out and He was determined to make the best of the time that He had with them. “And they departed thence, and passed through Galilee; and he would not that any man should know it.” (Mark 9:30). Jesus was trying to keep His presence secret so that He could direct His attention to the disciples. What was Jesus’ focus with His disciples at this time. It is His upcoming death. Jesus tells them plainly, “The Son of man is delivered into the hands of men, and they shall kill him; and after that he is killed, he shall rise the third day.” (Mark 9:31). Jesus was blunt and His words were perfectly clear and easy to be understood, but His disciples did not understand what He meant. “But they understood not that saying, and were afraid to ask him.” (Mark 9:32). Not only did they not understand, they failed to ask for clarity from Jesus on what He meant. They weren’t dumb, but they were ignorant – sinfully ignorant. Why?

The disciples had a problem and Jesus asked them, “What was it that ye disputed among yourselves by the way?” (Mark 9:33). They were conceited, arrogant, and prideful. They were also ignorant and blind to what was about to happen to their Master. But they knew that they were wrong. “But they kept silent, for on the road they had disputed among themselves who would be the greatest.” (Mark 9:34 NKJV). First, they wouldn’t ask Jesus when He talked about His death and resurrection. Now they keep their mouths shut when Jesus asked about their dispute. The question they argued over was, “Who would be greatest?” None of us would give them a passing grade for character or compassion. Jesus had told them of His death and they passed that aside to argue over which of them was greatest. Was this instigated by the secret that Peter, James, and John were trying to keep? Were questions asked about their time on the mountain with no answers coming from these three? Did they feel superior because of their time with Jesus there? Were they using what they experienced as an excuse for pride? Too many questions left unanswered, but human nature can make many excuses to puff the ego up.

Look at Jesus’ response. “If any man desire to be first, the same shall be last of all, and servant of all.” (Mark 9:35). Is there anything wrong with desiring to be first? Not at all. There’s always a need for leaders, for those that will get out front and lead the charge. Jesus is first, He is number one, but He said of Himself, “And whoever desires to be first among you, let him be your slave—just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life a ransom for many.” (Matthew 20:27-28 NKJV). The Jesus way to the top is to be servant of all. Jesus portrayed this to His disciples with a child. “And he took a child, and set him in the midst of them: and when he had taken him in his arms, he said unto them, Whosoever shall receive one of such children in my name, receiveth me: and whosoever shall receive me, receiveth not me, but him that sent me.” (Mark 9:36-37). The least little child that belongs to Jesus is to be received as Jesus. Over and over again the disciples had to be taught this truth. The one who is number one is a servant of and for Christ. We serve Jesus by serving one another in love, grace, and patience.

No sooner had this lesson finished when John confronts Jesus with a situation. “And John answered him, saying, Master, we saw one casting out devils in thy name, and he followeth not us: and we forbad him, because he followeth not us.” (Mark 9:38). Before we judge John too harshly, we might want to look at ourselves. One of the tools of Satan to steal the gospel seed from the lost is to point out the divisions among Christians. Why so many denominations and so many divisions? It is a difficult lesson to learn. “But Jesus said, Forbid him not: for there is no man which shall do a miracle in my name, that can lightly speak evil of me. For he that is not against us is on our part.” (Mark 9:39-40). Our divisions will one day be over and we will be together forever.

None of us who have put our trust in Jesus can have any reason to boast. The old hymn says, “Jesus paid it all, all to Him I owe, sin had left a crimson stain, He washed it white as snow.” Have you heard the gospel of Jesus Christ? God sent His Son Jesus to die for our sins on the cross. Jesus is our Sacrifice for sin accepted by God the Father Who raised Jesus from the dead. “He who believes in Him is not condemned; but he who does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.” (John 3:18 NKJV).

If you have any questions, we invite you to visit with us this Sunday. Worship at 10:50 A.M. We are located at 711 West Washington Ave. Check our sermon videos on Youtube @ricksmith2541. Send comments and prayer requests to prayerlinecmbc@gmail.com.

Rick Smith is the Pastor at Calvary Missionary Baptist Church in Artesia.