Mark 9:30-37 (NRSV)
Read Mark 9:30-37 on biblegateway.com
Verse 33Then they came to Capernaum; and when he was in the house he asked them, "What were you arguing about on the way?"
Verse 34But they were silent, for on the way they had argued with one another who was the greatest.
Verse 35He sat down, called the twelve, and said to them, "Whoever wants to be first must be last of all and servant of all."
Verse 36Then he took a little child and put it among them; and taking it in his arms, he said to them,
Verse 37"Whoever welcomes one such child in my name welcomes me, and whoever welcomes me welcomes not me but the one who sent me."
Devotion
Americans, perhaps more than most people, know that slavery is an embarrassing and ugly blight on our history. It is no surprise we might shun the idea of becoming slaves.
In the Greek world a man was considered truly free only if he owned a slave. A slave was the one charged with carrying out the menial tasks of daily life for the sake of the owner, freeing the owner to go about the higher duties of philosophy, business and civic responsibility.
Jesus, on the other hand, took on the very nature of a slave (Phil. 2:7). Jesus became a slave for us so that he could take on our menial tasks of existence – the forgiveness of our sins, assurance of salvation and peace that surpasses understanding – thus freeing us to be about the higher tasks of our neighbor’s welfare, compassion for the poor and seeking justice for the oppressed.
Prayer
Gracious Lord, it is in being freed by your slavery that we can be about offering our lives as slaves for others. May we serve others in such a way that they might be freed for the sake of the neighbor who stands in need of their service, for Christ’s sake. Amen.