Summary: Jesus doesn’t want us fighting over who is the best and most powerful. He wants us to be willing.

1. Disciples Want to be the best (35-37)

a. Mark 9:37(NASB) 33They came to Capernaum; and when He was in the house, He began to question them, ¡§What were you discussing on the way?¡¨ 34But they kept silent, for on the way they had discussed with one another which of them was the greatest. 35Sitting down, He called the twelve and said* to them, ¡§If anyone wants to be first, he shall be last of all and servant of all.¡¨ 36Taking a child, He set him before them, and taking him in His arms, He said to them, 37¡§Whoever receives one child like this in My name receives Me; and whoever receives Me does not receive Me, but Him who sent Me.¡¨

b. Thought Jesus was going to establish Kingdom on earth.

c. Want to have seats of authority.

i. Right hand = 1st in command

ii. Left hand = 2nd in command

2. Jesus Response (38-40)

a. Cost of discipleship.

i. Cup = suffering (Mark 14:36 (NASB) 36And He was saying, ¡§Abba! Father! All things are possible for You; remove this cup from Me; yet not what I will, but what You will.¡¨)

ii. Baptize = death (Romans 6:3(NASB) 3Or do you not know that all of us who have been baptized into Christ Jesus have been baptized into His death?)

b. Refers to death on cross.

i. Irony „³ note who was to his left and right.

3. Other disciples ignorant & upset(41)

a. ἀ£^£\£h£\£e£n£`ῖ£h ¡V to be indignant against what is judged to be wrong. ¡¥to be indignant, to be angry with.¡¦

b. Indignant ¡V Difficulty or defective digestion of food.

4. Jesus shares attitude of Christian leadership (42-45)

a. Power does not equal good leadership.

b. Must serve others.

c. Be willing to be a ¡¥slave¡¦ to others.

d. Follow Christ example (Philippians 2:11(NASB) 5Have this attitude in yourselves which was also in Christ Jesus, 6who, although He existed in the form of God, did not regard equality with God a thing to be grasped, 7but emptied Himself, taking the form of a bond-servant, and being made in the likeness of men. 8Being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross. 9For this reason also, God highly exalted Him, and bestowed on Him the name which is above every name, 10so that at the name of Jesus EVERY KNEE WILL BOW, of those who are in heaven and on earth and under the earth, 11and that every tongue will confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father).