Mark Reading Plan – W9D3
Week 9 | Day 3 | Mark 9:30-35
Check out all the previous readings here.
Pray
As you come to the reading today, write down all the things that are troubling you, giving them to God. Then ask God to open your eyes and your ears to his Word
Bible Reading (read these verses three times slowly)
They left that place and passed through Galilee. Jesus did not want anyone to know where they were, because he was teaching his disciples. He said to them, “The Son of Man is going to be delivered into the hands of men. They will kill him, and after three days he will rise.” But they did not understand what he meant and were afraid to ask him about it.
They came to Capernaum. When he was in the house, he asked them, “What were you arguing about on the road?” But they kept quiet because on the way they had argued about who was the greatest.
Sitting down, Jesus called the Twelve and said, “Anyone who wants to be first must be the very last, and the servant of all.”
Reflection & Questions
In today’s reading we see a big contrast between what’s on Jesus’ mind and what’s on the disciples’ mind. The disciples are jockeying for position as the greatest. Jesus is talking about His suffering and death. The disciples are trying to climb the ladder and all the while Jesus is coming down as low as He can go.
How often we do just what the disciples are doing. We are trying to make ourselves look good, to build ourselves up. But in God’s economy it’s all different. “Anyone who wants to be first must be…the servant of all.” God climbs down the ladder. To serve others. Our hearts should be the same.
- Have you been trying to jockey for greatness in life?
- How can you serve others today? In your workplace? Home? Neighborhood?
Pray
Talk to God in response to the reading today.
Worship Song
In response to today’s reading, you could use this song to worship Jesus:
Bible Reading
They left that place and passed through Galilee. Jesus did not want anyone to know where they were, because he was teaching his disciples. He said to them, “The Son of Man is going to be delivered into the hands of men. They will kill him, and after three days he will rise.” But they did not understand what he meant and were afraid to ask him about it.
They came to Capernaum. When he was in the house, he asked them, “What were you arguing about on the road?” But they kept quiet because on the way they had argued about who was the greatest.
Sitting down, Jesus called the Twelve and said, “Anyone who wants to be first must be the very last, and the servant of all.”
Reflection and Questions
In today’s reading we see a big difference between what’s on Jesus’ mind and what’s on the disciples’ mind. The disciples are arguing back and forth about who is the greatest. And while the disciples are doing that, Jesus is talking about His death that was going to come soon!. The disciples are trying to climb the ladder of ‘who is most important’, and at the same time Jesus is coming down as low as He can go, to be a servant to everyone.
Do you ever focus more on being the best instead of helping others? It’s easy to get caught up in trying to make ourselves look good, and to build ourselves up. But in God’s eyes, it’s all different. “Anyone who wants to be first must be…the servant of all.” God climbs down the ladder to serve others. Our hearts should be the same.
- Are you more focused on being the best, or helping others?
- How can you serve others today? At school? Home? Neighborhood?
Prayer
Pray and ask God for an opportunity to serve someone today.
Bible Reading
They left that place and passed through Galilee. Jesus did not want anyone to know where they were, because he was teaching his disciples. He said to them, “The Son of Man is going to be delivered into the hands of men. They will kill him, and after three days he will rise.” But they did not understand what he meant and were afraid to ask him about it.
They came to Capernaum. When he was in the house, he asked them, “What were you arguing about on the road?” But they kept quiet because on the way they had argued about who was the greatest.
Sitting down, Jesus called the Twelve and said, “Anyone who wants to be first must be the very last, and the servant of all.”
Devo Focus
“Anyone who wants to be first must be the very last, and the servant of all.” Vs. 35
Devo
Do you remember the saying: First is worst and last is best!!? As a kid you might have said it from the back of the class line when the kid in the front of the line held bragging rights to his position.
The disciples did not get this concept…
In today’s reading we see a big contrast between what’s on Jesus’ mind and what’s on the disciples’ mind. The disciples are jockeying for position as the greatest. Jesus is talking about His suffering and death. The disciples are trying to climb the ladder and all the while Jesus is coming down as low as He can go.
How often we do just what the disciples are doing. We are trying to make ourselves look good, to build ourselves up. But in God’s economy it’s all different. “Anyone who wants to be first must be…the servant of all.” God climbs down the ladder. To serve others. Our hearts should be the same.
- Have you been trying to jockey for greatness in life?
- How can you serve others today? In your workplace? Home? Neighborhood?
Prayer
Talk to God in response to the reading today.
