マルコによる福音書9:30-37　Mark 9:30-37,

Jesus died on the cross for our salvation and was resurrected on the third day. By dying on the cross, he atoned for our sins, and by being resurrected into a body of eternal life, he showed us eternal life. However, when Jesus was on earth, his disciples did not understand that he was such a saviour. When Jesus and his disciples went to the region of Caesarea Philippi, one of his disciples, Peter, said to Jesus, “You are the Messiah.” It was the confession that Jesus was the saviour. However, even Peter, when Jesus told him that he would be crucified and killed, and then resurrected on the third day, tried to rebuke Jesus by saying, “Far be it from you, Lord! This shall never happen to you.” Jesus then rebuked Peter severely, saying, “Get behind me, Satan! For you are not setting your mind on the things of God, but on the things of man.”

In verse 31 of today’s Bible passage, Jesus also foretold his crucifixion and resurrection. Jesus was travelling from the region of Caesarea Philippi to the city of Jerusalem, passing through the region of Galilee. On the way, he told his disciples, “The Son of Man is going to be delivered into the hands of men, and they will kill him. And when he is killed, after three days he will rise.” “The Son of Man” was Jesus himself. This was the second time the disciples had heard Jesus talk about the cross and resurrection. However, just as before, they did not understand the meaning of his words. The thought of Jesus being crucified was so terrifying that they could not even ask him about the meaning of this announcement.

Not only did they not understand the meaning of the announcement about the cross and resurrection, but the disciples were thinking the opposite of what Jesus was going to do. The disciples thought that Jesus would eventually go to the city of Jerusalem and become a great king like King David, and that he would make Israel a strong and prosperous nation like it used to be. And they thought that if that happened, they would be able to become ministers of the nation of Israel. So the disciples were arguing amongst themselves about who was the greatest of them all. What terrible disciples! Jesus knew that the disciples were having the wrong kind of discussion. He asked them, “What were you discussing on the way?” However, the disciples kept silent. I think they were afraid of being scolded by Jesus as harshly as Peter had been.

So Jesus told the disciples, “If anyone would be first, he must be last of all and servant of all.” In other words, the first person is one who tries to dominate others, but one who serves others. Then he took a child and put him in the midst of the disciples, and said, “Whoever receives one such child in my name receives me.” Here, the child represents a person who serves. And to receive such a child means to receive Jesus, who is a person who serves.

Jesus became a servant and died on the cross on behalf of us. It was through Jesus’ death on the cross that our sins were forgiven by God. Jesus became the King who rules the world when he rose from the dead and ascended into heaven. Therefore, Jesus’ disciples do not dominate others in this world, but instead live their lives serving others. Let us also become Jesus’ disciples and live our lives patiently serving others. And let us live our lives with the aim of being seated on the throne with Jesus in heaven.