Mark 9_ Study Notes “The Greatest in the Kingdom”
Reading Mark 9 this morning, when the disciples were asking “Who is the greatest in the Kingdom.” Jesus responded to them that whoever wants to be first, must take last place — this truly emphasizes what leadership really looks like. Leaders, lift others up and are the greatest servants amongst the masses. This , to me shows why the marketplace operates the way it does because the wealthiest people are known because they are problem solvers. They see the problems that are faced by the masses and majority of people and they either build or become the solution to those challenges.
Jesus also explains that “Anyone who receives those who have become the children of God on his behalf will receive him and the father that sent him.” When John informed Jesus that they rebuked a group of people who were casting out devils in his name, Jesus told him that if people are not against them, then they are for them and he should allow them to proceed— I believe this was because this was an example of what was to come when Jesus would leave and believers would have the power to do this even without him. He also stated that anyone who blesses them on his behalf will be rewarded… honestly this makes think of God’s proposal to Abraham. God said to Abraham that “whoever blesses you will be blessed.” When someone blesses the individual who has been blessed by God is essentially pouring into the assignment that God has personally through that individual because they are in covenant with God; they are really helping God by helping that person and will reap blessing upon themselves. Glory!
“But if you cause one of these little ones who trusts in me to fall into sin, it would be better for you to be thrown into the sea with a large millstone hung around your neck. If your hand causes you to sin, cut it off. It’s better to enter eternal life with only one hand than to go into the unquenchable fires of hell with two hands. If your foot causes you to sin, cut it off. It’s better to enter eternal life with only one foot than to be thrown into hell with two feet. And if your eye causes you to sin, gouge it out. It’s better to enter the Kingdom of God with only one eye than to have two eyes and be thrown into hell, ‘where the maggots never die and the fire never goes out.”
Mark 9:42-43, 45, 47-48 NLT
Jesus says that we are the salt of the earth, so we must bring flavor to all who are in our lives and whom we are connected to. He also stated that “Everyone will be tested with fire” — so think about it way, if we are eternal beings with eternal life, then fire can not kill us because we are eternal. BUT if there is a part of us that is carnal, then that part will die and so instead of being burned in fire or tortured on earth by a life of the curse, it better to rid ourselves of the thing that would cause us to suffer so that we can walk pure and upright. This makes me think of business, if a person is operating in business with God, then they must be pure in this business because when the consuming fire comes_ it will burn up all that is impure. When I say “Pure in business” I mean that this person but have a clean moral and be moving by faith operating in partnership with God and moving the mission of God forward.
