Mark 9:30-37 (NKJV) Jesus Again Predicts His Death and Resurrection
30 Then they departed from there and passed through Galilee, and He did not want anyone to know it. 31 For He taught His disciples and said to them, “The Son of Man is being betrayed into the hands of men, and they will kill Him. And after He is killed, He will rise the third day.” 32 But they did not understand this saying, and were afraid to ask Him.
Who Is the Greatest?
(Matt. 18:1–5; Luke 9:46–48)
33 Then He came to Capernaum. And when He was in the house He asked them, “What was it you disputed among yourselves on the road?” 34 But they kept silent, for on the road they had disputed among themselves who would be the greatest. 35 And He sat down, called the twelve, and said to them, “If anyone desires to be first, he shall be last of all and servant of all.” 36 Then He took a little child and set him in the midst of them. And when He had taken him in His arms, He said to them, 37 “Whoever receives one of these little children in My name receives Me; and whoever receives Me, receives not Me but Him who sent Me.”
V30 “Then they departed from there and passed through Galilee, and He did not want anyone to know it.” The reason being that Jesus needed time alone with His disciples in order to teach them some things.
V31 “For He taught His disciples and said to them, “The Son of Man is being betrayed into the hands of men, and they will kill Him. And after He is killed, He will rise the third day.” What He taught them was 1) the Son of Man (Messianic title—Daniel 7:13), 2) He will be betrayed (Luke 22:47-48), 3) into hands of men (Luke 22:63-65, etc.), 4) kill Him (Matthew 26:3-5), and rise the 3rd day (Matthew 28:6-7 and Luke 24:21, 46). Jesus wanted to do these things because of His honor, His love, His compassion, for justification of those who believe. If these did not happen, there is no salvation.
A person cannot be a Christian unless they believe these things. It is emphasized by Paul: 1 Corinthians 15:3-4 (LHB) For I delivered to you first of all that which I also received, that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures; [4] And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures:
V32 “But they did not understand this saying, and were afraid to ask Him.” In their thinking, Jesus would be King and defeat the Romans and other enemies. This was not Jesus’s ministry at that time. Jesus came to be the savior of those who would and did believe in Him. The disciples knew the traditions of the elders but not much about the whole of the Law and Prophets.
Comments:
Dr. Henry M. Morris writes: “Jesus could hardly have spoken more plainly than in what He said, but the disciples did not understand, basically because they were “afraid” that He meant what He said. Similarly, many today have difficulty in understanding God’s Word, primarily because they don’t want to believe that God actually means what He says. This is especially true in connection with His record of creation and other miracles.”
Robertson’s Word Pictures: “An old word. Chiefly in Paul’s Epistles in the N.T. Imperfect tense. They continued not to understand. They were agnostics on the subject of the death and resurrection even after the Transfiguration experience. As they came down from the mountain they were puzzled again over the Master’s allusion to his resurrection (Mark 9:10). Matthew 17:23 notes that “they were exceeding sorry” to hear Jesus talk this way again, but Mark adds that they “were afraid to ask him” (ephobounto auton eperōtēsai).”
V33 “Then He came to Capernaum. And when He was in the house He asked them, “What was it you disputed among yourselves on the road?” Confession time brothers! They were ashamed. Jesus knew, of course, but He wanted them to tell Him.
V34 “But they kept silent, for on the road they had disputed among themselves who would be the greatest.” They were ashamed that they had argued who would be the more honorable person next to Jesus. This shows the principle that coveting is not just money or gifts. They were coveting power and influence. Let us learn.
V35 “And He sat down, called the twelve, and said to them, “If anyone desires to be first, he shall be last of all and servant of all.” Jesus teaches this principle that God Himself lives by. Humility comes before honor. Jesus spent 33 years on earth in a humiliating occupation, city, clothes, and rejected by most of Israel. He died an ignominious death. But, then came the honor, the first to have a permanent resurrection, an ascension, and the place of honor at the Father’s right hand.
V36 “Then He took a little child and set him in the midst of them. And when He had taken him in His arms, He said to them…” His illustration included a child. This child must have been less than 5 years old for Jesus held him in His arms.
V37 “…Whoever receives one of these little children in My name receives Me; and whoever receives Me, receives not Me but Him who sent Me.” Receives carries the idea of welcoming. This is the attitude that pleases God.
We learn:
- Not to covet.
- Not to seek honor.
- To accept and love little children.
Questions:
- Do we covet?
- Are we seeking honor?
- What is our attitude about children?