Mark 9

“What were you discussing on the way?” (v33).  Embarrassingly, even after Jesus warned about his own upcoming death, the disciples were talking about who was the greatest among them.  Jesus knew they were still thinking in the world’s terms of gaining status and power.  So he took a child in his arms and said that if anyone “received” a child (children were weak and powerless, insignificant) in His name, it was like they were welcoming Jesus as well as the Father who sent Him. 

“If anyone would be first, he must be last of all and servant of all” (v35). If we want to serve our King well, we will honor those the world sees as weak, vulnerable, and insignificant.