The Nature of True Greatness
by Anne Linington(163)
http://Faithwriters.com
Mark 9:30-37
I want to look at our Gospel passage as a series of concentric circles, one within the other, each getting smaller and smaller.
The outer circle for our purposes is the area of Galilee; the inmost circle is one small child in the arms of Jesus.
This passage has so much to say about how we perceive leadership, and it seems particularly appropriate for me to be considering it this past week; this can be leadership in all walks of life- at home, work, in our communities but especially within our churches- our Christian family and community.
Our outside circle is Galilee
This is the area surrounding the lake/ sea of the same name.
It is the area in which Jesus based his early ministry- his preaching and healing, his provision of bread and fish for hungry crowds, raising the dead and delivering from evil spirits.
Walking from place to place Jesus would talk to his disciples, telling them what it meant to follow Him, and how ultimately he would suffer. As was said last week, this wasn't the kind of leader they were hoping for- one who would suffer betrayal and death- though one who would rise again.
This was the second time according to Mark that Jesus had told them of his forthcoming suffering.
They didn't understand what he meant, and were afraid to ask him.
Our next circle is that of Capernaum
Jesus had been rejected in His home town of Nazareth for he was considered “a prophet without honour” by those he had grown up with.
It is often difficult and inadvisable to exercise leadership, and in particular, Christian leadership in a Church or place where you have grown up- perhaps with lots of family members in the congregation. It is often difficult for them to see you in a different role among them.
So Jesus turns his back on Nazareth, and takes up Capernaum as his home town, the base for him and his disciples.
Capernaum was where he called some of his disciples: the four fishermen and Matthew as he sat as his tax collector's booth.
Capernaum saw many of Jesus' miracles....Simon Peter's mother-in-law is healed;
a paralytic is lowered through the roof by friends to be healed by Jesus; where people heard Him preach in the Synagogue..... where Peter caught the fish with a coin in its mouth enabling his and Jesus' tax to be paid.
But sadly despite all this first-hand knowledge of Christ's miracles and teaching, as a community they failed to repent.
Is it possible that with all the evidence we have known of Christ at work, that we like the citizens of Capernaum may still fail to repent?
Such was the judgment on Capernaum that almost nothing of it is left, and archaeologists have had to debate its whereabouts- most likely on the northern shore of the lake, where pillars are thought to be the remnants of the Synagogue.
Our next circle is a house in Capernaum
Within this house Jesus has gathered with his disciples, and he asks them directly “What were you arguing about on the road?”.
Jesus knew exactly the content of their discussion, - as He does ours- they had been discussing which of them was the greatest and He wants them to think this over.
It followed on from Peter's affirmation that Jesus was the Christ; yet also Jesus' condemnation when Peter rejected the possibility of Christ suffering;
It followed the Transfiguration of Christ witnessed by Peter, James and John whom Jesus had taken up the mountain.
It followed the remaining disciples being unable to deliver the boy from an evil spirit.
So they had put to one side all thoughts of Christ's suffering and were arguing over which of them was the greatest.
Matthew Henry says the desire for greatness lies deep within the human heart and is the essence of sin- Satan seeking to be worshipped; Adam and Eve wanting to be as gods.
We see it in our celebrity culture- footballers, models, popstars. TV programmes like Big Brother, Pop Idol, the X-Factor thrive on people's desire for greatness and often attract the most insecure. Tragedies like Jade Goody can result. In our post-war culture we have few real heroes, so society fills the gap with “celebrity” and millions are made from reading magazines with every last detail of their lives under the microscope.
Our next circle is the twelve which Jesus calls around him
Taking the familiar seating position of a Rabbi, they know that Jesus has some important teaching for them, first in words, then visually.
He tells them that if they want to be first, they must be the very last, the servant of all.
He had already said that for Him, his Messiahship had to include suffering, death and resurrection.
Now he told them that their leadership should be characterised by service, not seeing themselves as the greatest, but as the least.
This was something repeated throughout Jesus ministry- and again in Mark 10:43
Gentile rulers “Lord it over others..exercising authority over them. Not so with you..whoever wants to be great among you must be your servant; whoever wants to be first must be slave of all. For even the Son of man did not come to be served but to serve and give His life a ransom for many”
I would like to have the courage to say “If you see me lording it over others, forgetting that I am called to be a servant.. and you may well do that.. perhaps you would take me to one side and remind me of this passage..
Jesus would demonstrate this later on at the Last Supper, when none of them took up the servant's role to wash one another's feet, Jesus himself took the towel and bowl of water and washed their feet, telling them that they must do likewise.
He now gives this teaching in the form of an object lesson:
Taking a child, he places the child among them.
This is a small child paidion from which we get our word paediatric.
It is used of a child up to the age of seven. So we are thinking anything from a one- year old up to some of our younger choir members age or a bit older.
Probably a little boy- because it speaks of welcoming him.
Did Jesus know the child? Possibly if this was a house he used regularly.
In the parallel passage in Matthew 18:3 Jesus says that we need to change and become like little children..humbly dependent on him
Our last circle, at the centre of our story is Jesus taking the child in his arms and welcoming him.
If the child had felt at all uneasy before, now he is in Jesus arms- secure.
Jesus says whoever welcomes one of these little children welcomes me
Whoever welcomes me, welcomes not only me but my father also.
On another occasion Jesus taught that whenever we do something for the hungry, the naked, the stranger, the prisoner, it is just as if we are doing it to him.
So here, Jesus says to welcome this small child- is to welcome Christ.
When I worked as a hospital receptionist and again for a while at the Co-op, I felt it was really important to treat children with the same respect as you would an adult. How we treat the most vulnerable in our communities, those who are actually small or those who because of mental or physical disability are vulnerable, shows how we welcome. It is a very good gauge.
Anyone who through weakness of size, age, need, dependence or vulnerability resembles child-like qualities permanently or temporarily are the people that Jesus calls us to welcome and serve. And we all fit into that from time to time.
Friday morning I went for my walk along Totland Seafront. I've been noticing that the railing has gradually been painted, with long gaps in between, and I had wondered who had been doing it.
On Friday there was a white mini-bus parked up, a Supervisor sitting in the door, and a team of men working on the railing. Some were cleaning it back with wire brushes, others applying the reddish undercoat, and one applying the black topcoat.
Each was wearing an orange waistcoat with the words “Community Payback” on their backs. I walked passed half-wondering..........
what they may have done to be doing community service, .......
....how they must have felt about themselves
.... those of us who walked by who knew they they had committed some offense
..also wondering whether I should say anything to them that wouldn't sound patronizing.
I walked to the end of the beach, turned around and as I approached the group again, the eldest man about sixty was facing me. So I slowed, thanked him for the good job he was doing, and said I appreciated it. Then I did something similar with each of the others mostly in their 20's and 40's - some individually- one jumped when I spoke to him- others as a small group.
What did I hope to achieve? A small glimmer of self-respect, gratitude rather than condemnation, and the faint hope that a kind word and a smile might begin some change. Was I seeking Christ in them, consciously or unconsciously?
I am not likely to know whether any of this happens, but it would have been really easy to walk past and say nothing.
We have journeyed in our story through Galilee
Abandoning Nazareth, Jesus has made Capernaum his base.
Inside the house He has called the disciples around him- revealing their argument
He has taught them that true greatness lies in service of others
He has shown them that to welcome the vulnerable is to welcome him
He invites us to trust Him, to allow ourselves to be taken into the security of His arms
The real us- welcomed by Jesus
Suggested Meditation
When we get home, find some time during the week to read through the Gospel reading. Put yourself among the group listening to Jesus.
Perhaps you can identify with the disciples- failing to recognise the necessity of His suffering, recently arguing over who is the greatest..falling silent when we become aware that Jesus knows all about it.
Or picture yourself as the child standing in that circle- the “under- seven year old” you.
What might you be feeling?
How do you feel to have been called into the circle by Jesus?
How does the disciples' presence make you feel?
Then imagine Jesus taking you in his arms-
Telling the disciples that in welcoming you, they are welcoming him
How would that make you feel?
How does that differ from the child that is still part of the inner you?
Might that alter the necessity to prove how important you are?
Conclusion- where do we place ourselves in this series of circles?
Are we like those in Nazareth unable to believe that the one we have known from birth
is truly God's prophet, God's anointed?
Are we like those in Capernaum? We may have seen lots of evidence of Christ at work in the lives of others, but we haven't come to that place of repentance?
Are we like the Disciples, refusing to acknowledging that Christ's Messiahship involved suffering; still wanting to push ourselves forward, not recognising that greatness in the Kingdom is seen in service?
Are we like the child, able to trust in Christ who calls us to His side, and lifts us into His arms?
Article submitted Thursday, February 25, 2010 & read 73 times.
Leave Your Comments:
» left by Marijo Phelps(250)
Anne ` there is a depth and breadth to your writings that is wonderful. Sometimes it is almost too much to chew and take in in one reading SO I will get to read it again! Soon, I think. His hand is upon you in a most mighty way - do not let the enemy allow you th=o think otherwise - may you be His arms reached out and His hands extended - physically and always through your beautiful words! Please pray for me - I have a sore throat that's slowing me down!Respond to this comment
