April 30

Mark 9:30-37 (Click to see scripture)

Bible in One Year Passages:

Journal Entry

Scripture

"If anyone would be first, he must be last of all and servant of all." (Mark 9:35)

Observation

Jesus was sharing something so important and so personal, yet very openly with his disciples -- about his death and resurrection. However, the disciples had no idea what Jesus was talking about (v. 32). This was not the first time Jesus was telling them about His death and resurrection. He already shared with them earlier in 8:31. But, they were so slow in understanding. Why? Perhaps, the next episode (vv. 33-37) sheds some light. The disciples were too preoccupied with themselves. They were like little children arguing about who was the greatest. This is a clear evidence of sinful human nature, a propensity to put self at the center and above all else. Understanding this human nature, instead of scolding his disciples, Jesus gathered the twelve disciples and gently told them, "If anyone would be first, he must be last of all and servant of all." This is totally counter-cultural because the world tells us that if we want to be first, we need to beat other people to gain the status of being #1. But it is different in God's world. If anyone would be first, he must be last of all. Basically, we go up by going down. This is a radical call for the Kingdom life. And this is a call to be like Christ. Instead of just teaching us to live a servant's life, Jesus Christ modeled the way by being the ultimate servant as he suffered and died for others with unconditional love.

Application

Living in this highly competitive world as a sinner, I know how easily my mind can be filled with myself when God is thinking about others. Serving others is a hard work. It doesn't come naturally. If anything, it is often done out of obligation, instead of love. Today, God is calling me to follow the footsteps of my Lord Jesus that I would humble myself to serve people around me as Christ would. God is inviting me with an opportunity to be more like Christ.

Prayer

Lord, thank you for encouraging me that your ways are different from the ways of the world. Lord, I admit that I am just like the disciples, so slow to understand your ways. But thank you for calling me today to be humble and to serve people around me. Lord, show me and lead me to those who you called me to serve today. I pray that I would genuinely care about others as I strive to be like Christ in my everyday life. Lord, help me that my mind would preoccupied with You and Your agenda, instead of myself. Lord, I keep my eyes on You today. In Jesus' name, Amen.

--Stephen Han