If disciples have this ambition in the first place, there is a right way and wrong way to reach this goal. For those oversees, GOAT stands for Greatest of All Times. Jesus teaches a paradox, on how to be first and the greatest.

The translations are mine, unless otherwise noted. If you would like to see many others, please click on this link:

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In this post, links are provided for further study.

Let’s begin.

I. Scripture: Mark 9:33-37

A. Truth in the paradox

³³ They came into Capernaum and, after going into the house, he asked them, “What were you arguing about on the road?” ³⁴ But they were silent, for on the road they were arguing about who was greatest. ³⁵ He sat down and summoned the twelve and said to them, “If anyone wants to be first, he must be last of all and a servant of all.” ³⁶ Then, taking a child, he stood him in the middle of them and embraced him in his arms and said to them, ³⁷ “Whoever welcomes one of these children in my name welcomes me, and whoever welcomes me does not welcome me (only) but the one who sent me.” (Mark 9:33-37)

B. Comments:

1.. Verse 33:

Capernaum was his adoptive hometown. “The house” was probably Peter’s house, or Jesus may have bought or borrowed one (Mark 3:20). He seems to have come from a fairly prosperous family with a family business. But my guess is that it was Peter’s house.

He overheard them and asked them a question. He knew what they had been arguing or disputing about or discussing.

2. Verse 34:

They knew that the topic was wrongheaded. They kept quiet. Their consciences stung them because they had been spending time with Jesus, and he develops anyone’s conscience when they learn his words and ways. It is widely believed that Mark got his Gospel from hearing Peter preach. Mark heard Peter fill in the missing element to the story. They were arguing over who was greater.

It is ironic that Jesus was on his way to Jerusalem to die there as a servant of all of humanity, while the disciples were arguing over who would be the greatest (Wessel and Strauss).

3. Verse 35:

In this society, honor and shame and status were important, so the twelve are jockeying to come out on top.

Now this lesson is for all of the twelve.

A paradox is defined as placing seemingly contradictory ideas side by side (see also v. 23). Here are two possible paradoxes, but only one really is:

a.. To be great, you must use all your willpower and ambition and drive.

b.. To be great, you must become like a child, the least of all.

The paradox is the second statement. Everyone follows the first one, but the way of the kingdom leads to the second one. In the world, the paradox (no. 2) makes no sense. In the kingdom, God lifts you up.

We have to be willing to serve God first and people second, not lord it over people.

4. Verse 36:

“child”: It can be translated as (1) “very young child, infant” or (2) “child.” The Shorter Lexicon suggests the second definition. Then it can even mean a figurative child, as we find in v. 3. We are supposed to enter the kingdom as a little child and then keep the childlike faith, without complications.

“him”: grammatically it could be “it” because the word for child is neuter, but I went with him, since Jesus is making the point to twelve men.

A child must have been nearby. Was it a boy or girl? Let’s say a boy. Did he belong to one of the disciples? What about one of the women’s child? Recall that women were following Jesus (Luke 8:2-3). Or was he a child from the crowd? We don’t know, but it is fun to speculate.

Jesus stood the child next to him. He was to be a living object lesson. Sweet scene.

In his comments on Luke 9:47, the parallel verse, commentator Darrell L. Bock cites a passage from the Mishnah (completed in about 200 AD, but reflecting earlier traditions) showing that it was a waste of time to chat with children: “Morning sleep, midday wine, chattering with children, and tarrying [dawdling] in places where men of the common people assemble destroy a man (Luke 1:1-9:50, Baker Exegetical Commentary on the New Testament [Baker, 1992], p. 895, m. ‘Abot 3.11). Jesus was overturning the cultural prejudice among the extra-devout.

In this society children had the lowest status, so the living lesson of this child was perfectly done, perfectly selected to drive home the point. Become like a child in your relentless pursuit of status in Christ’s kingdom, paradoxically speaking.

II. Application

A. Welcome children

It is imperative to welcome a child in the name of Jesus. When we welcome the least child, we welcome Jesus.

B. God and Jesus are top-ranked

When we welcome Jesus, we welcome the Father who sent him. So we have a ladder of authority, and only the Father and Jesus can occupy the top rungs.

C. Be as humble as a child

If the disciples want to be great, they must occupy the rung that the child stands on. To be great, one must become last in the pecking order.

D. Quick point

One quick point that is a little outside the main teaching here. Yes, we are initially to welcome or receive Jesus as children, but we must not remain children (1 Cor. 13:11).

E. Work hard

This short teaching does not dismiss hard work, especially athletes. But don’t work hard to show off and boast. Instead, while you work, leave the results up to God. Work hard for him and allow him to open the doors to promotion.

F. Question to ponder

To build your character, has God ever humbled you when you got above yourself?