Daily Devotion, June 23, 2021

 

Devotion:

Read Mark 9:38-41.

Mark 9 begins with the story of Jesus’ taking Peter, James and John to a high mountain where Jesus was transfigured before them. Perhaps from their perspective, they had become Jesus’ leading disciples. Perhaps they were thinking that when Jesus ushered in his earthly kingdom, they would enjoy sharing in all of his power. But woven within the stories of Mark 9 are Jesus’ predictions of his suffering which Mark 9:31-32 shares with us.  The disciples didn’t understand all of this. They were concerned with their own greatness.

In Mark 9:14-18, a father had asked Jesus’ disciples to heal his son, but they could not. Now in verse 38, John says to Jesus, “‘Teacher we saw a man driving out demons in your name, and we told him to stop, because he was not one of us.’” Is it possible that they were jealous that someone else could heal in Jesus’ name and they couldn’t?

Throughout the disciples’ journey with Jesus, Jesus is trying to teach them his way, but they are having a very difficult time understanding, because their first motive is to figure out how to seek their own greatness!  Here, Jesus is teaching his disciples to understand that his circle is great enough to include “outsiders”. We also need Jesus to open our eyes to individuals beyond the inner circle and to see that Jesus’s circle is always great enough for others!

Jesus is also teaching his disciples about prayer and faith, about being last instead of first, about being a servant of all, about welcoming children, about welcoming outsiders, and about the responsibility to set an example in life so as to not lead others astray, in particular not to lead the little ones to sin. Jesus is teaching his disciples about living lives which are counter-intuitive to the world’s standards for greatness.

Mark 1:1 (NRSV) says, “The beginning of the good news of Jesus Christ, the Son of God.” Throughout Mark, this theme runs true! Everything that Jesus is teaching here in Mark 9 is good, good news about Jesus! He lived by example and taught his disciples and us the way to love others and to live by faith trusting God every step of the way. Jesus suffered and gave his life so that we might live and find life not in seeking greatness for self’s sake but by serving others in Jesus’ name.

Personal Worship Option:

Forgive us O God, when we draw your circle so small to only include a few people. Open our eyes and hearts to welcome many others and to see you through their lives, too! Amen.