Leaving that region, they traveled through Galilee. Jesus didn’t want anyone to know he was there, 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.” They didn’t understand what he was saying, however, and they were afraid to ask him what he meant. After they arrived at Capernaum and settled in a house, Jesus asked his disciples, “What were you discussing out on the road?” But they didn’t answer, because they had been arguing about which of them was the greatest. 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.” Then he put a little child among them. Taking the child in his arms, he said to them, “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.”

Mark 9:30-37

Dear God, I wonder what that conversation on the road was like. I would love to have overheard it. It’s easiest for us to sit here 2,000 years later and judge them for their arrogance and hubris because we know what their path held. We know that all of them (including Judas) would die ugly deaths except for John. We know the hardships and persecutions. We know that there will be no earthly glory for them in their lifetimes. They were such fools!

At least, that’s what we think with our perfect hindsight vision. But are we any different? This series that I am doing is about Peter and John and how they compared and contrasted with each other, but in this case they were probably on the same page. I am certain that Christians today are on the same page, and I am no exception. I want to be important. I want to have influence. I’m not looking for people to judge and rule over, but I do want people to hold me in high regard. My arrogance pushes me towards wanting to be a person of influence.

At the end of the day, if I really stop and think about it, the reason I want this influence and respect is because I want to ensure my earthly comfort. In the disciples’ case I think they wanted to feel ruling power and know that they would have fewer earthly struggles (the opposite turned out to be true). In my case, I want to use my personality to provide for my wife and me so that we will have as few of struggles as possible. My altruism is even tinged and tainted by my selfishness. I think the same is true of many of us if we think about it. We want to be great in your kingdom, and we want that greatness to pay off in some way while we are here on earth.

Father, Jesus didn’t say in this passage the I have to become like a little child (he says that in other places). No, in this case, he says that I must welcome the little child. In welcoming a little child, I am giving myself for someone who has nothing to offer that will change my physical station in life. As I read this passage this morning, I don’t think this passage is as much about specifically welcoming children as much as it is about welcoming and loving those who have nothing to offer you in return in terms of prestige and power. Loving these types of people in such a completely selfless way is how we welcome you into our hearts.

In Jesus’ name I pray,

Amen