About Mark: The section from 8:31-10:52 could be entitled Death Predictions, of which there are three: 8:31, 9:31, 10:33. Each of the Gospels, Mark included, give disproportionate space to the final week of Christ's earthly life.
Of course, few people would pick up a Gospel without knowing how the story ended. In fact, the main question many would be seeking to answer was why Jesus died, even if it was asked in many forms.... Why should a good man die? Indeed how can he claim deity, and yet die? How can a God die? How can an eternal one die? And if God is God, how can he let things get so out of hand as to let his son die? If he intended to raise him from death, why let him die in the first place?
It is not Mark's purpose to answer all these questions. The answers all became clear to the early church, but new believers can hardly do more than marvel and wonder. However, Mark does permit a brief theological statement at 10:45, that the Son of man came ... to give his life as a ransom for many.
In describing discipleship, Mark has two prior concerns. Firstly, to show that
the values of the kingdom are directly opposite normal values of social philosophy. Christian teaching has been called the upsidedown kingdom. And secondly, to show how real is the struggle for everyone to live according to these values.
The continuing arguments among the disciples show their inbred resistance to these values. But these two priorities in Mark are the key to understanding who Jesus was and what he did. The lesson in this section is about humility and being a servant, wherein lies greatness. In Mark 10:45, Jesus said he came not to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many. By those values, Jesus was the supreme servant.
Bible: Mark 9:30-37, Who is the Greatest?
30 They went on from there and passed through Galilee. He did not want anyone to know it; 31 for he was teaching his disciples, saying to them, "The Son of Man is to be betrayed into humanhands, and they will kill him, and three days after being killed, he will rise again." 32 But they did not understand what he was saying and were afraid to ask him. 33 Then they came to Capernaum; and when he was in the house he asked them, "What were you arguing about on the way?" 34 But they were silent, for on the way they had argued with one another who was the greatest. 35 He sat down, called the twelve, and said to them, "Whoever wants to be first must be last of all and servant of all." 36 Then he took a little child and put it among them; and taking it in his arms, he said to them, 37 "Whoever welcomes one such child in my name welcomes me, and whoever welcomes me welcomes not me but the one who sent me."
Comment: UPSIDEDOWN KINGDOM
Jesus lifts a child into the circle. Then opening his arms, he beckons the child to him for a welcoming hug (36). This loving hug of welcome, as to a guileless child, shall be the hallmark of Christian community. It shall not have a pecking order of superiority. A premium is placed on serving. He or she that serves most is first-honoured. For that is the approved attitude (35). The one who covets top honours comes last.
This illustrates the radical nature of a Christian view of reality. In everyday cultures neither a servant nor a child receive honours or preferment. But in the kingdom of God whoever welcomes anyone for no other reason than that they belong to Christ, welcomes not only Christ but the one who sent him!
This is only one of the principles of "The Upsidedown Kingdom" as Donald Kraybill has so helpfully described it. Another principle is that through betrayal into human hands, and death (9:31), the Messiah would accomplish his mission. It is a vital insight, because as the Bible later shows, it is the same pathway that each of us must walk to get to heaven. Jesus is the pioneer of salvation, and we follow in his footsteps through death to the resurrection (Heb.2:10-15).
Discipleship today: In this simple story we are confronted with the meaning of Christianity. It is about behaviour as well as belief. It is behaviour based on belief, behaviour modelled by Jesus himself. The term "upsidedown kingdom" applies particularly to the teaching of Jesus in the Beatitudes in Matthew 5:3-10 and Luke 6:20-23 where the blessed person is the poor, the mourner, the meek and the merciful etc. This infiltrates all of Jesus' words and deeds.
And in contemplating Christian discipleship, you too will wrestle with yourself between your inbred instincts towards power, position, and pride; and your uncertainties about going the way of Jesus. But here is the cutting edge of the repentance and faith that Jesus first spoke of. A change of mindset. And a trust in God that glues you to him, assured of the ultimate outcome of his kingdom. Here you must pause and ponder. You cannot change yourself overnight, but you must be clear about the direction you commit to.
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