Message: True Greatness / Mark 9:33-37

Then they came to Capernaum; and when he was in the house he asked them, “What were you arguing about on the way?” But they were silent, for on the way they had argued with one another who was the greatest. He sat down, called the twelve, and said to them, “Whoever wants to be first must be last of all and servant of all.” Then he took a little child and put it among them; and taking it in his arms, he said to them, “Whoever welcomes one such child in my name welcomes me, and whoever welcomes me welcomes not me but the one who sent me.”

 

The Gospels are essential writings that show us what Jesus did while he was on earth. Through these books, many people over the past two thousand years have come to understand who Jesus is and why he is the Christ, helping them experience God's presence. This is why the Gospels are good news to us and are one of the precious gifts God has given to humanity.

However, the wisdom in the Gospels is not only about Jesus Christ. Another important lesson they teach us is about Jesus' disciples. In these books, we see how, despite their weaknesses and limitations, the disciples gradually grew into true followers of Christ. Their journey inspires us deeply as we learn how we, too, can become disciples of Jesus today.

In today's Gospel reading, we see the disciples still acting immaturely. While Jesus is focused on his mission to bring people in despair and anxiety back to God's love, the disciples are arguing about who is the greatest among them. Even though they had been travelling with Jesus in the Galilee region for some time, they were still thinking and acting out of selfish desires, instead of focusing on God.

What’s interesting is that when Jesus overheard their argument, he didn’t rebuke them right away. Even though it showed they still didn’t understand why Jesus was doing his work, Jesus didn’t seem disappointed in them. This shows that Jesus understood that no one becomes a true disciple overnight.

When they got to a house in Capernaum, a village in Galilee, and had a moment to relax, Jesus asked them, "I heard you arguing on the way here. What were you talking about?" Even though Jesus already knew, he didn’t bring it up directly. Instead, he asked them a question to give them time to reflect on it.

The disciples couldn’t answer Jesus’ question. Even though it seemed like a big issue on the road, something worth arguing about, when they thought about it later, they realized it wasn’t that serious. They felt embarrassed because their argument was about their own selfish desires, not God’s will. No one wanted to talk about it, and the silence went on for a while.

We often go through similar situations in life. We might argue passionately about something, thinking it’s a big deal, but later realize it wasn’t that serious. This happens especially with family or friends. It can be over small things, like how to place the toilet paper roll, or big things, like politics. That’s why some psychology experts suggest checking your emotional capacity when faced with sensitive topics. If you’re not emotionally ready to talk about it with an open heart, it’s better to ask for understanding and move on.

We see Jesus' wisdom in this situation. He waited until his disciples were ready to listen. After silence, Jesus finally spoke to them: "Whoever wants to be first must be last of all and a servant to everyone." Then he called a little child, took the child in his arms, and said, "Whoever welcomes a child like this in my name welcomes me, and whoever welcomes me welcomes not just me, but the one who sent me."

In fact, what Jesus said wasn’t entirely new teaching for them. The God described in the Hebrew Bible is a God who "cares deeply for the weak." God doesn’t ignore the voices of the vulnerable. Because of this, the Law in the Bible often emphasizes caring for those in need, specifically orphans, widows, and foreigners—who represented the socially and economically vulnerable in ancient Israel.

In today’s passage, Jesus embraces a child to show the kind of people we should care for. Children are fragile and need protection. In Jesus' time, they were often treated as possessions rather than human beings. By this act, Jesus is reminding us that children, who are vulnerable and can be mistreated, deserve to be treated with the same respect and dignity as adults because they are made in God's image too.

If we think more deeply, the reason children are seen as weak isn’t just because they lack the strength to resist adults. They are most vulnerable because they don’t have a choice in the kind of world they will live in. If adults create a world filled with injustice and anxiety, children will inherit that world, no matter what they want or dream of.

In the Bible, there was a king named Hezekiah. Unlike many kings who are remembered negatively, Hezekiah is known as a good king who reformed and strengthened his nation. But later in life, Hezekiah made a foolish mistake. He showed off all of his nation’s treasures and military facilities to envoys from Babylon to boast about his power. When the prophet Isaiah heard this, he warned Hezekiah that because of his actions, everything his ancestors had built would be taken to Babylon and some of his sons would become eunuchs in the Babylonian king’s palace.

Hezekiah’s response was shocking. He wasn’t worried about the future suffering of his children. Instead, he saw Isaiah’s prophecy as a blessing because peace would last during his lifetime (2 Kings 20:16-20). This selfish attitude of the adults led to the Babylonian exile, one of the worst events in Israel’s history.

In the book of Revelation, God is called the Alpha and the Omega (1:8, 21:6, 22:13), meaning the beginning and the end. This shows that God is the Creator of the past, present, and future. Jesus’ sacrifice on the cross wasn’t just for us today—it’s also for the children who will live in the future.

Jesus taught that serving future generations is the true path of discipleship and greatness. God’s creation isn’t just for us but also for the children. So, exploiting natural resources without thinking of the future is one of the worst forms of abuse against children.

I know many of you have worked hard for your children. Especially our elders here, who likely worked tirelessly to rebuild the nation after events like war and economic depression. I’ve heard that some of you even had military training including shooting in school after World War II. Because of your efforts to create a more just, equal, and prosperous nation, young people today enjoy many benefits. I deeply respect each of you for your hard work and contributions.

I hope that your dedication will now inspire all adults today to address the ecological crisis. Many children around the world are protesting in the streets, filled with anxiety and anger over climate change. These children should be enjoying moments that will never come back—laughing with friends over little things, feeling the excitement of first love, and daydreaming about their favourite celebrities.

But sadly, they are worried about the environment they will grow up in, feeling frustrated and hopeless. A study from 2022 found that 59% of young people around the world are very worried or extremely worried about climate change (CBC News, March 2, 2023). In Canada, the situation is even more intense. Research by Lindsay P. Galwaya and Ellen Field, published last year, shows that many young people in Canada are feeling a range of strong emotions about climate change. Most commonly, they report feeling afraid (66%), sad (65%), anxious (63%), helpless (58%), and powerless (56%). Eco-anxiety is trapping them in a cycle of fear.

Instead of arguing about things without emotional understanding, we need to sit before Jesus and reflect on what true greatness is. Then we’ll see the path we should take as Jesus’ disciples and as God’s stewards. We may still be immature and imperfect, but as we walk with Jesus, we’ll grow better, little by little. One day, serving the most vulnerable, as Jesus did, will no longer feel like a burden but a joy. May the Creator God be with us as we work together to serve the least among us, who are our future generations.

Thanks be to God. Amen.

Rev. Min Hwang

South Stormont Pastoral Charge

(Ingleside-Newington United Church & St. Andrew's-St. Mark's United Church)

Third Sunday in Creation Time

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