Jesus would have them understand that authority in His kingdom is not hierarchical but finds expression in one getting immersed in the needs of others.
Knowledge:
By Kwabena Donkor
Kwabena Donkor is an associate director for the General Conference Biblical Research Institute.
While Jesus Christ was on earth, He set in motion a movement that would eventually become the Christian Church. Obviously, He knew what the church would become, but He did not provide any detailed prescriptions for church governance. Still, He knew that issues of authority would arise in the church and He provided principles that should guide its exercise. Such is the passage we will be looking at today.
The Context
Jesus took three of His disciples through the Transfiguration experience while they were in Caesarea Philippi (Mark 9:2). In Mark 9:30 we are told that He left the place and took a course that would eventually see Him in Jerusalem. He led the disciples through Galilee purposely to keep them from the crowds so that He would have quality time to instruct them particularly concerning His death and resurrection (Mark 9:31). Jesus had told the disciples about His death before, at which time Peter came in for rebuke (Mark 8:32, 33). In this latest instruction on His passion, however, Jesus added the additional detail that the Son of Man would be delivered into the hands of men. Jesus may have meant this to be an action of God, or He may have had Judas’s betrayal in view. The word translated “delivered” or “betrayed” allows both possibilities. In any case, this instruction was exclusively intended for the disciples who did not grasp it. And they were afraid to ask Him for clarification! Were they being careful because of the earlier incident with Peter?
And how was it that Jesus’ second prediction of His death could provoke a debate on rank among them (Mark 9:34)? Could Jesus’ prediction about His death have been overshadowed by His earlier promise of the kingdom coming in power (Mark 9:1)? Or even the prediction of His “quick” resurrection? Anyhow, they did not grasp it, and Jesus instructed them on ambition, power, and authority as far as the kingdom is concerned.
The Text
Jesus and His disciples finally arrived in Capernaum and entered a certain house. Jesus, who had been aware of their debate about rank while they were in “the way,” saw this as the appropriate time to address the matter (Mark 9:33). He asked them what they were disputing. There was silence, because the disciples seemed to have realized that the subject of their disputation on the way was shameful and embarrassing.
Jesus instructed them pointedly that the one who desires to be first in His kingdom must be last, and servant of all (Mark 9:35). In saying that the one who wishes to be first must be servant of all, Mark uses a future tense that could work as an imperative, thereby laying it down as a principle that spiritual greatness necessarily requires service to others. Jesus would have them understand that authority in His kingdom is not hierarchical but finds expression in one getting immersed in the needs of others. Authority does not sit high and look down but stoops low in service, sacrifice, and sympathy. Christ’s impending death that He announced to them was going to be the supreme model of service and sacrifice. How contrary to the principles of His kingdom was the response of the disciples in quibbling about rank at such a time!
Application
The fact that the disciples could contend about power in the light of Jesus’ announcement of His death should warn us about the potency of the desire for supremacy, power, and control. Their insensitiveness was rooted in self-seeking. Ellen White writes: “Among the followers of our Lord today, as of old, how widespread is this subtle, deceptive sin! How often our service to Christ, our communion with one another, is marred by the secret desire to exalt self! How ready the thought of self-gratulation, and the longing for human approval!” (The Desire of Ages, p. 409).
Today we should especially mark the subtlety and deceptiveness of the desire for greatness because of the irony of the fact that although the disciples had left all for Christ’s sake, a corner of their hearts still cherished human greatness for themselves! Thank God that His power is able to banish such self-seeking!
