Who Is the Greatest?

Text:Mark 9:33-37 International Children’s Bible (ICB)

Scripture Reading: 

Mark 9:33-37 International Children’s Bible (ICB)

Who Is the Greatest?

33 Jesus and his followers went to Capernaum and went into a house there. Then Jesus said to them, “What were you arguing about on the road?” 34 But the followers did not answer, because their argument on the road was about which one of them was the greatest.

35 Jesus sat down and called the 12 apostles to him. He said, “If anyone wants to be the most important, then he must be last of all and servant of all.”

36 Then Jesus took a small child and had him stand among them. He took the child in his arms and said, 37 “If anyone accepts children like these in my name, then he is also accepting me. And if he accepts me, then he is also accepting the One who sent me.”

Reflection: As humans most of us find that we want to be the most important or best at whatever we are doing. What do you find yourself wanting to be the best at? Does your competitive nature or determination lead you to find joy in succeeding at the task at hand? Or do you find yourself just wanting to be better than the people around you?

Prayer: Dear God, thank you for the drive and determination that we have in our human spirit. Please help us use it to better the world around us and not to label others as inferior.  Amen.

Focus for the Day: Who Is the Greatest?

Author: Rachel Dudley, Director of Children’s Ministry