What’s Really Important

“And He came to Capernaum: and being in the house He asked them, What was it that ye disputed among yourselves by the way?”  Mark 9:33

Jesus didn’t ask this question of His disciples about their dispute because He didn’t know what the disciples were arguing about.  He knew exactly what they were discussing.  He wanted to get their dispute out into the open because He wanted to teach them a lesson.  According to Luke 9:46. the disciples had been arguing among themselves as to who would hold the greatest position in the earthly kingdom that they believed Jesus would set up after He, as they also believed, conquered the Romans.  After all, He was the King, and they were His “right hand men”, so naturally they assumed that they would be given positions of prominence in His administration.

Everyone, well not everyone, but lots of folks want to be in a position of “top dog” or “head honcho” among their peers.  Of course there is nothing wrong with ambition if carried out with the right motives.  Someone does have to take the lead in any organization, group, family, church, etc., but not as a power-hungry man or woman who seeks places of leadership for selfish reasons, but because they want to serve and help people, making a difference for the good of all.

I am more like the folks who had rather work in the background.  Leaders can be looked upon favorably, or they can be seen with eyes of scorn and condemnation, even if they are doing a good job.  A leader has to have a thick hide and a mellow heart.  Jesus told His disciples before He commissioned them to go out among society’s wolves to be “wise as serpents, and harmless as doves” (Matthew 10:16).  However they had lost focus on the mission and were thinking more about what was in all of this for themselves.  I suppose they may have been looking for recognition or just plain old “payback”.  They decided to remain silent and not answer Jesus’ question, likely because they had been with Him for some time now and knew that they were probably going to get a rebuke.  And Jesus did not fail to patiently, but firmly instruct them.  He said, “If any man desire to be first, the same shall be last of all, and servant of all.”  He then took a small child, placed him in their midst, and said that one must be converted as a little child in order to enter the kingdom of heaven, and whosoever humbles himself as a little child is greatest in the kingdom of heaven (Matthew 18:2-4).  Jesus was saying that whosoever would become one of His humble followers and servants would hold a position greater that any earthly king, president, or head of state.

Jesus’ response was meant to urge the disciples to stop their disputing about earthly, temporal things, to repent of their selfish attitude, and to simply place their trust in Him.  He wanted them to stop focusing on earthly desires and focus on their true mission as followers of Christ.  The disciples needed, like we also need, to often be reminded of what is really important as servants of the King of kings and Lord of lords.