OUR SCRIPTURE INTRO
Our lectionary text this Sunday holds a similar thread for the third consecutive week. This text aligns with the past two in that Jesus purposefully wants to keep His identity quiet.
Recall the Sunday, September 9th text. Jesus tells the crowd not to tell anyone about His healing ministry. The more he tells them not to however, the more they spread the news (Mark 7:36).
Remember our text from this past Sunday, September 15th. Jesus warns His disciples not to tell anyone about him (Mark 8:30).
This Sunday, our lectionary text begins with this verse: "Leaving that region [the region where Jesus had performed significant healings], they traveled through Galilee. Jesus didn't want anyone to know he was there (Mark 9:30)."
The answer is clear as to why Jesus wants to keep His identity quiet. Jesus does not want people focusing on the miracles He has performed. Instead, Jesus wants the message about why, as the only Son of God, He has to die. The One gathering fame because He has healed many wants it clear that He was sent by God to die for our eternal salvation.
The same is true today. God would rather we focus on the healing miracle of salvation through Jesus Christ instead of focusing on other healings and/or miracles. This is why this third text is so important. Jesus wants us to know — without question — why He came.
We will read in Mark 9 that the disciples misunderstand. We will also read that Jesus wants to help them, and, in turn, all of us, understand His mission for our eternal life. Jesus accomplishes this with these two significant verses. The first is, “Whoever wants to be first must take last place and be the servant of everyone else.” The second is, “Anyone who welcomes a little child like this on my behalf welcomes me, and anyone who welcomes me welcomes not only me but also my Father who sent me.”
As we move toward this Sunday, let's focus on His mission for eternal life and a wellness that does not wait until we arrive in heaven. Life with God and wellness with (and through) God begins here on earth when, like Jesus, we serve others and welcome all with Jesus' love around us.
Mark 9:30-37, NLT
Jesus Again Predicts His Death
30 Leaving that region, they traveled through Galilee. Jesus didn’t want anyone to know he was there, 31 for he wanted to spend more time with his disciples and teach them. He said to them, “The Son of Man is going to be betrayed into the hands of his enemies. He will be killed, but three days later he will rise from the dead.” 32 They didn’t understand what he was saying, however, and they were afraid to ask him what he meant.
The Greatest in the Kingdom
33 After they arrived at Capernaum and settled in a house, Jesus asked his disciples, “What were you discussing out on the road?” 34 But they didn’t answer, because they had been arguing about which of them was the greatest. 35 He sat down, called the twelve disciples over to him, and said, “Whoever wants to be first must take last place and be the servant of everyone else.”
36 Then he put a little child among them. Taking the child in his arms, he said to them, 37 “Anyone who welcomes a little child like this on my behalf[a] welcomes me, and anyone who welcomes me welcomes not only me but also my Father who sent me.”