Whoever wants to be first must be last of all and servant of all. (Mark 9:35
NRSV)
In our scripture reading today, the disciples and Jesus are on their way to Capernaum. During
their travel the disciples start arguing about who was the greatest. When they got to Capernaum
Jesus asked them what the were arguing about. They were silent. They were embarrassed. Jesus
called all the disciples together and said, "Whoever wants to be first must be last of all and servant
of all."
But what is a servant? In our society today, few of us have a real appreciation of what being a
servant is all about. A servant is simply one who puts others needs before their own. This is not
always easy to do, as demonstrated by the disciples in our text today. But, being a servant is what
we are called to do, and being a servant makes us great in the eyes of God.
Prayer: Dear Jesus, you are the greatest servant of all by dying for my sins. Help me to
put the needs of others before my own. Amen.
Written by: Ronald Newhouse, Texas, USA
Saturday, March 14, 1998